Once you go Black...

We use so much everyday, it's easy to forget that little things make a difference.
Use less paper - print double-sided.
Switch off the heater - put on an extra jumper.
Turn off the lights - pull the curtains.
If you do that everyday, it's got to add up, right?
Well, I'm guilty of not doing the above too. But when you're aware of it, i think it's a good start.
Like using Blackle, for example. My brother sent me this in the mail. I don't know how true it is, but heck, it's worth a shot, even if it is a gimmick. A black-background search engine which helps save energy (cos white backgrounds use up more). Read about it here.

Do your bit for the world. It's for your children too.

Superheroes on the Loose

On a night with an eerie halo around the moon,
Soup-er Girl and her counterpart the Lights Man, armed with trusty ladle and lampshade, decided to brave the Yarra on the famed booze cruise.
Many celebrities were abound - not least Ron Weasley, fresh off the set of the new Harry Potter movie.
There were also fellow corny people - Batman
And some who had travelled far - Mario
And, emerging from the sewery depths of the Yarra - the Ninja Turtles!
And of course, what IH outing would be complete without Captain Fraternitas! Finally, it all ended (rather spewily for myself) at the banks of the Yarra, where I decided to take this picture. It's shaky i know but that was an accurate snapshot of how i saw the world at that point. One more booze cruise down and probably the last one ever. The time to graduation ticks on....

Technology and its Downfalls

This blog has been too quiet for too long. My apologies, what with first week of uni, CIA week in college and first week of my internship, it's been a bit hectic. So, time for something controversial and.... i suppose, quirky.

Why Flat Screen TVs Are Ultimately Detrimental to Society

Have you ever thought, why exactly do we need flat screen TVs? In one of my lectures, we were told to be skeptical of technology. We hardly question, but WHY do we need technology and WHAT problems will using it cause?
So, i decided to examine the flat screen TV.

1) It potentially causes sight problems. Maybe.

2) It reduces packaging - which is bad! I see some people shaking their heads going 'but this is better for the environment, no?' OF COURSE NOT!
You see, with everything becoming smaller and more compact, boxes are becoming smaller and this is certainly unfriendly for the local homeless man down the street. Where once a TV box or a refrigerator box could be large enough for a home, now flat screen TVs make it difficult to squeeze in! Even supercomputers are in smaller and smaller sizes - you certainly can't seek shelter in a PDA box now, can you?
3) There's less of those fluffy foam thingys inside the box. WHAT!?? Those were so fun to play with. It was like confetti. That you could choke on. Yummy!

4) Finally, why are we going for flatter anyway? Isn't that reducing the 3D effect of it all? We're going more 2D, no? Oh well... i'll never understand technology. But we are really reliant on it, aren't we? This Youtube video shown in lecture is testament to that. This promises to be an interesting class.

Kate Fuller - gotta love her

So here's some substance to my blog after a long absence.
I was itching to go out and watch some jazz on Thursday, no doubt after long exposure to jazz aficionado (gotta love that word) Tish.
The initial plan was to go to Manchester Lane because I haven't been there but fortunately Kenny googled the dude that was performing and he sounded too experimental for our liking, so CK, Veron, Aaron, Kenny and I ended up heading to Bennetts Lane for Australia's Norah Jones.


Was not disappointed at all. I ended up grinning from ear to ear actually.
Love her voice and her style. And a great night of jazz. (with highly enthusiastic drummer!)
Ask me for some of her songs cos i ended up buying the CD. Alternately, buy it or just check her out at Katefuller.com.au.

p.s: don't you just love the whole feel of the bar? I think it comes across pretty well in the photos - the dim lighting and cosy interior.

Weird Signs You See in Mornington...

Well, i was amused.

p.s: sorry for the lack of updates. been lazy.

Agenda-setting for the Future

It's only when you spend a week with corporate-minded career-driven people that you start thinking about the practicality of your ideals.
i THINK i want to save the world.
i THINK i want to have money.
i THINK there's a way that you can reconcile both those things. Ashoka is a very inspiring source.
However, it's also depressing to think that I am nowhere in the scheme of things.

So, once again it begs the question: Does one need the skills, resources and credibility of a corporate job before saving the world?
Or does one just jump right into it?

