Sunday, 4 January 2015

SIGNature 2014 + Mus8um Hopping #2 + GBTB!. ^^ :)

Well, hello there!
The first week of term break has been rather eventful. ^^
But first..
Baby Zulfiqar has grown so much from the last time I saw him!!
Mummy decided to just put him in my arms and leave me alone that day.. :')
(She knows that I am really not confident with handling infants hahaha so she just walked over, gave him to me and walked away giggling =.=)
I survived about 7 minutes with both of us being awkward and then he started getting really uncomfortable and wanted to cry so I returned him to his Mummy. :'D
But he's getting really cute I wish I could just give him a massive hug. *v*

Caught Night At The Museum 3 with Mum & Bro on Friday..
Bangers & Mash.
I actually really quite like this for the movies.
But every time I look at it, it reminds me of Miley Cyrus...
O.O
The movie was alright; especially Ahkmenrah. *v*
Had dinner with them and then went off to SP for SIGNature 2014.
So apparently I dropped off one bus stop later than I should.
As I backtracked from the bus stop, I saw an entrance to the school and decided to enter it.
Very clever, Lin.
And then I walked and walked and walked through what seemed like endless corridors.
SP has a lot of corridors and construction work. :/
After a lot of gut feelings and calls,
Kian Hui saved me in the end, though. :')
Reached still in time for registration and got some candy!
A rather random Panoramic picture of the whole place. :>
Us people.
Plus Shimei at the back! :')
It was a really, really lovely night watching all the performances.
Was really refreshing and inspired watching their style of interpreting and song signing.
They also had a nice Christmas tree made of lights for their photobooth.
Thank you Kelvin for snapping this picture. :>
MC14/15 REPRESENT.^^
With Stephen.
Thank you SPSLC for organising such a lovely night.
All the best with the club and the rest of your future events and endeavours!

Saturday.
Headed out in the noon, unsure of which buses to take, which paths to walk..
But I did it and despite having dropped off at completely different bus stops and completely following my gut feeling on where to walk, I finally found Aqilah. :>
Also passed by two other museums before finally reaching this one..
Yaaaaas, have always wanted to go here!
It looks really pretty, and for some reason I've always (secretly) wished I was Peranakan.
Probably mainly because of the food and outfits. :-)
Yes, that girl on the right is a bit creepy hahaha. :')
Walked in and got a shock because I thought this was a real cat. :')
It's some kind of a gift to the museum from someone.
No idea why they would do this to people. :(
The receptionist lady was really nice!
Asked us a few questions and gave us our stickers.
Yay another one!
Need somewhere to paste all these stickers now.
Some days, don't you just wish you can do that.. ^
Sucker for mirrors.
Especially huge, full-body ones.
Casually getting photobombed by the man and woman at the back.
Not creepy at all.. O.O
Did I mention how we tried to open every door we came upon?
We ended up finding one that can actually be opened and it led us to the balcony!
More picture opportunities!
I was not ready.
 Saw these things which you can press, and I went along pressing every single one I came across.
Until Aqilah told me that there's probably some kind of activity sheet where you put the paper in between the gap, press it and it'll make a cut and I just went O.O :O
I saw the activity sheet as we walked out of the museum later on.
The temptation to walk through the whole museum again just to complete the sheet was too real.
This is wedding bed and some chairs.
It looks quite cozy inside but it doesn't look that soft and fluffy to sleep on. :/
Oooo random boy in Baju Kurung, Samping and Songkok accompanying the wedsters.
(Wedsters = some kind of random name I came up with)
Peranakan is pretty much kind of like Malay + Chinese, though right? :/
"12 days? Like Christmas!"
"Oooh, Nasi Lemak~"
"Yeah, the sang khek umm what?"
Old school telephones!
I liked this part, the first one on the left reminds me of P. Ramlee's movies.
The middle one I have.
The last one is still pretty normal. :>
The cool (yet creepy) thing about these telephones was that when you pick it up, it stimulates a typical conversation you would have with a Peranakan person.
In this case, I talked to Betty about getting  job interview and an aunt on naughty young children.
Kinda creepy when you think about who's voices it actually is. O.O
(Also bothers me a little of the fact that many, many, many other people have placed it on their ears etc ><)
O.O
"Oh, that's pretty cool."
"It looks like the character in Silent Hill."
"OMG YA."
In this part, there's a chair which you can sit on and pretend you're having a meal with a Peranakan family.
They also played a recording of people talking, sounds of plates, cups and spoons moving etc to really stimulate the meal.
Pretty cool.
But there's just too many empty plates and bowls, to be honest. :/ :P
One of my favorite parts!!!
THE KITCHEN. *v*
Some of the things I've seen in my Kampungs, which I find really cool.
Oh, when we walked into this part, there was a security guard in there.
As we were looking at the kitchen, the blinds of the window over there just started to roll up slowly.
*I look at the security guard, he looks at me, I look at Aqilah, she looks at me, "What is going on??" "Oh thanks." O.O*
:'D
Really cool things though, check out that charcoal-fired stoves.
 Check out that hanging box of plates etc though?
Not sure if the thingy on the right is a drawer/cabinet or some kind of wooden sofa you can sit on when you get tired cooking.
  Three generations of pestle and mortars?
The kitchen would be the important thing in a house for me, apart from the bedroom. :P
 Followed the stairs and ended up in a gallery of beautiful batiks.
I love Batik designs. *v*
Dropped by the washroom and it smelled nice in there. :>
Aqilah telling me how much she likes the top she's wearing (especially the pockets). :'D
Went over to the graffiti wall Aqilah found outside the museum.
It started getting a bit cloudy but still managed to get some pictures. :>

