Ken Or Kennot?

Life...

2008-05-07T13:00:00.002+08:00

As the morning dew slips from the greens in the meadow, I thought to myself, what can I do to make today an unforgettable one?

Everyday, we wake up, go through the same routines, not giving additional thought or sparing another moment to feel the world around us. The mundane chores we have to go through, the work that has to be done, the dues that has to be paid; sometimes I stop and ask myself, what is it that actually pushes us to live another day of this mundane life.

Mundane? Why do we feel that life is mundane? Is it really because it is or is it due to our way of thinking that has turned it into what we think it is. Maybe it's just another construction of the mind; or maybe because everybody feels that it is so. Sure, sometimes life isn't all that forgiving or good. But it is with these bleak moments that make the better ones seem all that more sweet and savoury. No, I am not in the lows now, neither am I unhappy; in fact, I am quite the opposite... because I have learnt to look and live life with a different field of perception.

We have to go through mundane chores everyday so why not make the most of them? Take a break from that vicious cycle of thought and look at things from another perspective, who knows, you might find life's reasons and joys too.

Make everyday an unforgettable one~

Too often have I let life slip by, more often that not, opportunities pass by because I have not been looking out for them...

Come What May~

2008-05-06T16:42:00.002+08:00

It's been close to 4 months since my last post. The year 2008 has so far been on a good note; sure, the semester that has just passed was a gruelling one but the difference is in that special someone who has walked into my life, putting things right no matter how difficult and trying they are.

Most of my school mates will be graduating after this semester, leaving me and a couple others who have gone for the 6 months internship behind to battle it out for another 6 months. Well, I see it as a good thing; gives me more time to contemplate on my future and a chance to start and sustain a business with a couple of friends.

I am back, with renewed confidence and the will to fight for another day :)

All is not lost as long as the heart beats on; it is only lost when you say it is...

2008... A New Beginning

2008-01-13T16:11:00.000+08:00

With yet another blink of the eye, 2008 has arrived and I've already gone through almost half of the first month. The previous year held many a memories for me, the best and most important would be my internship at Lucasfilm Animation Singapore. I've learnt more than just how to work; I've forged relationships with a bunch of really nice people from parts of the world that I've never been to. I thank you all for the wonderful 6 months of working together =)

Although the past year also had its fair share of unhappy moments, I just have to look forward and move on. Your future depends on what you do today. I've started 2008 on a positive note, especially in the mental portion; I told myself, that this year is going to be unlike any other. It will be a year of achievements, a year where I will build on from the previous one. With so many supportive and wonderful friends around me, I am a truly blessed person.

I hope 2008 will be a wonderful year for all you people! Let us work towards a better future and a terrific 2008!! Cheers~ :)

"Many a times, challenges & unhappiness appear to unsettle your footing; only by facing and taking them on will you come to achieve greater things..."

Special Day...

2007-08-04T09:51:00.000+08:00

Everyday is as special a day as any other. I am soon going into my 6th week of internship come monday and I must say, it has been a real eye opener for me so far. Things have been going quite fine for me at the moment, although there may be minor hiccups here and there, I have learnt to accept and learn from them rather than fret over for unecessary amounts of time. Sure, I do get angry and upset over things when they don't seem to happen as I would expect them to, but the anger and sadness is only passing.

Time really flies when we least notice it, especially when we are enjoying ourselves.

PS: Do get well soon, your special day is coming~ :D

Life After Death...

2007-06-29T17:40:00.000+08:00

You don't wait for death to come aknocking before you begin to realise that you've missed out on the most beautiful part of life; that of bringing happiness to the people around you.

Remembered that its a long long long while ago since you last saw your best friend? Call him/her out today for a cup of tea. It's been a long time since you last spent time for yourself? Go find your favourite hideout and do your favourite things. It's high time we did something for ourselves and our loved ones if we hadn't been moving that ol'gear in ages.

Nothing in the world warrants a death sentence as would death itself. Anything can be solved, if you try your best. Even if it doesn't get solved, you would know you did what you could and regret will not follow.

Simmer yourself in a pool of joy today with the people you love!

Of Arguments and Such...

2007-06-28T15:11:00.000+08:00

Many a times, people get into arguments with one another because they feel that they have been wronged. When handled properly, arguments can be a chance for the involved to learn and understand one another better. However, if arguments lead to abuse, be it physical or verbal, the consequences could be as irreversible as breaking an expensive ming vase. Sometimes, we may not mean what we say in a heated argument, often times leading to extreme hurt for the other person. We could all avoid this situation by taking some time out when the involved parties are still heated up. During this time, we can think back on what we have done or why this anger and argument has been brought up. It is always better to discuss about disagreements with a cool head, as I have experienced many a times with my brother in the past (though he's a really pleasant guy now that he's grown up); when he's angry, anything that you say goes in one ear and out into the thrash can from the other. If you are lucky, you might even see a chair hurtling towards your face...

Nevertheless, everyone gets into disagreements and arguments. Big or small, with the right perception and way of handling them, even severe disagreements can become a chance for knowing the other person better. With each disagreement, another strand of hair gets ironed straight.

The next time you get into an argument, take a deep breath and cool down first before deciding to load your machine gun. At the end of the day, people disagree because they care for each other, else, they wouldn't be bothered to waste their breath on you.

A different outlook on the same situation offers many a route to how things turn out. You are in control of your life :D

Life's Really a Game?

2007-06-26T10:29:00.000+08:00

Power struggles, doing the "right" things at the right time, "paying" for your mistakes, people ignoring you for no reason sometimes, people backstabbing you, people walking out on you... Life's kind of screwed up at times when these things happen. Even the dearest people around you might do things (knowingly or unknowingly) to inexplicably flip your life upside down. I guess no one can really understand what another is thinking, even if its your closest buddies. Sometimes people don't really mean what they say; you might lose the "game" if you take those comments at face value and act on them. Then again, it isn't a wise idea to ponder and think too much on a statement that someone made...

Sometimes I feel that I show too much care for the people around me; maybe I should just take my foot off the pedal a bit. Too much of anything is stifling I suppose :p

Puzzled and confused... though still having a happy outlook on life as a whole :D

Love yourself to love others~

Think Far...

2007-06-25T14:54:00.000+08:00

Whatever you do now affects your future so make your choices wisely. Too often do we make the mistake of thinking and acting upon only the present. By doing so, we neglect what our decisions today will affect our future. Short sightedness they call it. People tend to move and think one step at a time, which might lead to dire ramifications later on; though not always.

It is not wrong to sometimes do things one step at a time, but it would be even better if we could learn to think a bit further before we apply our decisions today.

Though easier said than done, we just got to try, everything's worth a shot, isn't it?

A step, a jump, a leap into a better future.

A Happy Sunday...

2007-06-24T12:57:00.000+08:00

Bright is the sun, although it never really shed its splendour inside. The exterior is all shine and cheer, though deeper secrets lie within. The night offers shrouded protection for an otherwise frail interior. The sun, eager to rip off the shroud, shines mercilessly on.

It describes not me. Long have I bade it goodbye, never to revisit its halls again. Happiness and joy has visited and stayed with me ever since. Happiness and sadness are like what I have said before, 2 sides of a same coin. You choose the colours of your feelings for the day; why not make the better choice today?

Happy sunday to all and may joy and happiness follow you wherever you go.

Time Waits For No One...

2007-06-20T09:18:00.000+08:00

Time passes and waits for no man. The ravages of time becomes clear as we continue to slog and work for our supposed "better future". It is true that we have to think and plan into the future when we are still young. For time has a knack of leaving you and your plans behind when you least expect it. With each passing second, we come a step closer to our eventual demise, but also at the same time, we build and forge stronger bonds between our friends and loved ones. I am spending every second I can to enrich my life as well as provide joy for my loved ones.

What about you? Have you spread your happiness to the people around you today?

Time carries on its relentless march into the future, but we have a choice to stop, discover and enjoy each step we take in our life.

Gains and Losses...

2007-06-18T23:49:00.000+08:00

The inevitable has happened, my uncle has passed away this morning. Life is indeed unpredictable; you really will not know what will happen to you in the next moment. Sometimes we hesitate in saying or doing things for our loved ones; thinking back on it, our deliberations may sound or seem rather stupid. At most we will just get a scornful look or get rejected. Nothing is more painful than not being able to express your feelings and showing that you care to those that are dear to you.

In today's society, everyone yearns for a better life and will slog and work at all costs just to get there. After getting what we want, our greed will not be appeased; instead, we will be yearning for more riches beyond what we already have. I feel that we can never amass all the wealth in the world, but we can, however, amass and spread feelings of joy and happiness to our loved ones, telling them how special they are in our lives.

Start showing that you love for the people who are dear to you. Wait not for regret to come aknocking. Rather than saying "I should have", you should be saying "I'm glad that I did."

You lose nothing when you give your care and love; you have all to lose if you choose to keep them to yourself.

Frailities of Life...

2007-06-13T14:26:00.000+08:00

Amidst all that clutter of work and play, have you ever thought to yourself or asked yourself what the most important thing to you is? Everyday, we take each minute of our existance for granted, focusing on things that may not matter at all. We get angry over our friends or peers when they do something wrong or bad to us. We get extremely sad when we lose a bet or did badly for examinations.

