Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wake me up when September ends
With only a few more days (and one concert; remember to come and support!) of September to go, it's only appropriate that I update my blog now... especially since Monash is on a week-long break at the moment.
Once again, brace yourself for pictures galore!
7th September - Monash Talent Time
I was the emcee (surprise, surprise...) for this event, and according to some people I sucked at it.
Hmm...
Anyway, it was a surprising, smashing success (notwithstanding the myriad of complaints from here and there, but hey you can't please everybody)! There was a shitload of technical difficulties plaguing us on the rehearsals but when the real show came about, it defeated everybody's expectations; my personal one was, admittedly, very low. And to summarise the night's events, a dancer won the solo category and a pair of beatboxers won the group category.
8th September - Chiling Waterfall Hike
The week leading up to this trip was filled with MNSM's trademark fundraising tactic; donut sales. A small bit of those funds went towards subsidising this trip. Chiling is this beautiful place near Kuala Kubu Baru. We left Monash at almost 8am and got back at around 5pm thanks to the rain which stranded us for a while. Nevertheless, I believe that everyone had a great time. Let the pictures speak for themselves:
We passed a dam on the way there.
Most of the time we trekked through greenery.
Once in a while, we had to cross the river.
We couldn't wait to arrive at the waterfall before playing with water...so we did.
And once there, a barrelful of fun began. By the way, the waterfall is so strong that it's impossible to swim against the flow of the currents near that huge rock you see in the background.
Alvin and Cze Wien wrestling. Note the unfair advantage that she got.
Derek and Cze Wien on the shoulders of Kim and Daleel.
Everyone loved hanging out on the huge rock.
Whenever MNSM members are near large bodies of water, there is a very high probability of bodies flying in the air. The victims were all relatively unharmed in the process; a small price to pay for the awesome pictures you're about to see.
This is Leanne, the vice president.
Derek's friend, whose name I did not catch.
Daleel the Activities officer. This is also what I believe is the most beautiful shot ever to emerge from the trip. The photographer, Izuan, would beg to differ, though.
Alvin is...Alvin.
Cze Wien probably flew the highest that day.
Vishnu.
And last but not least, me. It seems like I'm crowd-surfing in this picture, heh heh.
Obligatory camwhore pose with the waterfall in the background.
There were shallow rapids/steps nearby, forming a natural jacuzzi except that the water was friggin' frigid. But after you get used to the cold, it's actually really relaxing.
You can't tell from this picture, but it was raining very heavily when we were on the way back to the bus.
15th September - International Coastal Cleanup Day at Kuala Selangor
International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC) falls on the third weekend of September every year. In Malaysia, Body Shop would sponsor people to clean up a specific beach or coastal area; last year's was at Port Dickson. This year's was meant to be at Batu Feringghi, Penang, but due to Ramadan, Body Shop Malaysia brought the event forward by one week, clashing with our Chiling trek. Hence, we headed to Kuala Selangor instead.
Kuala Selangor Nature Park is this half-mangrove, half-secondary forest place some ways downstream from where people would stop to check out fireflies. Remember the donut sales I mentioned in the Chiling trip entry? Most of the cash went to this, and for a good reason too; you cannot begin to imagine the amount of rubbish you can find at a mangrove forest...
Sadly, I don't have the photos from this trip (we were busy picking up trash and only had one cameraman as a result), so let's move on to the next activity, shall we?21st September - Monash Ball
Cue the best disco song in the world, ever (how I wish I went for their concert when they came down to Malaysia a couple of months back):
Do you remember the 21st night of September?
Love was changing the mind of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away...
...
...
Ba de ya - Say do you remember?
Ba de ya - Dancing in September
Ba de ya - Never was a cloudy daaaaaaaay!
And so very apt too, for the ball was indeed on the 21st night of September.
*Ahem*
Anyway, the theme of the ball (the rest of the modern world would call it a prom) was Film Noir (which I suggested!), or more exactly what I had in mind, the 1930's. Overall, the ball was a blast, but it could've been better if:
1 - Taha did not make me wait 30 minutes for him at Lagoon View
2 - I performed that night
3 - I wasn't part of the Ball Crew and therefore could have gotten a seat at a table and a date
4 - I won the Best Dressed award.
Since none of these are true and because I've already sulked enough in real life, I shall spare all you readers from having to endure my whining and go straight into posting up photos:
For starters, this was what I wore on that night, sans the white rose I would eventually put through my lapel buttonhole.
My brother and I changing into our costumes. He came to perform that night.
The lovely MNSM Biotech girls.
Ammar (School of IT Representative) here looked very much like a Phileas Fogg-kinda character.
Vince, the Monash Performing Arts Club president and all-round auntie.
Nisha, the MUSA Council's General Secretary. I thought she resembled Jennifer Lopez that night.