Awkward.
Sorry. :/
Not sure if I've mentioned this, you guys know my ultimate favorite colour is green.
But red is my second favorite. :>
Well actually, only if it's with green.
Still my top two colours. ^^
*Looks at wall and reads the quote*
"What does it mean?"
"No idea."
"'ll just take a picture and figure it out later."
:'D
Saw some shiny triangular things and decided to take a look..
Only to realise that it didn't actually impress us much. :/
Picture anyway.
"Are we going to this museum?"
"I don't know!"
*starts drizzling quite intensely*
"OK WE'RE GOING IN."
*runs into the museum*
:')
Oooo look at that. O.O
Walked over to Plaza Sing where I got my KOI (Aqilah macam tahu je), we walked around and had dinner.
I made no purchases of any kind even after entering many shops with the Sale sign on it.
*pats back*
We then hopped on to the MRT to head to Gardens By The Bay.
We dropped off at the new station (Marina Bay South Pier?) and was so clueless because it was so ulu and empty.
So we got on the MRT back to Marina Bay where there were more humans. :')
Followed the signs to head to GBTB and finally made it!
Aqilah was being really sneaky and walking really fast and when I finally knew why I was like just like..
:O O.O :O :O :O :O WHAAAAAAAAT.
Yup, tickets to the Flower Dome & Cloud Forest.
I mean, for a girl who is not overly-nature-y, the place is pretty darn well made.
(Although a part of me kept asking if things were real, I don't know man, the fact that it's enclosed like in an exhibition gives everything a man-made feel.)
But that waterfall though.
IT WAS TALL AND SPLASHY AND COLD!!
How do you take a good picture of that?!
Aqilah then told me that the reason why we walked so fast was so that we won't miss the mist.
(See what we did there)
Look at that infrastructure though. *v*
Pitcher Plants!!
Did people actually make a wish and throw coins in here? O.O
"Go take eh, I need I need a dollar or two."
"Eh, that's coins from China."
At Level 7, we walked on the bridge in the previous picture.
Still unsure how high I must be till I get uncomfortable or "scared of heights".
I don't think I am afraid of heights, but I'm pretty sure that there's a limit of how high I can be till I get freaked out.
Will let you know when I find out.
Till then, standing and looking down from that height felt quite nice to me.
Almost like I was flying and up so high from the world. ^^
^^
These things which I always see in crystal shops!!
"It's not real right?"
"IT IS!!!"
"Eh look, got Malaysian ringgit inside!"
"TAKE IT HURRY!!"
Especially these things,
ARE THEY REAL?!
How can they hold up?
Is it real?? O.O
*takes pictures of flowers*
"Eh, I thought you don't really like flowers?"
"My Mum really likes purple things."
"Ohh, okay."
"Wanna go check the Earth?"
"Yeah, sure."
:'D
Somewhat a short film screening on what would happen if the Earth gains another 5 degrees.
Kinda scary.
Watched the whole thing 1.5 times mainly cause we were kinda tired and sitting down feels nice. :'D
Got fairly dark and Aqilah wanted to look at the Waterfall (now lighted up) so we backtracked and opened more doors (hahaha) and finally found the right lift.
Managed to go right back to the start (thanks to that dude) and saw that it turned purple. *v*
Wowwwwww wow wow. :O
Just wow huh.
"Living in the moment"
HAHAHA this pose hahahaha new favorite pose. :P
Found a bench and sat, chilling and talking till 8pm so that we can see the mist again!!
This time, we watched it fly everywhere and discovering where it came from. O.O
Another cool thing is that it was SO COLD in the forest.
Like when are you ever in a forest/park in Singapore and not sweat but instead freeze?!
:O
Guess this is what it'd be like to walk around the parks in UK, huh? ;) :P
HAHAHA.
Headed to the Flower Dome after that and...
Saw much pretty lights and flowers!
Such cute flower bushes.
Like mini versions of those big white flower things..
(Not so good with flowers, sorry.)
Found the flowers that is imprinted on the outerwear I was wearing. :')
And...
ROSES!
Never expected myself to like roses but :P
White roses are gorgeous.
So are red ones.
And (to me) it's quite hard to believe that red roses actually do smell good.
 If you ever come across a legit red rose,
SMELL IT, I TELL YOU, SMELL IT!!!
It really smells like rose syrup/water/etc, but just a tad bit less sweet.
(Duh, they add loads of sugar in syrup don't they.)
A lovely (rather old) lady told us that those which has yet to fully bloom smell even sweeter.
So I smelled them all and literally poked my nose into them. :')
Mmmm.
There's even a maroon rose!
 I was trying to sit on it.
Really tiny white flowers which grows in clusters!
So cute, I could look at them forever. *v*
Some cacti which made me feel really weird. :/
Don't like them.
Next up was the Christmas lights!
(Which I absentmindedly said looked like Deepavali lights hahaha don't it though?!)
Lights can be so pretty.
Tried taking polaroids selfie-style but HAHAHA.
Still love them, thank you!!
We also were just in time and managed to catch the dancing lights of the thingys.
They played songs from Frozen, and then suddenly a whole jam of Mariah Carey. :'D
 Yes, these thingies.
It rained just as we began to head back home, where (as usual) we got confused and had to change trains because this and that and whatnot. :')
Still good fun and laughs nonetheless! :'D