My uncle was diagnosed with terminal cancer recently and it has been an awakening call to me to not take life for granted. Every new day is like a blessing bestowed upon us; you wouldn't know what will happen to you in the next moment. Illnesses can strike at any time and so can accidents and mishaps. It is not to say that we should be extra cautious in everything we do but it will be good to take everyday as a perfect day. Nothing is more important than being healthy and being alive; we can all do a little less of fretting, getting angry at people and being sad over things. Sure, these emotions are sometimes uncontrollable but we can learn to minimise them.

For starters, I'm going to work out an exercise routine chart. What steps are you going to take to make your life that little bit better?

Take life not for granted, everyday is a beautiful day.

Tranquil Solace...

2007-06-09T23:52:00.000+08:00

The night evokes many feelings within me as the moon hangs high in the sky and people tucked into their beds. It is a period of tranquility when the hectic pace of the society comes to a halt as the tired climb into their nests for a peaceful night's rest.

Rest does not disrupt progress, instead, it refreshes your heart and soul for another wonderful day. A very good night to you; time for bed :)

Solace and tranquility; one of the many qualities of the "darkness" after sunset.

Someone Special...

2007-06-08T09:57:00.000+08:00

There are those that just come and go without a trace, there are those that walk in and stay for a long time and there are those that leaves footprints in your heart which will last for a lifetime. My days has been showered with an abundance of happiness which I hope, will extend into the future for many many decades to come. Special people deserve that little extra special attention and care ;)

Often times people seek to receive more than they want to give; which portrays images of selfishness and such. Sometimes, if we start giving a little more to the people around us, we might just discover that hey, there is warmth left in this world after all. It isn't just about siphoning advantages off people all the time. So if you think you have been "cold" towards everyone all these time, its high time you took out your happiness sprinklers and start sprinkling that extra bit of joy to your loved ones.

*Sprinkle sprinkle sprinkle

Have you met anyone lately who leaves imprints in you so deep that it will take a lifetime to forget? I did :)

Far Far Away Land...

2007-06-05T09:17:00.000+08:00

Shrek 3 was really short, standing at roughly 1 hour 20 minutes. Short it may be, but it still tickles my funny bones from start till finish with their crazy antics and witty pokes at each other. Eddie Murphy's donkey is still as annoying as ever... hahaha; I wonder what Shrek will be like without the crazy donkey...

I'm going for my 2nd game fest meeting later today and yes, I am still waiting for APB and Lucasfilm to arrange an interview with me; wonder what is taking them so long... It rained really hard yesterday afternoon, so hard that I couldn't even see what's 5 metres away from me. Guess the skies had to let go after keeping back its waters for so many days. The rain does wonders in cooling down the scorched surroundings and provide tranquil solace for our worn out souls out there. The pace of life has not helped the least bit and it is with moments like these that we can put down everything that we are doing and just stare into the rain, relaxing as the water droplets splatter against the windows and streets below.

Sometimes we are just too absorbed with the things at hand that we tend to miss the finer details of life.

Skies and Clouds...

2007-06-03T19:18:00.000+08:00

Its the end of another Sunday as the days continue to tear away from the calendar. It has been a relaxing day, with nothing much to rush or complete, lest a proposal which I have dismissed with an hour or so of my time. The day has been spent wondering and looking at the passing crowd below my home as they make their way to the central transport backbone of Singapore; the MRT. Everyone's dressed up, looking their Sunday best and smiling from ear to ear as they make their way to meet or spend a wonderful day with their loved ones.

Me? I decided to avoid the Sunday crowd, especially at the city area where the final day for the PC Fair is. Traffic's going to be real congested, both vehicles and human. Glad I stayed at home; I've seen the weekend crowds one too many times before at computer fairs. It is a scene best to avoid, unless you are really in the mood for some pushing and squeezing.

The skies has been real good today, not a moment for the rain to step in. Warm, sunny and bright. It does make for a wonderful day, doesn't it?

How's your Sunday? I hope it's as good as anyone's :D

Stars and Moon...

2007-06-02T22:31:00.000+08:00

All so bright, high up above, shining our way, showing our path. The stars and the moon light our path, making sense out of the dark surroundings after the sun has long set. When you turn your head to the skies above, without fail, they will be there, gazing down onto the earth below. Even the dark black sea comes alive with a stream of moonlight on its calm waters, with streaks of silver lights dancing with each passing wave. As with life, there will always be light no matter how grim or dark times may seem, for soon, all the darkness will give way to light.

Perservere and you will eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Buzz Buzz...

2007-05-31T10:52:00.000+08:00

Today's public holiday and my house is in a mess... hahaha. Well, at least I can watch two thirds of the TV, with boxes blocking the other third. Happy Vesak day to all and do live this day to the fullest. Going out to get some lamps for the dining area as well as some food to fill the empty stomach. Hopefully Lucasfilm will get back to me real soon, can't wait to go down to their office for a look.

The computer fair's on today but I ain't planning to go down later; its gonna be real crowded... really really crowded and I hate crowds... haha. All the best to you guys who will be working as salespersons on the fair's grounds; business' gonna be good today for you.

Bright, sunny & happy - My feelings for the day and hopefully for yours too :)

Make Everyday a Good Day...

2007-05-30T11:54:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was a great day, today's going to be better and tomorrow's going to be an even better day than today. Each day that we have represents new hope and calls for a celebration. What is life if not bathed in happiness. Everyone will definitely have their ups and downs but it is up to each individual how they handle their downs. Sometimes happiness and sadness are just 2 sides of a coin, you have the power to determine your mood.

I'm still waiting for Lucasfilm to contact me for the interview... Haha, guess they are not in a hurry to hire interns at all :)

Hey Viggy, t'was great bumping into you at the Esplanade yesterday; we really oughtta catch up with each other some time soon. Can't wait for 7-4-7 to come :)

Heads or Tail, you decide.

Interview Day...

2007-05-28T08:53:00.000+08:00

My first interview is coming up soon in another 2 hours time. I've done my homework, sort of prepared my mind for what to say and react later. I'm still uncertain whether I would be fully interested to work for this company as I am still waiting for 2 more interviews with Lucasfilm and APB.

I'm certainly going to melt in the sun today... its exceptionally bright and sunny today... haha. Oh well, at least it reflects my feelings for the day; bright and sunny. Hope everything goes well later. Really looking forward to gaining some experience before returning to school for my final year of studies. To achieve what you want, you have to make an effort to make things happen; that's what I did and will continue to do so.

Fingers crossed; hope I don't mess up the interview later... haha :D

My Sunday...

2007-05-27T16:19:00.000+08:00

Spent 2.5 hours waiting for a haircut... Going to finish preparing DVDs for the short film meeting on tuesday... Got to prepare for an interview tomorrow morning... My Sunday's packed and everything is screaming for time and attention. Well... at least its still a Sunday! Everyone's enjoying themselves doing the things they like; going out with family and friends, or staying at home reading a good book. A rest day away from the frantic pace of work, a day to relax and be happy, a day to do what you always wanted to do, a day for everyone.

My Sunday, your Sunday, our Sunday. Cheers! :D

Nothing Comes Easily...

2007-05-25T09:45:00.000+08:00

Today's the release of the examination results, guess everyone is getting kind of jittery and stuff now... haha. Like today's topic, nothing ever comes easy in life. When opportunities come aknocking, we gotta start grabbing the ones that are beneficial to us. I just received a call from an internship company that I've sent my resume out to this morning. Will be going down for an interview coming Monday.

When things don't happen the way you want it to, just keep trying. I am not losing hope or starting to mistrust myself nor the people and friends around me just because of setbacks. I will still perservere as long as there is hope left. Troubles are but cornerstones for growth. Getting past them is no easy task but with each one resolved, we all grow up a little more and will learn to cherish the things around us just that little bit more.

When tired, take a short break and thereafter, carry on moving forward; nothing can stop you lest yourself. Nothing comes easy, to achieve things, you've got to be willing to put in the effort.

Of Trust and Human Relations...

2007-05-24T12:05:00.000+08:00

Trust is a very important factor in human relationships. If you do not trust your parents, your friends, your spouse, what else is there to maintain or be happy about in a relationship? But attaining and getting trust from another is more easily said than done. The trust and bonds built between parents and child has been in place since the day the child was born into this world. The trust that his/her parents would take care of him/her, do things that are of the best interest for them, give them the assurance to become what they want to be, cannot be attributed to one factor alone but many others that contribute to their ultimate trust.

Like friends, we trust each other to not sell one another out, not to spurt out secrets told to them, not to do things that might be detrimental to the other. The trust has to start out somehow, however small in the beginning and slowly gaining strength as the friendship goes on; each knowing each others' personality better. The important thing here is that trust has to be in the friendship to allow for it to go on and blossom. Best friends are not best friends because they just occur, but because of the amount of trust that has grown and intertwined into the relationship.

Without trust, any type of relationships will be halted from developing further. Though hard to give, the first step is always important. I'm not saying that anyone should place their complete trust on another, but to slowly add on and afford more trust as the relationship goes along, not suspect and remove your trust upon unfounded things.

Sometimes people try and failed, but many others succeed. Is trusting a person really so hard?

Internship Interview

2007-05-23T11:06:00.000+08:00

Was late for the interview by 5 minutes yesterday... had to wait 20 minutes for a bus after I missed one by seconds at 10.40am yesterday. Normally the wait for bus 96 is about 3-5 minutes, but well, its the holidays... Everything went quite well for the interview yesterday, exceeded the time allocated by 20 minutes and 2 others who were scheduled for the later interviews after me had to wait outside... haha

I wanna get into LucasFilms!!! :D Wish me luck...

Of Life...