If people still look for the qualifications, should I do that postgrad after all?
What do i want to do?!?!?
On the one hand, qualification-wise it might be good to just get all this studying out of the way. At least with a degree in some commerce thing i have options.

On the other hand, if i'm not sure WHAT i want to do, maybe the odd job thing until then would be good.

Still pondering... Home stability or working to make the world a better place?
Or both? *sigh* i guess it's left to see....

For we all need guidance in our lives...

Especially for Damien - because he wants to see the guides for himself i suppose.
Too bad i didn't get a picture with our cute British bus driver (who likes snow patrol). He was probably the best looking!
My bungy jump lengchai! The only one i got to hug (and you can catch that on dvd) Haha. this one cute.
Deano! Our rafting guide! He looks like Samwise Gamgee and his character is super cute lah! Geoff or Jeff (dunno how to spell). He's the one everyone told me to hug. And who paid me special attention cos of that! Made me sound so desperate only. Haha... But all fun-loving people!

I don't have anymore nice photos. I think there are more on other people's cameras. However, you have to agree, noone can look any better than this:
Hot.

Goodbyes are for people you think you won't see again.... This is just a see you later

Super Bad Shape Man...

Oh my lord... why am i posting this anyhow?
Hahaha... I feel like vomiting too.
But i figure, for your entertainment (or gagging), and because it's better to take the piss out of myself first before anyone else does.
Please still see me as a person. =)

p.s: if unfamiliar with Furong Jie Jie, you can check her out on Kennysia's blog, or on Wired.com, or see the woman herself. (chinese literacy required).

The Poetry Sessions: A Woeful Fish

As the red-eyed snapper stared
with doleful eyes that told its tale
It realised half of it was gone
And thought, 'God damn that hungry whale!'

The Poetry Sessions: Jealousy

The green-eyed goblin atop his perch
Whispers menacing in raspy tones
To men, who blind with love or lust or both
See all around them only emerald hues

That doting morphs to doubting
Causing dreamers to wake perturbed
And every seemingly furtive glance
Raises suspicions unreserved.

For men indeed are covetous beasts
Fall sway to jade-toned whims
With jealousy firmly planted thus
The green-eyed goblin grins.

The Poetry Sessions: Solitude

Love, you icy friend
That at once froze and warmed the heart
That brought us close as much it tore apart

Sweet temptress, what games you played
Fleeting seduction of a brighter morn
Shone through clouds of bleak and grey a storm

Let steal you
From me one that I held dear
When greatest for you, love, i felt was fear.

Back and a little brown... a.k.a the Great Cairns Adventure!

Cairns is a gorgeous place!
Lots and lots and lots of photos - makes me contemplate starting a photoblog. But nah... same amount of work i imagine.
I'm happy i went and did lots of things i've never done before. And also a little bit grateful mum said not to tell her because a lot of these things would have parents tossing and turning as they worry about their precious little daughter.
Anyhoos, quick roundup.

Arrive in Cairns - 3 am
Our flight was delayed by about 2 hours which meant we only got in our rooms around 4 am. Not nice when you're in a backpackers and share a room with strangers and there are smelly British backpackers that make the room smell like sweat and the toilet smell like piss. Plus we were feeling around cos i felt too guilty to switch on the light. Thank goodness for mobile phone backlights.

Day 1
Walk around Cairns. Free day! Learn that the beach by the town is really ugly. But, we did end up booking our activities for the Day 3. Keep you in a bit of suspense. To compensate for the ugly seaside, Cairns municipal council built a gorgeous public pool, complete with man-made beach. This is my MOS chillout album cover photo.
That night's excitement - fishing and crabbing!
The tally? 10 to the girls...
6 to the boys... *snigger*
and a kungfu crab or two. (which we ate a little earlier on. yummy!)

