Good Ole Days

Hey! Phew, been quite awhile eh.

The last time I updated was after I finished my Year 1 finals and now, after my Year 2 finals. Time flies, amirite?

Anyway, life has been really good! Not perfectly good per se but still good. Like life kinda good, a little bump here and there and a little laughter here and there.

But it's been good. I've won two smartphones in a row this year so really, I can't complain.

I've also gotten a new camera which I have always wanted since I discovered internet, not even kidding. What can I say? I've always have an eye for pretty things and when I see it, I want to document it. But these days, I've really been debating if I should get another lens for the camera considering I barely used the kit lens that came with the camera. I was also contemplating whether to wait for a secondhand lens or getting a new one. But oh well, I'll figure it out.

Anyway, really the reason I'm writing this is because I went out with a group of old friends yesterday and it just left me feeling very good inside.

We've been friends for almost a decade now and we are not really the kind who talks everyday. But every time I meet up with them, I feel like I've just traveled back in time or the least, as if no time has pass at all. I feel like a kid when I'm around them and all the pressure society imposes on me to grow up just disappears.

Tbh, we were so childish and annoying the whole time when we were together that there was a lot, A LOT of people who "tsk" and side-eyed us. But really, I didn't mind at all.

It's really rare to meet someone who makes you feel this way. Honestly, they are the only bunch of friends that doesn't make me miss the secondary school days because when I'm with them, I feel like I am young again (not that I am old now but secondary school student kind of young).

I don't know if anyone one of us has changed at all (actually I do, I, for one, have changed a lot) but when we're together we sort of go back to who we were and this non-progression does not annoy me at all.

Really, when I'm with them, I feel like nothing have changed at all and if you ask me, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

(from left: Alaythia, Wei Kee, Me, Jin Li - my 15 years buddy, Kah Yan)

We didn't even do much yesterday. I met up with Jin Li and we went Digital Mall together cause I wanted to get a new laptop charger. Mine spoilt and I thought it will only cost about RM50, turned out, it costs about RM139. That was all the money I had on me so I went on the entire day owing Kah Yan money cause she paid for all my spending. (I wanted to withdraw money but there a was a really long line at the ATM)

Then we went to OU and had lunch together at Little Fat Duck and Kah Yan joined us, followed by Alaythia. We went and shopped for present for one of my friends and Wei Kee joined us after.

After that, we went to watch the Legend of Tarzan. If you ask me, it's really not a good movie at all, too unrealistic and long winded. They lost me half an hour into the movie and after that, I kept hoping that it will end soon. I would give it a 4/10 (6/10 if I'm generous).

Then, Kah Yan bought us dessert at Hui Lau Shan. So nice of her.

Alaythia had to leave early.

We then made our way to Tavern 13 for dinner. Really, despite us drinking beers and shit, I still felt like the fifteen years old me. Weird how a certain people can make you feel that way right.

Tavern 13 is not bad really. I don't know what is the average price but one glass of Carlsberg there is RM10, which is reasonable/cheap, I think. The food there is also not too expensive. The Cream Sauce Spaghetti was AMAZING and it was only about RM18. It's really filling cause of the thick cream. Fish and Chips was okay, not too good, the breading was too thick and it costs RM20. The vegetarian pizza though. Despite being vegetarian, it was really good. Lots of cheese and button mushroom (my fav). I think that was RM18. We ordered vegetarian cause Kah Yan was a vegan.

All in all, I had an amazing day and I'm still having this feel good inertia from last night. Thanks friends! :)

Life Before Battle

Hi all. I've recently just finished my finals which means goodbye Year 1. How fast, right? 

I don't know, the thought of finishing First Year is more depressing than exhilarating. It's like time is moving a little too fast and I'd be out working in no time. As childish as it may seems, I still don't really feel like growing up. The thought of being on my own and having less and less people to depend on kind of scares me, idk. 