2007-05-22T08:43:00.000+08:00

We can't take things too hard, can we? Some things will happen no matter what we do, we might have absolutely no control over the situation. What we can is just to do whatever is within our means and leave be the thing to unfold by itself. No one controls fate and certainly, no one will know exactly what will happen in the future or even 10 minutes after. Take things as they come and free yourself of the unecessary worries.

I've an internal interview for an internship during next semester coming up at 11am today. I'd hope to be able to get an internship in one of the companies I've chosen. Hopefully I'll get it, but if I don't, I won't be dejected for long; I'll try again next coming semester.

What you reap might not be what you sow in the end, but nevertheless, dejection and sadness must not creep in, lest you want it to affect your next attempt. The sun continues to rise everyday, time continues to tick, water continues its flow, everything else is growing, nothing stops for anyone in this world. We have to adapt to survive.

There are many things worth pursuing and discovering in the present rather than mulling over the misgivings in the past. We live for the present and future, not the past.

Past & Present...

2007-05-21T11:27:00.001+08:00

I have made mistakes in the past and I am willing to make ammends for it. Spilt milk cannot be retrieved again but it can be cleaned up. Hope is not lost because of an error made. Everybody makes errors, the most important thing is that they are willing to admit to the mistake and make an effort to prevent it from happening again in the future. We are all learning from our mistakes along the way; making us a better person each time.

The worst that can come from a person who has made a mistake is that he/she refuses to admit to that and continues to believe that what they have done is right. Acknowledging to a mistake is a first step to becoming a better person, what comes after is just as important too.

Each mistake adds a new step to your flight of stairs that will eventually lead to the garden of success.

Startup@Singapore 2007

2007-05-20T10:55:00.000+08:00

It has been a good experience to take part in this competition, although we didn't get into the finals, we did learn a lot about business presentations and how venture capitalists would ask and drill youwith questions pertaining to why they should invest in your ideas. Its great to present together as a team again after one semester of not working together. The rapport is still there, although we didn't really rehearse together before the presentations. 2 of my team mates are already in the job market looking for jobs while the rest of the 3 are pursuing their final year of studies. I hope that everything will go well for each and everyone of us; may we achieve what we started out to and succeed in life. This competition might be over at the moment and with each of us entering another chapter in our lives, but our friendship will hold long after this; much longer into the future.

Fond memories of the past, bright hopes for the future.

Presentation Day...

2007-05-19T07:40:00.000+08:00

Today's the day where our team will be presenting for the Startup@Singapore Business Plan Competition 2007 as a semi-finalist. Preparations has been brisk, hopefully everything will go well for us today. It'll be great to be in the finals :D

Charging my laptop and preparing my mind for the big one later...

Of Internships & Decisions...

2007-05-18T15:02:00.000+08:00

I've just received a call from my department of study regarding a 6 month long internship for the coming semester. I am looking forward to gaining some experience in renowned companies such as Citigroup and LucasFilms. However, if I were to do this internship, I would have outdone my quota of level 3000 modules for the graduation requirements; meaning that if I were to map this internship as a module, it would be of no use to lighten my module load. As of now, my module loads stands at 7 level 4000 modules and 1 breadth.

Nevertheless, I'll be going for the internal interview next tuesday and decide whether it will be worth going for the internship next semester.

Fingers crossed :D

Do what you must and hope for the best.

Memories of 06/07...

2007-05-17T09:20:00.000+08:00

The premier league has ended with Man Utd lifting the well deserved and coveted trophy that has eluded them for years thus far. I am proud and happy for my team to lift the premiership trophy after so many years, and rightfully so because of the way the youth players has developed over the seasons. Ronaldo, Rooney, Carrick, Vidic, Evra, Park Ji Sung have all had a terrific season since they came to Old Trafford over the last 2 to 3 years.

I am looking forward to season 07/08 with hope and optimism that Man Utd will once again fulfill the wishes of the fans; to defend the premier league, win the FA cup and lift the champions league cup. A treble would do most nicely for us; they've done it before in 1999, why can't they repeat their successes again in the next coming season? I have high hopes for them to do well and I know they will. Because they have the drive, the determination and optimism to know that they will excel.

Who would predict that Man Utd will lift the premier league trophy this year? Ever since Chelsea went on a mad shopping spree for players, everyone thought the premiership was doomed, doomed because Chelsea could have all the players they wanted. Sure, they had the cash, but Man Utd have something more than just cash; they had the sheer determination and lust for success. Try better again next season, blues :D I'm sure we, United fans are looking forward to another good premiership fight between the 2 biggest clubs in England.

With hope and hard work, anything is possible. Not only for football clubs, but for everyone else too. Believe in what you do and you will go on to achieve great things! :D

The future's bright, isn't it?

New Day, Better Day...

2007-05-14T09:35:00.000+08:00

Its another new day and the start of a new week. It is essential to think of everyday as a new beginning, a new start. Forget the setbacks of yesterday, treat them as lessons learnt that will better prepare you for the future. Look forward and reach out for all the wondrous things that are awaiting for you. The future is bright, the future is beautiful and the future is welcoming you.

What you did yesterday becomes part of your memory, what you do today becomes your future.

A Tribute to All Mothers...

2007-05-13T11:06:00.000+08:00

Today is your day, you deserve it and you should enjoy every moment of it. Bearing a child into this world is no easy task and certainly, nurturing him or her into what he or she is today is not easy too. We are all grateful for what you have done for us; we cannot repay you enough but what we can do, is to show that we care too and that we love you.

A day for you, a day for love, show that you care with a simple heartfelt gesture. Every mother deserves it :) Happy mothers day!

A Breath of Life...

2007-05-12T09:05:00.000+08:00

It is hope that I wake up to everyday, it is hope that I rely on for air everyday, it is hope that keeps me alive every morning and night. I cannot imagine a day without hope in our hearts. Everything and anything can go wrong at any moment in our lives, but it is precisely hope that keeps us all sane and looking forward. Things start to get awry when hope leaves our lives; people commit suicide, people give up on themselves, people find no more reason to continue their measely existance in this mortal world.

Hope gives us a breath of life as we continue to live out our short existance in this world. What holds for tomorrow, I cannot say, but for today, I have hope for a better tomorrow.

We might not be remembered by everyone after our passing but being remembered by a select few is peace enough for the heart. Do something today, make an effort, lest you want regret to visit at old age.

Another New Day...

2007-05-10T08:49:00.000+08:00

Its another new day and I'm looking forward to it as much as ever with optimism. The sun's bright this morning, beating down on my brown tinted glass window panes. I do hope you had a good night's rest yesterday too.

Ever played the game Loco Rocco? If you had, you would have remembered the little black specks that sticks onto your loco rocco ball and slows it down, disabling it from jumping higher. These little black specks are like the burdens that we carry with us everyday, the more of them present, the more we are unable to move forward. Like I've said yesterday, we gotta rid ourselves of these specks and move forward into a better future. Jump into the pool and wash them black specks clean; you'll notice that with a lighter baggage, you will be enjoying much more of your time and life.

Today's going to be a great day, isn't it? :)

Travelling Light...

2007-05-09T09:27:00.000+08:00

Carrying baggage from the past prevents one from seeing the new horizons of the present and the future. If you are willing to stow those baggage away, a whole new and beautiful world waits for you ahead. Accepting and acknowledging the happiness that exists around you is the greatest of all gifts; one big mistake that we all commit is to take things that bother us so seriously that we tend to miss out on all the good and wonderful things that are around us now. You have the power to lead a better life; you can accept happiness or reject it, only if one is willing to forgive the past and discover the many wonders and beauty of the present. Life is short, why bother to burden yourself with the pains of the past? Would you want to spend the remainder of your life in pain because of the past? Or would you want to rediscover and explore the wondrous terrains of the present and the future?

Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting, forgiving is being good to yourself. You rid yourself of the unnecessary emotional or physical burdens that would otherwise plague you if you stubbornly hold on to the past. I have experienced many unhappy things and events in my secondary school times, but I have learnt over the years to forgive and move on. I used to bear a grudge for those who have done me wrong in the past, but hey, I’m only hurting myself and the people that I love around me by being unhappy over the past.

To err is human and to forgive is divine.

A Better Future

2007-05-08T09:22:00.000+08:00

I am looking forward to next Monday where it will be a start of a more reinforced and better future. All the memories of old are no doubt etched in our minds, sometimes hard to forget or let go. I will neither try to erase nor forget them, instead, we will work harder towards our goal, of a better now and future. Mistakes that are pointed out and made known only serves to help us better in understanding the situation, which will eventually lead to resolutions and happiness.

Pondering on things alone are not sufficient to make them go away. A little effort, no matter how small, will enable you to take a step closer to solving a problem. I am sure and have faith that there will be a difference, a better difference that is to be made with our collective efforts.

Life is beautiful, if you give it a chance and make an effort to make things just that little better.

Questions & Doubts...

2007-05-07T08:54:00.000+08:00

Why? How? What can I do to make everything better? I really would like to know...
I really would...

If ever there are any greater benevolent forces out there, its time you come around to convince me. Show up now before I go round and wallop your statuettes... hahaha :)

I tried, failed, thought, grappled, tossed & turn, but I just can't, I just can't... Words from an Insomniac

Violet Rain Studios...

2007-05-05T20:37:00.000+08:00

Violet Rain has been a dream of mine ever since early April 2006, I wanted to create a showcase for my works which includes photography (landscape + product) and short films which I have participated in or directed over the past 3 years. It is high time that I've gotten down to creating a website for my dream studios. As mentioned in my previous post, I will be looking forward to getting a lot of things done this holidays since I could not secure an internship; the website will definitely be on top of my list of priorities.