To Aqilah
The words "Thank You" is really an understatement for how grateful I am to have met you, and for every thoughtful little thing you have done not just for me but for everyone else too.
You really are one of a kind and you really do make me want to change all things negative.
Allow me to remind you like how you've reminded me;
You should just be you and stay you..
Know that you are amazing and special in your own way, and with such a heart that you hold, you will make an impact on so many people's lives.
If not everyone, then let me tell you that you did on mine.
To much better days, weeks, years.
Keep strong and stay smiling.
Syukran for everything. :')

This goes for everyone reading this too.
I know it can be really difficult when you're in the process/phase of figuring out who you are, or fixing yourself.
But just remember..
"Trust that time will mend, and if not mended together, then mended apart."

Most of the pictures in this post are from Aqilah, by the way.
Will probably do a picture post next.

Hope you lot had a good break. :)

Du vet jeg elsker deg.
Goodbye

Thursday, 1 January 2015

Dear Twenteen.



Dear Twenty Fourteen

It does not bother me one bit that a new year is coming in.
Not one bit at all.
I have fully embraced and appreciated every single bit of you and everything that has come with it.
I have fully loved and given you all that I have had to offer, all that I have had in me to give.
Regrets, I have had many.
You have brought me down so low, so many times.
You have brought me so much confusion and doubt, about everything and most importantly, about myself.
 Never have I in my 19 years of life doubted my very own capabilities and the things I believe in.
Never have I in my 19 years of life asked myself these questions I've never even thought of before.
Never have I in my 19 years of life have to usher so many new people in and leave just as many behind.
(Not even in 2011, not even in 2012.
Which I can fully 100% say were the hardest years of my life which I can never, ever erase.)
You were such a challenge which I could have never won without....without so many things.
But I am still insanely grateful for having to go through you.
For showing me that with hard work and effort, comes success.
For showing me that in every bad there is good,
and in every good there is bad.
For showing me the importance of standing rooted to yourself,
to give yourself a chance to hear yourself out,
and the importance of loving other people even if it hurts..
More than anything, I am so up and ready to be leaving 2014.
I have decided to leave everything that I wanted in 2014 behind.
I want to want and work for/towards newer things and not stay stuck in the things that are not working in the past.
To look at everything in a fresher perspective and just remember that things can still be worthy.
Because in this year I've been so repeatedly broken, without having time to heal.