Maybe it's because like what everyone said, I'm the youngest in my family so I'm really used to being sheltered from all the troubles and showered with unconditional love. I kinda think it's true but the idea of time is just still pretty messed up. It's like we are expected to grow up, be more mature as time passes but the thing is it doesn't work that way. It doesn't mean that just because I'm one year older, I'm one year wiser. Hence, I will not conform to that. Right now, I am still a 12 years old kid making a lot of decisions that's all. 

One thing about doing law and sitting for finals is that I never knew I could study that hard and have so little sleep!! But I still feel that my hard is not hard enough. I didn't put in as much effort as I could. And, if I get a terrible mark for my exam, I will feel so bumped, really. The thing about me is that each time I think that I'd do good/okay, I end up doing a lot worse so we'll see. Also, my bladder is stronger than I thought. I literally sat through three hours of full bladder. I thought I was gonna pee my pants. 

Anyway, a lot of things happened this few months. I will leave out the more personal ones and focus more on the interesting and fun ones! 

I've met up with my cousin on 12th February to study together and guess what she got me into. A SUMMON FOR PARKING AFTER THE TIME IS UP THAT I DIDN'T KNOW I GOT UNTIL I GOT A LETTER AFTER A FEW MONTHS. Guess what's her reaction after I told her. SHE LAUGHED. Then she got a summon after a few days so jokes on you, cous! 

That was my first ever summon by the way!!

Green Tea Latte

Carbonara Spaghetti

I got no idea what that cafe was called.

Then I had my annual meet up with my secondary school friends which is quite sad because there was a time in my life that i couldn't live with these people and now we just meet up once a year. A lot have changed but something still remains like the witty and silly Kah Yan and all the mockeries. Anyhow, seeing how much things have changed still pains me. Maybe one day I will grow out of it but I don't think it will be anytime soon when changes will no longer affects me.

We met up in Strangers at 47. They serve only crepes and cakes, I think. They serve both savoury and dessert crepes. Their prices are reasonable too! Fun fact: it is owned by Xandra Ooi's brother, Sean Ooi. 

I will try to meet up with you guys more often, I swear!!

After that, I had another birthday celebration to attend. It was Jia Yong's. We went to Franco. to celebrate her birthday and Amanda joined us this time! Yay! It was my second time to Franco. The first time I went was with my cousin cause I won us a pair of "Love, Rosie" ticket from Fly FM which premiered in One Utama, where Franco is situated. Shout out to the generous radio station, Fly FM! However, the last time I went, the restaurant was called Miam Miam. They renamed it to Franco.

Anyway, when you're there you gotta try their infamous FRENCH TOAST! It's not like any other french toast. It's da bomb! I don't have a picture of it though but you gotta try it. Trust me on this.

The Squid Ink Pasta (middle) is a must try too!

Then, it was Lam's birthday. We went to The Humble Pie Co. and I don't really remember what I had. I think I had the 1/4 Roast Chicken and one of the cakes. The cake was really really good! but I don't remember the name and neither did I take a photo. If I'm not mistaken it's popcorn something something.

Guess who joined us. Wen Xin!

I went to Singapore by a BUS (aka road trip!). So, we stopped somewhere along the highway for a toilet break. I went to toilet and came back to this view behind the bus. Gosh, once I saw this view, I realized how I have under-appreciated Malaysia. This place is so beautiful. Ok, I may not have added your preferred filter or should not have added any at all. My poiny is, if you don't think the pictures are nice, it's fine cause it really do look damn nice in real life. Stop by Pagoh rest stop and you'll see this beautiful scenery.

The initial plan was to visit my grandaunt but aunt planned to go to Gardens by the Bay the next day. 

Me mama and I inside Asia's (or World's?) largest greenhouse

Gardens by the Bay

"Eye of Singapore", I assume?

Marina Bay Sands

My cousin and I

Found this little thing in the park of my grandaunt's apartment

Next, my cousin's wedding. Guess what this means. ONE MORE ANGPOW NEXT YEAR!

Tea Session(?) with my sister

The wedding dinner was in Kampar, just a short drive away from my hometown. 

No, that is not the restaurant but the architecture is so impressive right? So old school, probably because it was built in 19--. 