I will be updating the progress of the website as it continues to grow everyday here, on the blog. If you guys have any suggestions or would like to render help of any kind, do let me know. I would be more than happy to have you inside our team. Budding photographers, video editors, do join us and be part of the Violet Rain family! I am currently looking into selling stock photographs on the website that is to be completed before the end of August, so if you would like to place your photos on the website, do let me know too :)

A step, a jump, however small, will bring you nearer to your goal.

Brushing Up...

2007-05-02T18:03:00.000+08:00

The 3 month long holidays are here again with that last paper of the semester bidding me a fond farewell in the saturday past. I've not been able to secure an internship for this long vacation but I'll be spending it with my loved ones; which is just as good. What about you guys? Got any jobs? Graduating or just lazing around for this holiday?

First things first, I've got to start getting my licence this holiday. There are like so many things to do and so little time to do them all. Brushing up my keyboard skills, Japanese, photography, reading up on design books, palying, music theories... hahaha, I don't know when I'll stop listing the things to do; there's just too many! The skies are opening up a little these days, its been raining like almost everyday during my examination period. I'll be looking into doing landscape photography of Pulau Ubin, nature reserves & whatever places I can think of; so do "register" with me if you are interested :D

Gotta get back to upgrading myself during this internless break.

The skies are open for everyone, its only a matter of the heart whether one would take an opportunity or let it pass.

The 100th Post...

2007-04-27T13:09:00.000+08:00

Finally, I've reached the 100th post for my blog; and tomorrow's my final paper for this semester! Wooohooo~

Just as I have discovered that things in life happens in dualities, there are of course, actions that we can all take to diminish the effects of those bad, evil and detrimental events. The weather these days has been atrocious. Heavy amounts of water from the heavens dance onto the earthen floors with such tingling glee that many would find unwelcome; especially when it comes at times when you just finish your papers :P

I will be exploring for new places to practice my photography skills and would gladly welcome any of my friends out there who would be interested to partake in these trips. Do let me know if you are interested and we can arrange for a couple of photography trips. What say you eh? :D

The sun shines through even the bleakest of skies; setbacks are but opportunities with thorns.

Exams exams exams...

2007-04-17T16:13:00.000+08:00

Its that time of the semester again, where everyone in NUS starts mugging and bugging their lecturers for exam tips. Up for me this semester, are 2 papers, namely Film Art and Intro to E-Commerce, both of which are open book exams. From my past experiences, open book exams are one of the hardest exams there are; questions will not be straight forward, which is why they are open book.

Things have been going well for me so far. Life doesn't have to be all gloom and doom; once you hit rock bottom, you'll bounce back up to the skies again. If you try.

Here's to wishing everyone all the best for their upcoming exams. Remember to pass with "frying" colors. Spread the happiness, folks... its exam time!

"It is interesting to note how we have grown over time, though what seemed like an eternity is really just yesterday. Happiness? It's for spreading to your loved ones." - Kenneth 17/4

Golden Rays...

2007-04-03T08:19:00.000+08:00

The sun creeps up into the skies, touching people in slumber with gentle golden rays. Good morning; time to wake up!

The Truth Hurts...

2007-03-12T09:15:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I wonder to myself; are liars more successful and blessed people than those who are honest? Well, they always seem to be a whole lot more cheerful and happy with the people around them. Perhaps telling the truth really hurts, so much so that it pushes its victims to the edge of the cliff. A little lie won't hurt? Although my philosophy on life will certainly not condone to that, somehow, I feel that it does make some sense after all. Am I weak, or am I just another victim of today's ruthless societal "truth"; the "truth" that the honest (= weak) get all the blame while the liar (= winners) get all the best.

After some thought and advice from my dear friends, I feel that we should be honest lest you want all those lies to pile up and squeeze you to death :)

The ghosts of the past always returns to haunt the present; collect none and you shall have none visiting in the future...

Eye e City 2006...

2007-01-01T12:16:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was the last day of 2006 and I did something special this year round; taking pictures of what meant the most in 2006. A lot of things happened in the past year and it was a great pleasure taking part in "Eye e City" to help capture the most significant moments/monuments of 2006.

The photography session brought me and my "secretary" around the city, from the Esplanade to Chinatown, Dhoby Ghaut to Orchard and the national museum. The trip ended with a submission of the photos to the organisers over at Bras Basah Complex before I headed over to the Padang to join my family for the new year fireworks viewing.

The new year was welcomed amidst the joy and laughter of the people as well as the great big bang of the last fireworks. 2007 is here, a brand new beginning, a better future. Happy New Year everyone!!!

"Sometimes, the most beautiful thing is just beside you; pay more attention to the surroundings and you'll be surprised with what you can find."

A Warm Winter...

2006-12-17T10:58:00.000+08:00

The season of giving is here again and as always, the sweltering heat. Christmas holidays in Singapore feels exceptionally "normal" and similar to all the other days in the year. The only difference? The decors along the city area and shopping centres.

I have been to several places around Singapore in the last 4 days, recording each and every nook with my lens. The picture that I've taken above is from Mt. Faber, on a fine Thursday morning. The warmth of the sun began creeping onto the hill at early dawn, breaking the silence of the night. The water droplet siginifies the hope of a brand new day together with rays of hope from the sun.

A winter that is warm, warm with the love and concern of your loved ones; isn't that wonderful?

The Past, The Present & The Future...

2006-12-12T11:22:00.000+08:00

The semester has threaded past with such blazing speeds that I am caught standing at the junctions, stunned yet again. Now, a quarter of the break has whisked by with little consolation of achievements as the new semester begins to beckon.

Everything is progressing with the advent of time, yet, there are certain nooks and cracks around that still fight to retain the splendor of times past; memories, places, people. There are some that simply refuse to change, albeit better or worse; not for us to judge, but for them to ponder. Nostalgia has always been a part of our lives, be it not for our rapid progression over time, it will not have been present. The interplay of the future, present and the past brings about feelings, emotions and intense thoughts which adds to the flavour of life.

Everyone progresses, knowingly or unknowingly; I am glad that a handful of my dearest friends and people I know retain yet some of the most beautiful parts of themselves, protecting them from the ravages of time. It has truly been wonderful knowing all those who have been striving to maintain the best parts of themselves in today's unforgiving world.

For that, I give you my deepest salutations.

"Time is, time was, but time will never be lost" Memories...

Emerald Oasis...

2006-10-19T16:23:00.000+08:00

Where is the elusive emerald oasis that I've been searching for? I can catch only a glimpse, a glitter, of the oasis from afar. It appears within reach yet it is not. It seems far, but it actually isn't. I wish to travel the world with my camera, capturing every moment of life abroad, the people, the places, the cultures; that is my oasis.

What about yours?

I want...

2006-10-08T23:36:00.000+08:00

...to bask in the morning sun in the maldives with a glass of ice cold champagne in my hand. The gentle carress of the sea breeze combing through each strand of my hair as I sip champagne from my glass without a care for anything in the world. That, is what I call... relaxing! :)

Reflections...

2006-10-04T11:26:00.000+08:00

Finally, some free time away from school... Its been a while since I'm afforded this luxury of a 2 day break. Although it is part and perhaps, "mandatory", it is, however, taken away from me in the last few weeks to make way for project discussions which have come to naught.

I've been catching up on some much needed rest, recapping of things taught in school & of course, completing homework that has to handed up by next week. I've been thinking to myself about the future; what I should do, what achievements should I strive for and most importantly, whether I should continue studying for an honours.

That aside, my family just had a new addition, in the form of a pretty active dog, a Jack Russell, to be exact. My brother just adopted it from SPCA last Sunday and it has proved to be quite a handful for all of us. I never knew that playful meant PLAYFUL... He's really a feisty little fella who finds fun in nibbling at your hands and pouncing onto you when you reach home. Well, things had better take a turn for the better in the next few days. He seems to be learning the ropes of our household rules today, not all that mad and feisty as he was in the first day.

Maybe the dog has given me a new look on life, the need for companionship, the need to feel loved. Not that I do not have or experienced these feelings before, but rather, reinforced them. We can't get all the attention we want all the time, unless we think like this little fella... haha...

Well, we'll see how things go from here. Hopefully, I'll figure out soon how my real future should be like. :)

Drenched Feelings...

2006-07-12T06:43:00.000+08:00

Morning dawned not with the first lights but with the sound of rain falling from the skies as I clambered out of bed. Today's field trip day... right, with the rain still going strong, I started to wonder if ever, we will be able to visit the folk villages as stated in the itinery today... unscathed. At least for today's packing list, I'll leave my Nikon out, opting for my Sony; which makes for much easier carrying.

The rain has always brought with it, intertwined feelings of happiness and gloom for me. I enjoy the serenity that it brings to the surroundings; people walking slowly in the streets with umbrellas and blank expressions, trees swaying in the wind with rainwater slipping off the tip of the leaves, birds no longer in flight but perched high up on trees, the sun being hidden behind the storm clouds and me, sitting and watching the drama as it unfolds from the comforts of my bed. Feelings of loss and lonliness seem to overcome me as I continued to watch the scenes with no clear purpose.

An insurgence of mixed feelings overcame me, with which I can find no words to describe with full justice. A drenched morning or a serene one? Your perception defines the essence of things; you choose the way you live.

Seoul...