Dear Twenty Fifteen

Will I be having resolutions?
Not for now.
I've never been the type of person who sets definite, solid goals/resolutions for things.
I go along, find meanings in things and then set my own motives.
I just feel that if I set something solid from the start, I wouldn't have the room/chance/ability to be flexible about decisions, change, life..
Maybe that's why I feel so ready to leave 2014.
Because I had not set resolutions of any kind, so I don't feel leashed to something unfinished.
Because I had not set such expectations, so I feel that in all that I've managed to do in that year, I feel that it was the best I could give in that very moment.
I hope that the challenges to come from you will be fresher, and will teach me better things.
I hope that with all the time that you allow,
I'll be able to mend, anything and everything.

But ultimately..
Regrets and success we all have in life, not just in a certain year.
I strongly believe that I will go through regrets and success in 2015 as well.
But 'll pull through and in the end, evidently, there will always still be meaning in everything.

To everyone who's reading this;
You are enough.
So please don't go changing.

"If you don't believe me
Then just look into my eyes
Cause the heart never lies"

Du vet jeg elsker deg.
Goodbye

Thursday, 25 December 2014

2.2 THINGS: Cheat Week!. ^^ :)

Hello again!
Have a teeny weeny bit of time to blog nowadays since it's the term break.
Even though it's a "break", we're still loaded with assignments and CCA things..
But at least I don't have to wake at six in the morning.
Here's my cheat week. :)
And I call it cheat week, because well... ;)
Starting off with Attachment Monday.
Where I had to read plenty of "故事" to a bunch of fairly restless children.
They really do intrigue me.
One particular child was on a roll that morning;
Restless, jumping, hiding, running everywhere.
Rebellious, didn't listen to my instructions, only the other teachers', arguing and rebutting every thing I say.
And just disturbing all the girls in the class till one broke down crying.
My class teacher then sat him down on his own after hearing his peers telling him off countless of times,
and she told me that I can let him join the class when I think that he's ready.
Part of me was like, HOW WOULD I KNOW WHEN HE'S READY?!?!
and another part of me was just observing his expression/actions/eyes throughout.
When I finally talked to him before allowing him to rejoin his peers,
I asked if he is going to continue being mean to the girls.
To the boys.
To the teachers.
He shook his head and said no, and I allowed him to go play.
He placed the chair back where it belonged and went to play with the Lego.
He then became a very sweet boy, from not even looking at me in the eye and listen to actually walking up to me and involving me in his play.
When a child accidentally hit his head, he did not even retaliate at all.
(Of course I stepped in.)
I would admit that I do not understand children,
but they really do intrigue me,
and for the most part,
I really do enjoy interacting and being around them.
Oh yeah, here's my lunch by the way.
 EGGPLANT AND ICED MILK TEA FOR THE WIN.

