Can I say 2011 was pretty hectic? I meant the first half. Collection of results, countless applications to local universities, countless drafting of achievements and whatnot (which are all...useless) appeals, rejection, decisions, contemplation. The process took quite a toll on me; I am determined never to let this happen again.
Working was fun. First job was with Singapore Pools. A mere 3 days, but nice managers/staffs who tried to make this girl who was on her first proper job, felt welcomed.
The next job...learnt new things, met new people. Knowledge on politics grew with constant discussion with the peeps during the elections period. A real insight. The experience was certainly unforgettable.
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The next half of the year was pretty cool. Freelance work (freelance in this case means I don't really have strict timings to start/end work; no 5 days work week) and tuitions.
Also, hardcore bands started streaming into Singapore, like never before. Huge thanks to the up and rising promoters/concert organisers/production companies for bringing them in.
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I am actually not looking forward to the arrival of 2012. I can't believe I have not attended school for a year and that my year-long holiday is ending. I am so used to this kind of lifestyle now! Don't really have to wake up early, a lot of plans can be decided last-minute. No school, schoolwork, examinations to worry about. Thank god, all those bands came this year- when I don't have commitments and such. I could ALWAYS go 4-5 hours early, to queue for gigs.
My best memories this year were the endless meet-ups with friends (continue to do so. It's not cool when we stop contacting altogether), work experience and of course, seeing Alesana (my Number 1 favourite band), Good Charlotte and Parkway Drive live.
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2012 seems to bring on an extra burden. Like becoming a year older with a massive two in front. Relocating myself to a new place and starting school in a whole new environment. I do hope the year goes smoothly. Hope to make more friends who are into the same bands as I do in the new environment, so that we can attend gigs together.
And to those in Singapore- amazing 2012! A Skylit Drive are hitting our shores in February ( REAL PITY I CAN'T ATTEND!!!!! CORY, JAG!). Followed by Underoath, August Burns Red and Blessthefall. All my favourite, all on their first Singapore gig. But time is not my side, boo.
Other favourites to come in July 2012/December 2012, PLEASE?!
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Wishing everyone a safe, peaceful and healthy 2012! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
1:13 AM
Malacca in December
Short weekend getaway to Malacca in mid-December. Malacca has changed a lot since the last I went. Many more shopping malls and hotels now. I remember Mahkota was the only huge shopping mall there? Malacca has also become quite busy. Lots of cars and tourists.
Gula Melaka Chendol from 三叔公. A tad too sweet with the very generous amount of gula melaka, but I can still accept. Love the gula melaka jelly cubes in it!
Viewed from the hotel room. See what I meant? So crowded with cars! Angelyn actually said it's too crowded till the cars were all slanted haha.
Festive.
We were reallyyyyyy full after the meal.
Huge Curry Fish Head.
Baba & Nyonya Show on a rainy night at Jonker Walk.
Coffee, anyone?
Probably the best water chestnut drink in the whole of Malacca. It's really smooth to drink. Love the natural sweetness.
The stall which sells the water chestnut drink. It's at Jonker Walk!
Probably the oldest surviving shop in Malacca which still handmakes its boundfeet/beaded shoes by it's owners. If I didn't remember wrongly, Channel NewsAsia featured and interviewed them before.
Sin Sing Coffee has a cafe of it's own!!
Huge bowl of fragrant pandan rice.
It's chendol again!
I am a sucker for sweet stuffs.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 10:50 PM
Bangkok in November
Was supposed to go to BKK two weeks after Perth, but on the day we were back, Thailand/BKK was hit with their worst flooding. Thus, we waited and waited for news, and had to postpone the trip just the day before we planned to leave cos the media reported that the flood was reaching BKK. And so, we decided to proceed with the trip about 2-3 weeks after, cos it seems like inner BKK was dry and stuffs. And yes, it was all bright and sunny and hot.
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BKK has not change much since the last time I went (3-4 years ago), except that Platinum Mall is now the hottest place to shop for clothings/accessories/bags/shoes. Did quite some shopping this trip like...never before. Cos when we were younger, it's always thai massage/foot massage for the adults and shopping nearby whenever we visited. Ohyes, remember MBK (similar concept to Platinum mall) used to be so hot? How come I don't hear people mention MBK when they travel to BKK these days...haha.
Perhaps I was quite young then...don't really need shopping. Always go to MBK for accessories (hair clips, pins, hairbands etc.), and shopped at CentralWorld/Siam Paragon all the time (the shops are pretty much like what we have in our town area). And everytime we went, foot massage was a must and thai sticky rice/tom yum everyday for my mum.
Chatuchak Weekend Market was a less frequent site for my family (it is frequently visited by tourists. But I guess a lot of people are flocking to Platinum now cos prices are much cheaper!) We go to Silom Night Market more often. Ohyes, as I typed this, I find that my memories are flowing back, again!
First time we visited BKK, we also visited Patpong (the entertainment district, or if you want to know further details, check out Wikipedia. Haha!). Ohgod, how come no one mention Patpong these days? LOL.
But we haven't visit BKK in 3 years! The other time we wanted to...had to cancel it due to political chaos in Thailand (my parents still went though.) So no matter what, we have to go this time! How can we not visit Thailand for so long?!
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Didn't visit any night markets this time. Didn't even venture to MBK/Siam. We raided Platinum Mall, most of the time. Okay, enough of all the talk. Pictures! (Not much though)
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Viewed from my room There it is- Platinum Mall! (Look at the huge "P" at the bottom right corner of the picture) This is the old Platinum Mall. I think it is really hot, so they built a new one just beside it! (left side of picture) Sells similar stuffs (clothings/shoes etc.)