My cousin and his beautiful wife

My sister and I after the dinner

Meng Yee's birthday at The Grind Burger Bar. It's located on the same row as The Humble Pie Co. I had been there twice and yet I still don't remember what I had lol. To be honest, I think it's not bad la, I wouldn't say it's very good. I think it's mediocre but I still remember there was this uncle who served us was super down-to-earth. So A+ for service! 

The interior

Meng Yee, birthday girl

And followed by Krystal's birthday in Bofe. It's an Asian Fusion restaurant located in SS2, next to the Selangor Institute of Music. Again, I don't remember what I had. I know, I know, then what's the point of talking about all these cafes right but here's the thing, I remember that the food there was pretty good so I would really recommend you to check Bofe out! The price is not that expensive too, in my opinion. 

The man serving there was very nice too! So again, shoutout to nice and patient men serving us in cafes! 

So I guess you can say that even with my exam around the corner, I still kinda had my social life together. Pretty good job at keeping a balance don't you think.

 I actually wrote this entry more or less a month ago but I was very lazy with the photos, especially  when my phone is forever "storage is almost full". Hence, I postponed it till now, But hey, I did it! 

Boyhood

Hi, just a quick update.

Source: Wikipedia

I've just finished watching Boyhood. It's a movie filmed over about 12 years. Remarkable, right? I know. So, initially, I was like what the hell is the movie about, it doesn't really has a plot or anything. Then, at the end, I thought to myself. This is a pretty damn good movie. If it's based on a book, I'd defo read it even though I've watched the movie. Sadly, it's not, I think. Let me know if it is.

Oh, I just read that it's an indie movie. I'm never quite sure about the genres of movies.

Anyway, basically, this movie is about this kid who has a sister and live with a single mother. His dad is not dead or anything, they're just divorced. It's difficult being a single mum so there's a lot of struggles and moving going on. This kid's father visit them every other weekends. This literally portrays the ups and downs there are in life. How people made bad choices and all the other characters falling in and out of love. However, it's still a pretty cliche plot in my opinion. The struggles of getting out of the bad choices, though, are pretty admirable.

I'm trying to tell you what this movie is about without telling too much about it so I won't spoil the movie for you. Anyway, come to think of it, it's really not that extraordinary except for the fact that it was filmed over the course of 12 years. Also, means that the aging of the characters is real. But, I don't know, I've never experienced such thing in life, the movie just touched somewhere in my heart.

Source: HitFix
They are the same boy, Ellar Coltrane (Mason in the movie)

Maybe it's because I've always had a soft side for sappy family drama. Dramas with story lines that revolve around family, such as Parenthood. Don't even get me started on Parenthood. It's literally the best tv series in history and I don't know why it got cancelled. The finale was two weeks ago, I think. Ending with 6 seasons. IMDb even gave it a 8.1/10 rating.

Anyway, back to Boyhood. But, really though, there wasn't much about family in the movie. It's mostly about the boy. It's just.. I don't know, interesting. 

Now I get it why everyone was like 'what the hell' when Birdman won the Oscar instead of Boyhood. I mean, even if its plot is meh, the fact that it is filmed over 12 years, I think, is Oscar-worthy. But then again, I haven't watch Birdman la so cannot really judge.

Ok, I get it. I usually only post boring updates about my life and not stuff like this. But I heard one of the soundtracks in the movie and it's really good. That's part of the point but not the whole thing. My point is, I don't know why, but all songs named Hero(es) are really good. The song I heard was called Hero.

I mean look Hero by Enrique Iglesias was like one of the top hits; Heroes by Alesso ft. Tove Lo was probably top ten in the chart or something; Heroes by David Bowie, a great indie song; Hero by Family of the Year (a soundtrack from Boyhood) is just eargasm.

I've embedded the songs below so you can feed your ears with good music if you want to.

Enrique Iglesias - Hero

Alesso ft. Tove Lo - Heroes

David Bowie - Heroes

Family of the Year - Hero

I don't know how I can bullshit so much about a movie while I struggle to write a blog post about my life.