2006-07-09T09:15:00.000+08:00

Finally, a new post after a long long break. I currently in Korea University, S.Korea, on an international summer campus; boy, am I enjoying myself or what?! I've uploaded some pictures of the places I've been to, including Jeju, Palaces and shopping paradises such as MyeongDong and many more! The URL is as follows:

http://www.imagestation.com/members/cybera

Well, catcha people around! I've got to go study for my test! on Monday!

Marina Bay...

2006-03-31T21:07:00.000+08:00

Just one of the many experimental photos that I've taken with my D50. This particular one was taken at Marina Park last Sunday. Figured that I should be getting a tripod soon for night shoots.

"The virtue of the camera is not the power it has to transform the photographer into an artist, but the impulse it gives him to keep on looking." -Brooks Anderson

Nikon D50

2006-03-27T22:20:00.000+08:00

I just got for myself a digital SLR camera. Been playing with it these 2 weeks and I should say that I am very pleased with the pictures that it takes. Its really a great jump from my old Sony Cybershot P72 P&S camera in terms of shutter speed and versatility.

I don't know if its just me; but ever since I got the the DSLR, my perception of the surroundings have changed. I used to just pass by things without paying much attention to them. Nowadays, I would just take that little bit more time to observe and appreciate the things around me.

If only everyone could take a bit of time off their hectic rushings to observe what's around them; life could be so much more intriguing... The beauty of perception cannot be underestimated.

Illusions...

2006-02-25T15:39:00.001+08:00

Many times have chance eluded us, many times have we been deluded. What we take for granted may not be there for long. The necessary may not be as necessary as it seems to be and the perils may not seem as perilous as we think them out to be.

The week has been a torrentious one, with assigments the size of meteorites raining down relentlessly unto my schedule. It has been but the most tedious and taxing of semesters that I have ever been through for the whole 1 and a 1/2 years of varsity life. No, I am not complaining but sharing with you my experiences.

Although filming for one of the assigments is done, it is because of careful planning and precise execution that managed to bring the shoot through unscathed. The weather has been kind to us, and for that, I am indeed grateful. A seemingly tight and impossible deadline of 3 weeks has been bestowed to us to finish an entire music video from audio recording to shooting and editing. However hard this seems, we have managed to conquer part of it; the summit seems near now. However, just over the horizon lies another daunting task for us to undertake. A deadline of 1 month is all that seperates us from life and death for the creation of a short film. Through past experiences, the time of a month is not enough to create a short film that is fit for watching; but I guess we'll have to make do with whatever we have.

Ripples on the surface of the sea tells not of the currents that runs underneath; a smile on the face signals not the emotions of the heart. Grab whatever comes by and proceed with your heart; feel before you do.

Lunar New Year

2006-02-01T11:17:00.000+08:00

I've been gorging myself silly over the past 3 to 4 days. It has been interesting to note that I have been telling myself not to gorge on food like there's no tomorrow; however, the subconscious me just carried on eating while I pondered on... :( More swimming sessions for me then...

This new year has gone by extremely fast, well, with the sudden increase in the number of red packets too (not a bad thing after all!). School's going to start tomorrow and here I am, going through the readings for tomorrow's lectures. Tommorrow's going to be another long day... 12pm to 9pm... somebody help me? heheh...

My brains went on vacation during the 3 days of chinese new year; yup, no deep thought process going inside my cranial cavity... what a way to relax and enjoy the holidays. :) I went over to Sentosa yesterday and took part in a photography competition; to my horror, one of my selected entries came out under-exposed... darn, oh well, at least my other 2 entries were "acceptable", by my standards of course... :)

Back to work then... Take care and enjoy whatever remnants of Chinese New Year that's left! (15 days you know... that leaves another 11 days of festive joy!)

Joy

2006-01-18T20:52:00.000+08:00

It cannot be bought; but it can however, be given.

Look From Within Into Beyond

2006-01-13T21:37:00.000+08:00

From within, we are bound by rules and regulations which the world beyond is without. Look at things from a new perspective; a perspective that spans from within but unbound by rules as beyond.

Things might appear just that little bit clearer and better if we all start to look and search outside the box even though we are bound within. Life's not just about abiding and following, isn't it?

A New Year...

2006-01-03T10:00:00.000+08:00

A new year brings about new resolutions for most people; a time to sit down and ponder on what one has done for the year that has just past. What have we done right and wrong; what we could have done better? We all make mistakes and we have come to accept them as part and parcel of life; what we can actually do is to prevent ourselves from committing them again in the new year.

After all the celebrations have died down, I began to wonder, what have I acheived in the year that has just passed. I remember something that my music instructor once told me which I try to keep in mind whenever and wherever; "No matter what you are doing, make sure that your mind is tuned to the right channel, with the correct mindset, anything is possible." I think that our mindset is an integral part that seperates success from failure, with a correct mindset comes confidence and determination and with that, success will most likely follow.

What about you? What have you achieved and are going to achieve in this new year?

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-24T22:36:00.000+08:00

Yes, its that time of the year again. The year has whisked by extremely fast and here we are again, at christmas. Very soon, we will be bidding 2005 goodbye; what have you done right or wrong in this year? The world has become a more unforgiving place but so too, has compassion shown its face in such dire times...

A merry christmas to everyone! ~Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!~

Family Trip...

2005-12-15T10:28:00.000+08:00

Another bushel of chronological hay has passed; it is already mid december and school's going to start again soon. The days of projects and examinations are just around the corner again. I still have another 3 or 5 semesters left on my academic pursuit. Putting things aside for a while, I will be going on a trip to Genting with my family; its a family tradition to visit some place away from home every holiday.
It has been a while since we last visited Genting; to be exact, about 8 to 9 years since we last set foot there.

I will be taking and archiving some photos and video clips of the scenery on Genting; hopefully, I will be starting a photo gallery account so that my "works" can be published for all to see. :)

Time to pull away from these mundane tasks of checking and replying emails, surfing webpages and computer games, I will be getting a life away from my norm; hopefully, I will come back a refreshed person, ready to take on the new semester. Till then, I shall leave you people to your own thoughts, I will be back though, with pictures and more to tell of my trip.

Happy Holidays!

Those Aimless Days...

2005-12-06T17:39:00.000+08:00

Its been almost a week after the examinations; I am neither exhiliarated nor content about having gone through the entire motion of exams. I thought I would be free to enjoy myself, to do anything that I want, but the harsh reality is that I just cannot bring myself to waste my time away doing useless things. I don't want to play my life away, I don't want to stay glued to my TV set, I don't want to just lay in bed...

Its been fun playing soccer with my brothers on Sunday, although I earned for myself a scorched and sunburnt face. Ah... the unrelentless fury of the sun... maybe I should go get myself a bottle of sunblock...

So, my friends, the first lesson learnt is to never play under the sun when the clock strikes 12 and the second, you can call me out anytime! Its the holidays!!!!!!!!! Wooohooooo!!!!!..... right.... I want to know my results... Heheheh...

Official i-mode Launch...

2005-11-19T08:42:00.000+08:00

Starhub has officially launched i-mode as of today. For more information about i-mode, you can visit their site at the following address: http://www.starhub.com/i-mode

If you are interested in signing up for Starhub's i-mode, let me know so that I can send you an e-voucher where you will get a special discount on your i-mode mobile phone and special i-mode data price plans. :)

Cheers!

Life, Exams and i-mode...

2005-11-16T15:16:00.000+08:00

Life's been quite the same; nothing unusual has happened and I certainly do not wish for anything funny to prop up now. Its like another 3 days till the start of the examinations. My preparations has been going on quite smoothly for the past few days; still on track from the timetable that I've drawn out on Sunday. :p

Been playing around with Starhub's i-mode service these few days. (Tried to stay away from the "omnipresent" computer... but... you know... heheh) Most of the content's not been updated regularly, except for the news section where Straits times, BBC and Bloomberg sites are. Was having fun with the i-mode email service; I was able to receive attachments and stuff from a normal internet email, although the time taken for the data to download was rather long. I've got no one to blame for this, my phone's not a 3G model; but what the heck, don't want to pay extra $$ for the 3G model. haha...

I kinda enjoyed the premier league i-mode site; it has all the latest match video clips that can be downloaded onto my phone in case I miss any of them. :) Ebay has not been fully implemented, with only a few categories to browse at for the moment. Can't wait for i-mode to be officially launched; the number of i-mode sites should at least double by that time. :)

Good luck to all for the coming examinations! May Good Health and the Force be with you! Muahahaha....

End of Semester...

2005-11-08T14:03:00.000+08:00

Its here again; the end of the semester. Everything seems to end so fast when one is engaged in work. Especially if working with your project mates bring about hours and hours of fun. It has been a trying and funfilled semester for me. It is the first time that I am in charge of 2 groups and the first ever time that I've actually enjoyed doing my projects. Maybe its the people, maybe its just a change in my mindset, or perhaps, its the modules that I've chosen this semester.

Anyways, all good things must come to an end and the end is apporaching for this semester. I truly missed all the times everyone spent together rushing towards the deadlines set early on in the semester. The joy and laughter in each project meeting for all my 3 groups wil be very much missed. Thank you all for the joyous occasions and friendships bonded during a very short period of the last 3 months; and hey, do remember to holla me for lunch whenever you people are free!

Till the day we meet again, good luck for the coming examinations! Looking forward to the KTV session with the NM2101 group! :)

[i-mode] "MP3" Ringtone for S410i...