Tuesday started off really lovely too.
Gifts from the very first (okay lah, actually third) person I saw.
And then another one from the next person, and the next..
And a random one in the middle of lecture..
Gifts makes everyone happy, does it not?
Setting such a festive mood! ^^
Also met up with the Field Supervisor after lectures, where my fate was sealed. :(
She was a really nice lady, though, so (I have faith that) it'll be alright.
I'll make it through. ;)
Dad then picked me up and drove me all the way to the East.
The family was having a chalet hehehe.
I know right,
because having chalets in the weekend is too mainstream. :P
Quite a nice number huh.
Costa Sands isn't a very family-friendly place for a getaway or whatever,
but I guess for now it'll do.
Mandatory toilet shot, just cause.
Baby Zulfiqar!
Yay food time!
Everything here was prepared at home, mind you.
Except the crabstick & otah. :'D
Pretty sure we had this exact same spot the last time we came here.
Which was probably in 2008 or something.
I went to bed pretty early that night and got to wake a little later the next morning,
also greeted with McDonalds' Hotcakes.
The Dzuls also came over for a bit and, boy, how much has Afi grown!!
Also realised that Dzulkurry is now tal!ler than Grandma.
Which is pretty amazing.
He's only in Primary 4.
My brother took forever to outgrow my Grandma's height. :'D
They left soon after, and TS8S got ready to go out.
Can't dump me here! >:)
First stop!
East Village.
Oh my gosh, I hardly step into the East, especially since I spend a lot of my time in the West now.
So everything was just new to me. :')
We headed to Salty Peanut, the parent's Hajj friend's relatively new Gelato shop.
OH MY GOSH ONE OF MY DREAMS.
Yes, to open a waffle ice cream or bakery shop/cafe.
Look at all that ice cream.
And their decor are pretty rad too.
Sparkling Green Apple drink.
Cute Grandma with her two scoops!
Bro's Waffle with Lime Sherbet and Cookies & Cream.
Dad once told me that
Waffles are pancakes with abs.
Mine has the chest of Bandung & Salty Peanut. :>
Their waffles are amazing, by the way.
Thick, crisp but fluffy.
Love a good waffle.
Next stop was Changi Beach!
Tried snapping a picture but Dad just walked into the frame, dancing...
Hahahaha I don't know man, but seeing these pictures really makes me smile and laugh. :')
Why is my Dad so cute and funny HAHAHA cant get mad at him even though I failed with the picture. :'D
Just a couple of selfies.
Yes, I am fully aware that I am quite obsessed with taking pictures and selfies.
My friends would second that, over-willingly.
And yes, I am also fully aware that I look exhausted.
I wish I had a fresher-looking face, but I guess this is my face so yeah let's just face it.
(See what I did there hehehe.)
Dad picked up a random stick and started to write this on the sand...
And then gave the stick to the bro who added this..
HAHA.
The brother helped snapped these.
Cause, I like taking pictures of things/self, remember? :P
P.S. I was walking backwards HAHA.
And, yes, I do edit my pictures.
VSCOcam is my bestest friend! ^^
Aww, Grandma wasn't looking at the camera. :(
BUT YAY US.
Third stop;
IKEA!
For the food.
Bro's completely obsessed with their meatballs.
I think they're okay.
Mum got me the pasta.
It reminded me alot childcare centre food, though.
Walked around only for a little while.
Gosh, I love their huge sliding-mirror-doored cupboards and the full kitchen and bedroom setups.
One day, one day.. :'D
 Dropped by home after that and then left again for DTE.
Had no idea Yoguru now has Salted Caramel flavored froyo?!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAmazing. :}
Mine's the right one, obviously, the one loaded with White Choc Chips.
Um. Yeah.
I FOUND THE KRUSTY KRAB!
Looks pretty darn legit though, don't it?!
SUSHI DINNER!
Okay one thing I really love about the East is that it's where the halal food are based.
The person missed out on one type of sushi, though, so I felt really bad that we wasted Mum's $. :(
But, yeah, it was the first time I actually tasted fresh raw Salmon and it tasted like the best raw thing I've ever eaten.
Surprisingly, I found it so much less fishier than cooked Salmon. :/
But it was sooo tasty.
Oh gosh, I want more now. T.T
Oh, except Wasabi.
Tried quite abit of it and I really don't like it.
I'm okay with the sensation but the taste of it is just ugh - it tastes like pure 100% Earth.
've never actually literally tasted earth, but I'm pretty darn sure that's what Earth tastes like.
I'd much rather eat Sushi with Sambal Kicap.
#Mapanese #Janese

Thursday.
Dropped by school for two assignment submissions,
had another shower and off we went again~
(The mock interview was interesting though. A part of me kind of has gotten used to interviews; like how to deal with it, what kinds of answers I should give, etc. 've come to realise that the answers I give are my own, literally, and if I don't get it because my answers are mine, then it is ok.)
Got to wear floral things and make up on my face.
Just to put it out there;
I have come to the girly part of my life where I actually love make up.
I don't know what it is, but it's just something I enjoy.
Not saying I'm any fantastic at it, though. :'D
It was a pretty beautiful day.
We went to Expo Hall for BHG Sale, by the way.
Where there was a cute guy.
And I got a pair of Supra shoes..
For 29 flippin' bucks.
Twenty nine!!
It's kinda a size bigger, but it was twenty nine bucks and I wasn't going to let it go just like that.
~.~
Had a Ban Mian dinner too. :>

Friday marked the end of the term!
Where Vivian made us some awesome cuppycakes.
Where these crazy girls are still here.. :'D
And it was the beginning of something else..

YUP that's my (much needed) cheat week!
Loved every single bit of it, haven't spent time with my family since forever.
And although there were instances where I was moody and exhausted,
I still really enjoyed every minute of being with the family.
Really looking forward to the time where we can get a legit vacation together.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Du vet jeg elsker deg.
Goodbye