And no...the new Platinum Mall spans 5-6 stories (can't remember properly). The rest of the building is occupied by the newly built/opened Novotel.
One of the meals we had at CentralWorld.
Didn't dare to drink much Tomyum this time. Was suffering from cough/sore throat. Didn't even eat mango sticky rice.
Pandan and Saffron rice
Spinach Pie from their McDonalds!
Blur but...Ovaltine Swiss as a beverage in McDonalds!!
Chicken Porridge from McDonalds in their Breakfast menu.
Festive mood abound.
Friday, December 23, 2011 11:38 PM
August Burns Red - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
I can't wait for cakes and nice food tomorrow! CAN'T WAIT. --
Here's wishing everyone a MerryChristmas! Have fun and go wild!! (No...not really...)
Okay, here's adding to the festive mood- metalcore style. Enjoy! P.S: Click the Snowflake button, which you will see, after playing the video :)
Thursday, December 22, 2011 11:22 PM
Welcome to oblivion-
So many things in my mind to post about. Churning out many posts like never before...soon.
-where panic starts to settle in
1:22 PM
YuleTIDETIGHT
Gonna be finishing up with my Christmas cards. OMG! 2 DAYS LEFT ONLY.
I can't believe...when I'm free, I am really free. But when I get busy, all the tuitions/work/outings come together all at once. This is crazy!
12:56 AM
Latenight Christmas List/Wishlist/WhateverList
A friend asked what I want for Christmas/Farewell (Argh, sad!! I don't actually need anything for 'farewell', as long as all my friends keep in touch with me constantly. Would be more than happy!).
I couldn't think of any/don't really need anything...so, was asked to blog it.
Took me some time, because these aren't really needs, but wants.
*Shirts in size SM (I think). I got an Alesana shirt in size XS before, but the material was non-stretchable kind, so it's abit uncomfortable especially if you wear it to gigs. Sad (cos didn't manage to wear it to the Alesana gig).
*Yeah, they don't really have Girls' shirts, but it's okay. The shirts are pretty unisex.
3. Wedges (similar to below)
4. Stickers/bracelets (or wristbands/bands as they call it; usually made of synthetic rubber/rubber material; as seen below) from my fav bands- Alesana, A Skylit Drive, AFI, Parkway Drive, The Word Alive, August Burns Red, Underoath
5. Pray that one of my fav bands come by Singapore in July 2012/Dec 2012/Jan 2013. Thanks!!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 8:11 PM
Perth in October
It's been long! Here goes!
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Went on a trip to Perth in October with the family. Have never tried going on a holiday in October simply because there is no holiday during this said period!
Perth, as with all Australian cities, is quite laid-back (in my opinion). Probably a tad more laid-back than the rest. I think this is the kind of phenomenon a lot of Singaporeans feel, especially in Perth, because you don't really see huge crowds, crowded streets filled with cars etc.
The weather was just nice as it was the start of Spring. Day time was pretty much like our usual weather, probably a little cooler. Temperature dropped a little more at night, and it gets pretty cold like...our air-conditioned temperature.
We rented a family car before we got there. For easy navigation.
Two dudes in the car. They were really energetic on an early Saturday morning. Blasting songs from their car, and enjoying life.
Lovely.
Minimelts spotted! I posted about this...scour below. Days after I posted, I was in Perth, and saw this. So happy to see this again. It's the exact same thing we used to have in Singapore.
Apartment and the car we rented.
Cooked some of our own meals cos 1) we had a kitchen 2) couldn't resist the fresh veggies/fruits and free range products sold.
Snacks are a must! Anytime, anywhere! My sis said Singapore used to have these Kraft Dunkers, but she doesn't see them anymore. I don't know, cos I am not really a cheese lover... but, these Dunkers are nice!
Had brunch on one of the days at this restaurant called Penny Gardens, located at Swan Valley. Booked online before we got there. Nice food, pretty huge portion. Each main course cost about 22-35AUD? (somewhere there) A tad expensive, but that's the norm.
Barramundi Very sweet and yummy corn! Saw the mushy thing in the centre? That's the mashed potato. My sis and I agree that's the best mashed potato we've ever eaten.
Pork Kassler A bit salty, but I'm perfectly okay with that. Soft potato again!
Stuffed Chicken Breast (If I didn't remember wrongly) And the orangey thing...mashed sweet potato. Heaven. I am just very satisfied with the food they served.
There is this huge piece of greenery outside the restaurant and this place which sells coffee called Yahava. So people get their coffee/cakes/pastries, get a sit outside, chit-chat and watch the day pass.
And roll, roll, roll... here we go!
Made a short visit to Caversham.
This Print Shop is epic! This man inside still uses old printing methods (sadly, no photographs were allowed. But he shared with us about the printing methods, where they originated and how long they have been used. Since the 30s and they are still going strong!)
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And we ventured to Fremantle.
Over here, you can choose the seafood you want and let them cook according to the method you want too. Or, just purchase the fast-food menu kind of seafood.
THIS IS REALLY CUTE!
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Top of Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Perth City view from Kings Park
To commemorate the Australian soldiers who had lost their lives during the World War.
This was found opposite the hotel we stayed when we got to the city area (Mercure, Perth). Such coincidence!
From here: 
From here: 
From here: 