2005-11-01T15:31:00.000+08:00

Guess the Samsung i-mode phone, S410i, has the mp3 ringtone function locked; so normal mp3s just can't be set as the ringtone. However, I chanced upon a program from Yamaha that allows users of the phone to convert .wav files to .mmf

Here's the URL to download the application:
http://smaf-yamaha.com/tools/samsung/index.html

The program's called "WSD" and the ringtone must be set to 8KHz, Mono before it can be played on the S410i.

At least, now we can use "low quality" but audible Truetone ringtones on this phone! Enjoy! :)

Samsung S410i

2005-10-31T21:02:00.000+08:00

Well, just got my Samsung S410i on Sunday; quite excited over the new phone and of course, the i-mode service. A bit on the phone, its size is that of its predecessor, or should I say, pre-pre-predecessor, the E700A. It weighs almost the same but once you open the clamshell, a world of colours seem to just jump into you. A luscious 262k colour screen rushes out to greet anyone who opens it, vivid, lively, what else can I say?

The only qualm that I have would be the inability to set my mp3s as the ringtone; as of yet. Maybe I'll find a way to do so; the manual says that the S410i is capable of doing so.

I can't give much of a lowdown on the i-mode service now as I have only ventured to a few sites. Overall, I noticed an inability to log onto the i-mode network at about 9pm last night; server overload? Well, the service is still in its trial stage, so I guess it should get better with the advent of each day. Will be surfing more on i-mode when I have the time and maybe then, I will be able to give a more subjective view on the overall service.

Till then, enjoy your i-mode phones! and for those without one, do grab hold of a friend who has... :)

Starhub I-Mode Service...

2005-10-27T10:05:00.000+08:00

I've been selected for the Starhub I-Mode Pre-Launch programme before they officially launch this service in Singapore. I-Mode is an alternative to WAP; a mobile internet solution for handphones in Singapore. It has already been widely used by NTT-DoCoMo (Japan) since 1999. Now, Japan is using a far more advanced version of I-Mode called I-Mode Felica (Joint program by NTT-DoCoMo and Sony). I-Mode Felica handsets contain a RFID chip that functions very much like our EZ-Link card except that it can be used to board planes, pay for purchases, open doors and so much more! It is exciting to simply think what the future will hold for us!

Will be collecting my Samsung SCH S410i I-Mode phone together with the free subscription package (until 28/02/06) this Sunday. Do stay peeled for my review on Starhub's I-Mode service!

Smooth Sailing...

2005-10-18T20:57:00.000+08:00

The week's been pretty smooth sailing; projects are getting done, deadlines are being met. What more can you ask for? Even the torrid weather is breaking up a little, the rain is finally here to wash away all our troubles and the heat. Everything's taking a turn for the better; why shouldn't we?

Did quite well for the recent test that I had for my Public Relations module; I am indeed happy with the advancements I have made this semester. Everything's going to end soon; the final lap is but a leap away. Once this is over, a new beginning will arrive, signalling another fresh start to a better tomorrow. Everyday yields its own unique experiences; attempt to reconcile past wrongs and face up to a newer environment. Its part and parcel of everyday life; don't you agree?

Back In Time...

2005-10-07T23:15:00.000+08:00

My radio was humming away with one of my favourite Valen song "" together with the soft peltering of rain against my window as I woke up in a rather cold morning. A feeling came over me; perhaps its the rain, perhaps, its the song... I don't really know.

I sat dazed, on my bed for a while. Pictures of yesteryears just flowed into my mind involuntarily... I saw pictures of myself during my primary school days; such was the carefree times I once experienced. The feelings of innocence towards the runnings of the world are now gone together with the advent of age. I no longer feel the old, happy self anymore... Am I no longer happy? I don't know... happiness seemed to have taken on a whole new identity; I can no longer recognise the difference between the two...

Why does the past always seem the better when compared to the present? What is this funny thing we call nostalgia?

Valen's songs always seem to bring back those happy moments of time long past into the passage of history; my history...

"就象那首歌﹐ 經過半個世紀﹐ 唱起來還有最初感情﹐ 而你唱著新戀曲﹐ 是否在心底﹐ 浮起舊的旋律﹖

Hectic Week...

2005-10-02T17:43:00.000+08:00

Its been another hectic week of project rushing and approaching deadlines. Not much time on my hands now to do stuff other than studying. Oh well, I do get the occasional breather here and there in between my studies.

I'm down with a headache from yesternight's soccer match (which lasted till 12am) and a real soccer match that I played with my brother's friends this morning at 7am. Nevertheless, I do not regret the match that I've played in this morning; its been a long time since I last exercised.

When was the last time you've really relaxed yourself from the buzz of everyday life? If you can't remember exactly when, its time you gave yourself one. Take things easy dude!

Its Been a Long Time...

2005-09-25T09:08:00.000+08:00

I just met up with an old friend of mine this morning; its been a whole year since I last saw him. He's been quite the same person he was since we last parted ways for our studies and NS respectively. Feelings abound that we've just met yesterday although it has been a year; memories of our times spent together were still fresh as we sat through breakfast with the morning breeze whispering into our faces.

Extremely cold has been the weather this Sunday morning; I was fully awake by the time I took a second sip from my reassuring glass of hot tea. Sometimes, I would wonder; if life can be as simple as it is made out to be in the books and movies, we wouldn't be in this endless pursuit of things that would take up much of our consciousness.

Its been a long time since I last met him and had a rest; where everything that was weighing on my mind was put away... Yes, its definitely been a long time...

I need a Breather...

2005-09-21T21:02:00.000+08:00

Its breather week for NUS, but like what I mentioned in the previous post, its a no breather or rather, non-stop, action-packed week for me and my friends. Although the going's getting tougher, I am enjoying every moment of it. Made lots of friends this semester, through the many projects that I've been handed... Oh well, guess its all worth it.

Back to work... oh well, guess I better take a break now... been at it the whole day. Still got project meeting tomorrow... Must finish whatever I can now before the exam period sets in.

Crunch time is coming soon... Hope I'm alive till then. :p

Just another day...

2005-09-16T17:28:00.000+08:00

I've been pondering, what exactly am I supposed to do today? Well, today, I'm gonna go to school and do whatever props up... Life's been rather "unpredictable" and mundane (although predictable and mundane would be more suitable) for me and most of my friends over at NUS.

Mid term break is next week, rather, I would prefer to call the week, "project week". What's a break in the middle of the term supposed to mean? Rest? No, it should be for us to catch up with the rest and complete as much of our projects as we can. Bummer...

The weather has been extremely horrid as of late, the sun's been glaring down on all who graces the footpaths with no shelter. The sweltering heat combined with the extreme cold of the lecture theatres makes for an extremely potent "posion" or "good" environment for one to fall sick. So, as a word of advice, do take care of yourself!

Exam... The Aftermath...

2005-09-11T18:05:00.000+08:00

Well, our lecturers sure are efficient! They marked the papers and got the results out in less than 3 hours! (Ok, our answer sheets were actually bubble forms... :p)

Besides that, the whole lecture group scored an average of 88/100... Oh well, wonder if the paper was too easy. The one week break is coming soon; I don't think those days will be much of a break, maybe half a day or something? Projects are getting underway and we don't have much time on our hands to just idle and sit around doing nothing. Maybe they should just change the name of the 1 week break to "Project Week". Haha... ah... Just trying to amuse myself here...

Work work... anymore? Come, I'll do it all!

Hard at work...

2005-09-08T16:19:00.000+08:00

I am mugging and working away towards the completion of the many projects and tests that have almost taken over my life. Time is not on our side, lest we give chase...

I'll still be free for lunch and the like! :)

Comex 2005 cont...

2005-09-04T10:25:00.000+08:00

Well, I'm back... in one piece from yesterday's trip down to Suntec City, where Comex 2005 was held. The journey there was arduous; too many Singaporeans were all going to the same place at once... which pretty much sums up the conclusion to our lifes... there's simply no good place to go on a weekend except to the occasional exhibitions.

I've gotten for myself a tiny USB Bluetooth dongle which works like a charm with my VAIO S18GP and Sony-Ericcson K700i phone. Now, I'm able to remotely control the powerpoint slides on my laptop with my phone... wahahaha... To think that my lecturer spent over a hundred bucks to get devices that does the exact same stuff as the 17 bucks dongle I got yesterday. Here's a picture of the ultra portable dongle :)

Nothing much was on offer at the exhibition except for the usual fare of laptops, digital cameras and MP3 players. Yes, this exhibition is like a ghost to the previous 3, most of the well-known vendors such as Dell, Creative, Canon, HP, Apple, Sony and you-know-who are back in the fray to prise money from the pockets of thousands. Well, it ain't that bad anyway, at least we get to see and play with some of the latest tech toys in the market today.

Today is the last day of the exhibition, so if you do plan on getting a printer, mp3 player or laptop, you will have to do so before 9pm. Go on down to lay your hands on some of the coolest gadgets available; you don't have to pay for everything that you touch... provided that you don't break them... :p

Comex 2005...

2005-09-03T11:12:00.000+08:00

Oh bummer, yes, I know what computer fairs are all about (clearance of old stocks and hammering consumers on the new ones); but hey, I just can't resist going back for more! This time round, I'm going down there with 2 of my friends. I won't be getting anything expensive, except for a bluetooth USB dongle which should only set me back by 20 to 30 bucks.