Day 2
Time to dive! The climax of the whole trip, no? The GREAT BARRIER REEF! (and the reason why i bought my little waterproof camera) Everyone looking peachy despite the early morning wakeup call. And on board the mighty Reefquest! (whose attendants were none too bad looking i might add)
Time for the award winning underwater shots! Not really - i didn't take either. Underwater photography is really difficult! Oh, did i mention i spent half the day being seasick? so much for sea legs... The deep sea scares me. But it was awesome diving though. Wish i'd seen a dolphin or a turtle. But i reckon i would've been freaked out.
At the end of the ordeal. *phew* still looking a teensy bit pale. and disgruntled.Day 3
BUNGY JUMPING! Was more than a little anxious on the day and especially felt trepidation when i sighted this:Oh my lord, after telling everyone that i think bungy is probably more dangerous than sky-diving. It's bound to give you whiplash and all manner of nasties. haha.. madness is definitely in my veins. But yeah, this is the shortest bungy tower (apparently). 52 metres off the ground. That's definitely tall enough for me!Only jumped twice but that was good enough for me. Haha. I have it on DVD to shock the folks when i get home. So after all that adrenaline-pumping, time for a hearty meal.Mmmm... Cairns seafood!

Day 4
White water rafting. I'd never done it before (yes, i know i am sabahan and i should have but i left when i was 10, ok?) I don't have a copy of the photos on the water yet, but this is after with our awesome guide Dino! A Kiwi who (at least to me) looks like Samwise Gamgee, and did an awesome job navigating us down the somewhat mighty Tully! It really wasn't as much work or as dangerous as anticipated. Highly recommend it to anyone who can! Plus, we had the best, craziest and noisiest group. Some may know us as the West Germany Swingers Club....
Day 5
Sea kayaking seemed like it would be super tiring. My arms were a little sore from rafting, but yeah... this is definitely more physical. Fortunately my partner was the very fit CP (only one who could pull himself up on the raft) and he'd kayaked before... so i was expecting smooth sailing (pun intended - sorry!) Fitroy Island is one of the most photogenic places ever and the weather was so gorgeous. Dino said it was the 2nd day of sunshine since May , so we were really lucky indeed!Check our the purple paddle power! Somehow we still ended up last though. Either cos we were chillaxing - easy rhythmic strokes, or i was heavy and slow, or because by chillaxing you get to be lucky enough to spot a giant sting ray! And it glided under our kayak. So chuffed. But upset that I'd finished up my film. Darn it! On the way back the ride, albeit cold, was spectacular! As i was gawking at the sunset (which by now you possibly know i have an unhealthy obsession with), i turned around and Voila! there was the moon! Madness.... It doesn't look as great here but wow. It was pretty amazing.
Day 6
On our way to world heritage Daintree rainforest, we stopped by a random animal park thingo. See the birds, feed the kangaroos and all that jazz. Well, the most fascinating thing i saw there was the making of a baby wallaby. Pardon the really sleazy expression.
Oh, i found a giant peanut on the floor. Honestly no idea what it is. But looks like GIANT PEANUT.Lunch time....
And onwards on our Cape Tribulation Exotic Fruit Farm Tasting! A chance to try exotic tropical fruits that flourish in the hot (ish) Cape Tribulation weather! We're all so excited! (especially Kimy)With such gems on the menu, who could resist?
Little did we know (til later of course), Sapodilla is none other than ciku, Carambola is the humble starfruit and Atemoya is the delicious custard apple. Aiyak! Kena cheated! But it was also good to learn something new. Like for example, did you know the starfruit is shaped that way as a bribe for the orangutans? If viewed from afar, it looks like a full oval of fruit. Maximum viewing for minimum volume. So smart these plants.
After our fill of fruit, a visit to the beach... [jump for joy!]
Followed that by a day of white shiraz goon. Did we hit a new low? Possibly. But it was funny seeing some people babble. (myself included?)

Day 7
Figured we're in the jungle - should do a spot of Tarzan-like activities. Which is why we forked out some cash and paid for Jungle Surfing! So maybe not swinging on vines, but still swinging between trees! The Jias in action.
Wonderful views from the platforms. Trees about 20 m off the ground! This is Cape Tribulation - the meeting point of two of Australia's world heritage sites : The Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. Look mummy, no hands!

Day 8
Final day in Cairns. A chilled out one. Spent the day sunning and enjoying fabulous food. Mildura juice, $45 sushi platter and a value-for-money tub of gelati makes on a happy camper.
Last picture to round off a good holiday. Big smiles all round. =)