Events~

Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra

Attended Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time in KL Pac! Thanks to the opportunity offered by Simon, my dream came true and only RM5 was charged! Although the show was just a rehearsal, the quality of music serenaded by the professionals, I believed, was on par with the real gig. The auditorium exuded grandiose feeling with its high ceiling, golden lights showering the stage; extra cautious was paid as I walked lest your footsteps were echoed; the lighting beaming from atop gleamed all the furniture to the sleek mahogany colour; the invigorating air caressing my skin, luring me to embrace the invisible and intangible ambience with the hope to capture some back to UM; the sleek grand piano, elegant harp, obedient double bass, cello, violin, drum, trumpet, saxophone, xylophone and many more, all resting before the owners come and create picturesque image of mellifluous music dancing in the atmosphere.

Jaw dropped, eyes wide opened, while begging my heart to thump softly lest the rhythmic beats perturbed my hearing, fingers wiggling simultaneously with the tempo, feet tapping the porcelain floor, humming softly along with the familiar Beatles tune throughout the two hours orchestra.  That pretty much described my excitement while watching the ebullient conductor with a group of musicians leading us into the dimension of harmonious music with beautiful arrangement. Listening live – orchestra music – for the first time!

E-waste project launch! – Second dreams come true!

I could not recall when, but I guessed it was during second year that I always envisioned to launch electronic waste project, either providing a bin in college as the center of collection or hold an open day for collection. Knowing Jaron was actually is the key to most dream come true in environment field. He, being on the same page as me, was the one who gave me the green wheelie bin, was the one who bravely launched an E-waste drop off point at his composting site, was the one who gave me lots of opportunity on graphic designing works, was the one who often pay me lavishly for my work, was one who paved lots of opportunity to me. So here you go, an E-waste Collection in 7^th Residential College!

SPAS Club Reactivation – Third dream comes true!

I did it finally! Soaring determination, proactivity, and cooperative coursemates and advisor, we had reactivated Environmental Science and Management (SPAS) Club this semester. It took me some time to dig out the courage, jump out from procrastination, stop fantasizing on “what if” which then made me push the go button to email Dr Fauziah as early before the semester begins to convey my intention. SPAS Club had been in the cocoon ever since the ruling by ex-seniors. They suck actually, no interaction with juniors, no environmental-related initiative, nothing to be looked forward. This time, with me as President, I vow to make a difference man. Also, I want to try breaking my own cocoon too because I realize from my past experience in leading events/programs, I was inclined to do something safe, less bombastic and memorable to people. This time around, I wanna make it BIG, I want people to be talking about my events – feeling ambitious. Let’s just keep being proactive to be able to make that change.

Cheeseman

Cheeseman Essay Writing Competition to be precise. It is competition opened every second semester of each academic session. I intend to know how proficient my English is for (not bragging) many would say I have good command in English, but hey, I am only Band 4 in MUET , I remembered how I wreaked it. How on earth can you judge that my English is good? If from my FB lengthy posts, or snippet from my blog you judged, then you might be slightly inaccurate because the writing I put for public reading came after an hour or so typing while referring to dictionary. So, to me, it wasn’t really a spontaneous writing, in fact, I am always lost to find the appropriate words to use.

I chose social issue themed topic: Corruption is inevitable in life. Discuss.

Too bad, I’ve deleted the writing. I can’t even bear to read it for it’s just not up to my own expectation. When the competition began, everyone began typing furiously, tap tap tap on the keyboard non-stop. Daunted, I calmed my shaky fingers and ignored how other contestants were doing. Eyes still lingered around for inspiration though. I paused for several moments for I was indecisive on which points to elaborate first, how the essay should flow, retrieving past facts that I had read about.

That tormenting two hours ended with sigh of regrets. I realized I was not good enough and I questioned the root of cause. An answer that could possibly console me a little was the fact that I hated factual writing; I wasn’t exposed enough to argumentative writing/conversation; my neurons were not well-connected yet.

I vow to improve.

Departure of Dr Yuichiro

It was still shocking to learn that a very dedicated, disciplined, professional Japanese lecturer would be leaving us for another lecturer job back to where he origin. His untucked formal wear and trademark hair flipping movement would edge in our heart. Cordially, Dr Linda invited him and his wife for a farewell buffet dinner. Located somewhere at the corner of PJ street, here’s Rebung Chef Ismail- a restaurant owned by Chef Ismail which serves authentic Malay cuisine. Accompanied with great vibe; illuminated with yellow lighting blending perfectly well with the starless night; walls decorated with numerous pieces of plates from the British era to dynasty of China, all embedded sturdily on the wall;  mellifluous music serenading softly; whisper of chatters; clink and clank from cutlery; sizzle and bubbling juices oozing at the edge of the grilled fish; aroma dancing all over the places, wafting slowly just to stick on a few strands of your hair, a souvenir when you leave; sinfully tempting dessert alluring at the corner.

Dr Yuichiro in white; Chuck on my right; Dr Linda on my left

Growing up in Malaysia would really enrich your experience with food. Though I had knew most of the Malay food ever since studying in KMP, the buffet this time still surprised me with various un-encountered dishes particularly the dessert. I had tried bubur jagung manis but not that broiling gluey and sticky and concentrated bubur durian!! Banana flavor is also available. Feeling excited, I asked the waiter on how I should savour it. Little did I know that the perfect partner is glutinous rice! The stickiness of that gleaming round glutinous rice would just melt in your mouth as the durian sago gush in. Oh mama mia~ I can’t help gulping a big bowl of it!

Must serve with the gleaming nasi pulut!

I would say, Rebung offers high class Malay food

E-waste Collection Day!

The most exciting day for me because under SPAS Club, we are launching our E-waste Open Day Collection at Faculty of Science! It felt great for I got lots of support from the juniors, compliment from people dropby our booth for doing meaningful things.

Second day E-waste Open Day Collection. Cool, everything was running fine. More and more people dropby, and we even dug a few treasures out of the trash: Yong Enn got a new fan for her room, Tinish was excited with his PS2, and a very cool and beatful-sound-producing speaker was fished for future SPAS event.

Designing mode ON!

Hope to see my own design in UM 3R bins soon!

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Wow, a movie directed and acted by Ben Stiller. Amazing how the story covered numerous setting: from America to Greenland, from Iceland to Afghanistan then back to America. In the movie, Walter Mitty (played by Ben Stiller), a Negative Agent (turning photos from negative rolls) for a magazine company, often has lots of imagination on his own “what if”. He imagined it well, practically bombastic but never takes action to realize the “what if”. I guessed the moral of the story is to take action for what you dreamed of, wait no time, blunder into the unknown and discover the surprise, take risk and courage with you.

Lots of special effect is being played in this movie. Mostly is when Walter starts exaggerating  on his
"What if I....." imagination.

Current conflict

“You’ve got to be hit hard on the head to achieve something you envisioned. If you haven’t found the hit, keep looking for it.”

Fear is my current enemy. Fear for people’s perception on me if I chose not to live on to their expectation. Fear for I chose to jump out from life dogma. Fear to be myself. Fear to be different. Fear that going against the odd will land me on failure.

I still fear despite breaking through lots of things which I thought impossible.

I get lots of inspiration these few days, from Steve Jobs, The Star newspaper, Walter Mitty movie and so on. But I still think that no matter how much of inspirational quotes you have read, the change that you wanna make, or things that you wish to overcome will not come true unless you yourself experience that pang.