I just figured that my Sony-Ericsson K700i can work as a bluetooth remote control for my VAIO laptop... kinda cool, I found that out while toying with my friend's VAIO T27 lappy. (His mouse cursor started to move around on its own accord... thanks to me. hahaha) How cool it'll be to have a "remote" control for powerpoint slides on my laptop during presentations :)

Well, I'll be posting updates on the best deals at Comex 2005 either tonight or tomorrow morning. Seeya around folks! Comex, here I come!

A One Sided Affair...

2005-08-29T21:31:00.000+08:00

Most of the time, we pull on an invisible filter that blocks out things that we do not like to hear. I do not know if this is entirely good; it is because of this action that we take which brings about a lot of misunderstandings and unreconcilable endings into our world.

The Public Relations module that I am currently taking has exposed me to thinkings that have never crossed my mind before, not even once in the 2 decades of my life... Somehow, issues and things that I would normally avoid came very much to life, what I thought was wrong is not so wrong after all... What we perceive as "useless" may not be so redundant... Branding things or activities useless and unfruitful is what we do best, but do we at least stop and ponder for a while whether if it really is so?

I feel that we should sometimes let down the veil that colours our vision and take a clearer look at the world around us.

"What you think is right may not be so right after all."

Thoughts...

2005-08-27T14:36:00.000+08:00

I sat down in front of the window, peering out into the world beyond and wondered to myself; what would become of me 10 years from now?

Overcast Skies...

2005-08-20T14:20:00.000+08:00

I opened my eyes this morning and was greeted by a great overcast of grey clouds in the skies. I thought it was still early, say 6.30am in the morning? But as I took another glance at the clock, it was already 8.30am.

The day started off on a rather gloomy and dark note. It was a sign of latter misfortunes to come. My jaws started to ache for no apparent reason... the only reason I could think of was my excessive yawning yesterday. (Too much stress on my jaws? hmm...) I had to miss today's singing lessons; *sigh* a day which I would look forward to every week.

The skies started to clear up a bit, only to be replaced with the same clouds later in the afternoon. I wonder how long this will keep up.

A very gloomy Kenneth...

Patience is a Virtue...

2005-08-18T15:24:00.000+08:00

Nothing could be truer than that;I almost blew my head off, trying to get into Cors yesterday. The server was so super duper jam packed from 9am all the way till 7+pm. The tutorial balloting time had to be changed 3 times, from the initial 1700Hrs to 0900Hrs today... I wonder why there are so many people staying logged onto the servers even after they have ranked their choices for the respective tutorial groups. I mean, if yesterday was lecture group bidding, the lag would be much more understandable... but then, its just tutorial groups ranking; no bid points whatsoever was involved...

I lugged an extra 1.8kg around to school yesterday for nothing... In the end, I had to return home to do my tutorial balloting. Ah... the bane of technology.

Patience is a virtue and I am pretty sure that the whole of NUS was in a total mess; at least for 10 hours or so. Patience? Never really did cross my mind... :p

Complexities of Life...

2005-08-12T18:19:00.000+08:00

Complex is the very fabric of what binds us, people, together. Communications breakdowns happen so very discreetly and often that no one can ever predict it happening before the damage is done. It is not only I that have experienced such misfortunes but I am sure that many out there have their own share of the spoils too.

Nothing drastic or bad has happened to me; its just an "awakening" that I am experiencing now after probing deeper into the teachings for a morning lecture on "Communications Management" today. Well, communications breakdowns not only affect organisations but each and every individual as well. Everyone of us play a very important role in upkeeping and binding relationship ties no matter how small and insignificant it may seem to be.

A truly successful organisation lies on the fact that each entity in it is able to communicate and comprehend one another without any problems. Of course, communications with the various publics is important as well. In whatever case, public opinion is always king; be it in a political sense or a commercial one. (No angry citizen or consumer is ever to bring any good to the current constitution or products on sale.)

This theory, I feel, transcends all boundaries; by itself, becoming an important part of life. The ability to handle and keep a relationship going takes much skill and patience.

~Learning goes on with each breath that you take.~

[Friday Randomness...]

Another Beginning...

2005-08-05T09:57:00.000+08:00

Its another brand new semester again... No, its not that I loathe new semesters; but rather, its the feeling of having to do everything over again. The exact same lifestyle that begins with the coming of each new sem; to be precise, the start of a new year in my varsity life. Some friends of old will be coming in, taking part in the massive injection of new blood this August. I am glad that once again, we will be together; this time, for another 3 years at least :)

Life has been good so far, nothing to worry about. All that's weighing on my mind now is to do well for this coming semester. Its the 2nd year... no more fooling around :p

I won't be pushing myself too hard and neither will I be giving myself an easy time. Its difficult to strike a balance between work and play, but I'll try to do just that. A fresh semester, a fresh year, fresh faces and a fresh start. Shrug off the misfortunes of yesteryear and embrace all that is new with open arms.

Together, we will learn the lessons that will be taught; forge friendships that will last. We can do anything, if we believe.

Modules Dilema

2005-07-26T19:45:00.000+08:00

Yes, module bidding is on for now; which signifies one thing, that school is going to start pretty soon. With less than 2 full weeks on the tab, the entire 3 months holiday is going to be over. Time really flies when you are occupied with things to do.

Guess I should be rather happy with what I have achieved for this prolonged stretched of off-days. I've written a song, help record a few others and upon these routes, learnt quite a number of new things as well. I've gotten better than I was in the last year in terms of webpage designing and flash scripting.

I will have to psych myself up for the new sem; perhaps to better my grades by leaps and bounds this coming semester. Looks like the going is getting tougher as I edge towards my 4th year. Maintaining my current grades will only allow me to attain at most a 2nd or 3rd lower honours; which I will seek to better this coming semester and new year.

All the best to all of you who will be starting a new semester and a new year in your respective colleges. Let us all work towards our goal and achieve them!

Music II

2005-07-04T16:11:00.000+08:00

I am currently writing a song for use as the ending for our short film. It is now that I realise that piano scores are not that easy to write. However difficult the task, I will have to finish what is at hand; who knows, it might become a useful skill to know in the future...

Once I have completed the song and recorded it, I will be posting a copy here for your listening pleasure... torture; whichever way you put it. :p

Onwards!

Music, Music and more Music?

2005-06-28T10:19:00.000+08:00

Its been a Loooong while since the last update. Well, the filming's over and currently, everyone on the team is hard at work with editing and songwriting. I am in charge of the music direction of the film together with Lyon. Lyon's completed his song and we should be doing the recording over at my home anytime this week when he's completed the accompaniment parts. As for me, I will be coming up with jingles [ not entire songs... thankfully :) ] for parts of the film.

How is everyone doing? Its been some time since I last heard from any of you.

Been thinking a lot about the direction of my life these few weeks. Many thoughts have raced through my mind; some stayed while others simply left with the morning winds at daybreak. Revamping my life? Maybe...

Singing, yes, singing. After the last lesson on Saturday, I discovered that all that we've learnt for the past year has but been the elementary parts; that of handling and presenting songs for the sake of presenting them. A brand new chapter begins for my musical endeavours; not just me but for everyone at the school. We've realised out mistakes and its time to change them for the better.

How have you been doing? V-man, Paul, Gomz and all my other friends... doing fine and enjoying your hols? Do keep me posted! Call me out for a cup o' tea. I will be more than happy to accompany you.

Filming; Week 1...

2005-06-13T15:01:00.000+08:00

Today's the first day of our filming sessions, everything did not go as planned or should I say, nothing was planned at all. As usual, our dear director and gang fumbled up with the settings, lightings, camera angles and what have you at the start of today's shoot. It was kinda rushed, this shooting, to meet the deadline at the end of july.

Although everything was done on the spot, admist the chaos, I experienced first hand the conditions of filming; a rather relaxed but stern atmosphere governed each and everyone at the scene. The respective people in charge of everything were all busy with their jobs, leaving but some of us with little or nothing to do except to sit or help when they uttered for aid.

I am supposed to be a backup camera-man and the asst. music director for the short film together with Lyon. Lots more things will have to be done if this shoot is going to go well and perhaps... win something? I'd rather look at the fact that this shoot is a learning experience for all, not one that would bag us a prize.

Hope everyone is doing well, I am busy for this week and perhaps, the whole of this month. However, there is still time if anyone wants to meet up for tea. Just ring me up, I will be glad to meet up with you! Enjoy your holidays!!

End of May

2005-05-31T12:43:00.000+08:00

The last day of May has come swiftly admist the laughter and fun that has taken up the most of our time. Yes, its almost a month into the holidays. Things are starting to pick up, but none of them has borne any fruits yet. Sometimes, I wonder if the plans I've set for myself this summer vacation is ever going to be fulfilled as planned. 3 major things are left dangling in mid air amongst the many other "sub-plans" which I have set out to achieve.

The days are hot and the nights, humid. Summer is here. Enjoy, feel fulfilled or simply, waste our time away? Its all up to you.

Scribblings...

2005-05-27T13:54:00.000+08:00

Went for the starwars movie yesterday with zhiyou and ppl. Enjoyed it, I should say. At least the fight sequences were quite ok. The story was, kinda expected, how Anakin became Vader. I should say its pretty much movie goer's fare...

Been busy these few weeks, sorting out the things I should be doing and actually getting down to doing them. Yes, I have been practising on me keyboard and of course, there's this usual dosage of games to boot. 2 more days till the release of my results for the past semester. I hope all my friends will do well.

These few days, I suddenly started to crave for the island that I have visited last year, Tioman. A beautiful place, serene surroundings, picturesque sunsets, white fine sandy beaches, clear waters and the ever inviting summer sea breeze. Everything seemed so fine, a place where one can truly throw all their worries out of the window and relax. Paul should have already reached Tioman on his sailing trip. I am happy for him, to revisit the very same place again, one year after we left...

The memories of Tioman will stay and one day, I shall be back to soak in the ever relaxing environment once again. Till then, enjoy your sail, Paul!

Aimless Days...

2005-05-16T15:49:00.000+08:00

It has been a week since the last paper that ended the semester. Plans that were drawn out before the holiday were not realised. Schedules were abandoned in the name of greater fun in front of the computer. Yes, such is the temptation and the allure of technology. I am sure that I am not the only one afflicted by the bane of technology.

Hours have been lost trying to satisfy my virtual self in the virtual realm, there seems to be no more worries or deadlines to meet. Which is entirely wrong... the deadlines and worries of life does not end with the demise of the semester. Yesteryear's work will not end with yesteryear's last day; at least this is what I believe.

Such has been the days led by me; aimless and "funfilled" days in front of the computer. I did break from this cycle, I went out but sucked in I was, the moment I stepped into my room. However, I still managed to find time for friendships to be bonded more tightly than ever; maybe the allure was not as powerful as I thought?

Breaking free from these aimless and lethargic days will be no easy task. But I will have to try. I will be on my way again to fufill what I have set out for myself before the end of last semester.

I am beginning to play the keyboard again, which feels somewhat detached from my memories. I will pick it up again. This time, I will be better than the last. To all my friends who are trapped in the same plight as me, I wish you a speedy knock back into the realms of the real world. Be back my friends! Take a hold on your lives today!

Liberation... at Last

2005-05-06T19:11:00.000+08:00

Just 2.5hrs ago, I penned the last of what seemed to be the final word for this semester. Yes, I have finished the entire slew of examinations... at long last. My friends have all been liberated from their torture chambers with me being the last of the lot to be released into an inviting 3 months holidays starting from today.

I am indeed happy with the fact that I need not be mugging anymore for this first half of 2005. I am looking forward to the holidays... hoping that I will be able to learn some new tricks and stuff through the various committments that I have landed myself into.

Joy be to me and to the world! It is time to rejoice, my fellow friends!

Melodies

2005-05-02T16:03:00.000+08:00

The world's beautiful, isn't it? It's filled with sunshine and white sandy beaches, full of joyous people leaving their marks on the sand as they run past life's never ending parade. This parade we call "life"; its all a show, happiness gets you through it and so does sadness. Choices abound where life's timeless shores mark the bountiful love and care your family and friends have for you. Choices that we have to make, friendships that we have to foster, love that we have to give; this is life, my friend.

The joy of life is for all to experience, be like a melody that stands its grounds against the ravages of time; lead a life where there is much to be remembered and enjoyed, up till the moment where you shall bow to the world and take your leave..

I will take my stand in this parade, will you?

Its being a long time...

2005-04-23T13:47:00.000+08:00

A long time since I last posted here that is... Well, just finished the 2nd of my 6 papers today. 4 more to go. Heard that SMU has finished their examinations already, so nice. Enjoy your holidays dude! I will be joining your ranks soon, after I get over and done with for the examinations which will end on the 6th of May for me. Can't wait for the holidays to be here.

Got most of my time planned out for the 3 months break. Will be taking part in a short film competition with me friends and maybe receiving a paid website design task from my friend Stephen. Oh ya... and there's the club website to update too... Pesky buggers buggin me to update the site everyday... Oh well... buggers.

See ya around soon my friends!

Darn! Not that again...

2005-04-11T15:31:00.000+08:00

I am down with the usual "before the exams" sickness. It happened to me last semester before the exams and it has happened again... I wonder why... The usual symptons and illness again; high fever and a bad sore throat.

Went to the doctor yesterday and got the usual menu of super strong antibiotics and fever medicine. Got a bit better today but missed the concluding lectures today... Darn, what bad luck...

You guys take extra care of yourself. The weather has been eratic; and the exams, beckoning. I hope to get well soon so that I can continue to study... yes, that is all that is on my mind now, to study...

Can I have my health back? Pretty please?

Is That Light or Do I need a Pair of Specs...

2005-03-30T15:59:00.000+08:00

All the projects are going down one by one; I am now left with one more to go. Writing a report, my forte? Oh well, guess that's the "supposed" skill that every FASS student needs to have; writing and talking your way through.

The Information Communications Management (ICM) programme I am in now is going to go through a major revamp in light of NTU's efforts to bring their Media Programme to life (~Create~ at NTU). Golly, the first thing they did was to change the name of the programme from ICM to CNM (Communications and New Media). I am glad that the change isn't about only the name but involves some new modules being inserted into our already large pool of choices.

Guess I will be going to have a lot of fun with these "more hands on" and equally "brains on" courses. Well, thats all in the next Sem. Something good that's happening to the O' NUS system I presume. Its time they wake up and smell the competition thats being going on and left alone for too long. The giant has awoken (Sounds more like SONY; they just promoted an American [Stringer] as their new CEO and they are planning to grab the MP3 market back from APPLE...Expect a whole slew of MP3 players in these coming months!).

Blessed with good luck and blind faith, I completed my Video Project with my 2 other friends with great joy and ease. I truly enjoyed working with these 2 wonderful people; perhaps the first time in my life that I've ever encountered such jovial and motivational ones. Glad that its all done. Thanks Stephen and Kelvin!

The final hurdle now stands before all of us; that of the exams. Once they are over, we will be free... at least for 3 months before the next onslaught of studies. I am expecting to see a lot more familiar faces joining our strengths in the next semester. Enjoy what you have now, cos when it all starts, you would be crying for rests before you can even say "h.e.l.p".

One Down, Many More to Go...

2005-03-21T18:38:00.000+08:00

It feels as if a boulder was lifted off my shoulders as I passed the essay up to my lecturer today. Yes, finally, 1 off the baggage. Sad to mention though, I have many more to go.

I will be arriving at destination holidays soon enough if I just keep on droning away in front of my textbooks, notes and my lappy. Till then, I will be keeping a watch on the screen; yes, literally, my eyes will be glued onto this screen. The world goes on as usual, nothing stops because of me. I should not be slowing down too.

Nothing's for certain nowadays; things could disappear or happen within a blink of an eye. The fraility of life...

The concert of life plays on with no lack of performers; new ones continuously take the place of the old and the old will take their leave in time to come. Time waits for no one. Do whatever you must with each day of life granted upon you. You never know what is going to happen next, or do you?

The "Experience" Society

2005-03-16T14:51:00.000+08:00

Yeap, like a bee after honey, I am working non stop towards the unavoidable deadlines. Don't you just love them? Well... its no wonder I often neglect some stuff and things that I would usually do; if I have the time, that is.

Everything will eventually come to an end; this semester, my first year, my singing lessons... Well, what matters most is the experience that you take with you. We are all living in an "experience" society, everything's about experience. Dining in a posh restaurant, hanging out with friends, the music you love, soccer matches on TV, being on MSN, your belongings, etc... You experience what you want to, no one's going to force you (alright, then you will say there's the army... that one's out... :p) to experience what you do not want to.

Think about it.

Milan 1 Man U 0

2005-03-09T20:37:00.000+08:00

A rather disappointing result to say the least; here I echo the sentiments of all the Manchester United fans in Singapore. Well, there's always the next season to look forward to...

Yes, much as I would like to look forward to the next season as a better one; one should also link this line of thought with his life. Nothing and nobody stays down forever. Had lunch with Lyon today, went to the library thereafter. Nothing much really, just taking whatever time I have and making good use of it; I present to you... this entry! Right... :p

Keeping a bright and hopeful outlook in life as usual. Nothing's impossible, if you try.

Doing Good Deeds is Beneficial to your Health?

2005-03-03T17:41:00.000+08:00

You're right, according to some medical studies done, one of the ways to stay healthy is to keep yourself happy through doing good deeds. They don't have to be done deliberately; instead, do it if you deem the situation fit for your actions of kindness.

If you are a subscriber of Times, the last issue has a rather interesting article on how happiness affects your life.

Always keep yourself happy; nothing's too difficult to overcome. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of patience and hard work to get what you want, done. Life's too short to be unhappy all the time. I have come to realise that; no matter how unhappy one can be, one must always try to make oneself happy.

Even if you are unhappy, there will always come a time when you bounce back to your "original settings"; that of being at a certain level of happiness. There is this funny little gauge that is inside everyone of us; sure, we can feel bouts of extreme happiness or sadness at times, but it all resets itself back to where it started, in time. The only difference here is the speed of which you reset your feelings. The faster, the better.

Only you and you yourself can determine the outcome and the experiences of your life. Why not take control of it today?

"That" Time of the Semester, Again...

2005-03-01T15:19:00.000+08:00

Its that time of the semester yet again; where everyone seems to be rushing to meet the deadlines of projects and reports. I am not spared either.

The libraries are getting filled up; people talking about the impending deadlines of their projects. Well, ain't life amazing? There I was, trying to enjoy myself in the previous week when it was the term break and wooosh! Time to start rushing for the projects!

Yes, the sky's starting to break these few days; rain has finally graced the land! Its always nice to have the rain peltering against the window as you study in your little private corner of your room. The smell of the rain... the feeling of cold air rushing against your skin... the sound of the wind rushing through that little corner which you have deliberately left exposed on your window; its just soothing and refreshing to the mind and body.

I like rainy days... Rainy days, rainy days... please don't go away... please...