Megah, my School of Business Representative counterpart. I was completely shocked when I saw her because she looked so different with makeup on.
Cze Wien, Daleel and Leanne from MNSM; you've heard about them a million and one times already.
Desmond and Darren (Ng Peck Yun), the latter of which has been a close friend of mine since Form 1. That thing in my hand was my 'date' for the night, a pink cat named Fleur (who lives in my car).
Marie-Ann and Samia from Ball Crew.
Kathia once again, a veritable mix of brains and beauty. She won Best Dressed Female!
Hui Ling, the Activities Chairperson and head of the Ball.
These are the guys that hang out quite often at the MUSA Lounge and offices in Monash.
The Monash Performing Arts Club gang.
MPAC again.
Rachel wanted to take a picture with Fleur, so here it is.
This here is Taha, the coolest thing to ever come out of Sudan. I'd have said the "coolest thing to come out of Africa" if not for the fact that he made me wait 30 minutes at the Lagoon View lobby to pick him up, on top of the 15 minutes I already gave him when he asked me to come later... We were almost late for the Ball as a result.
And one more photo with my brother, Dennis Yin. Do you see the resemblance?
The SJBA peeps!
Finally, Elaine likes me so much she physically defiled left Christian Dior on my face as a gift.
And that shall be it for this morning! In approximately eight hours, I will be performing at the concert that I've been so incessantly promoting, and will be doing so up until Sunday. So don't bother me until then! Ta~
Pointless Fact of the Day:Have you heard of Article 160 of the Malaysian Constitution? It states that:
Once again, brace yourself for pictures galore!
7th September - Monash Talent Time
I was the emcee (surprise, surprise...) for this event, and according to some people I sucked at it.
Hmm...
Anyway, it was a surprising, smashing success (notwithstanding the myriad of complaints from here and there, but hey you can't please everybody)! There was a shitload of technical difficulties plaguing us on the rehearsals but when the real show came about, it defeated everybody's expectations; my personal one was, admittedly, very low. And to summarise the night's events, a dancer won the solo category and a pair of beatboxers won the group category.
8th September - Chiling Waterfall Hike
The week leading up to this trip was filled with MNSM's trademark fundraising tactic; donut sales. A small bit of those funds went towards subsidising this trip. Chiling is this beautiful place near Kuala Kubu Baru. We left Monash at almost 8am and got back at around 5pm thanks to the rain which stranded us for a while. Nevertheless, I believe that everyone had a great time. Let the pictures speak for themselves:
We passed a dam on the way there.
Most of the time we trekked through greenery.
Once in a while, we had to cross the river.
We couldn't wait to arrive at the waterfall before playing with water...so we did.
And once there, a barrelful of fun began. By the way, the waterfall is so strong that it's impossible to swim against the flow of the currents near that huge rock you see in the background.
Alvin and Cze Wien wrestling. Note the unfair advantage that she got.
Derek and Cze Wien on the shoulders of Kim and Daleel.
Everyone loved hanging out on the huge rock.Whenever MNSM members are near large bodies of water, there is a very high probability of bodies flying in the air. The victims were all relatively unharmed in the process; a small price to pay for the awesome pictures you're about to see.
This is Leanne, the vice president.
Derek's friend, whose name I did not catch.
Daleel the Activities officer. This is also what I believe is the most beautiful shot ever to emerge from the trip. The photographer, Izuan, would beg to differ, though.
Alvin is...Alvin.
Cze Wien probably flew the highest that day.
Vishnu.
And last but not least, me. It seems like I'm crowd-surfing in this picture, heh heh.
Obligatory camwhore pose with the waterfall in the background.
There were shallow rapids/steps nearby, forming a natural jacuzzi except that the water was friggin' frigid. But after you get used to the cold, it's actually really relaxing.
You can't tell from this picture, but it was raining very heavily when we were on the way back to the bus.15th September - International Coastal Cleanup Day at Kuala Selangor
International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICC) falls on the third weekend of September every year. In Malaysia, Body Shop would sponsor people to clean up a specific beach or coastal area; last year's was at Port Dickson. This year's was meant to be at Batu Feringghi, Penang, but due to Ramadan, Body Shop Malaysia brought the event forward by one week, clashing with our Chiling trek. Hence, we headed to Kuala Selangor instead.
Kuala Selangor Nature Park is this half-mangrove, half-secondary forest place some ways downstream from where people would stop to check out fireflies. Remember the donut sales I mentioned in the Chiling trip entry? Most of the cash went to this, and for a good reason too; you cannot begin to imagine the amount of rubbish you can find at a mangrove forest...
Sadly, I don't have the photos from this trip (we were busy picking up trash and only had one cameraman as a result), so let's move on to the next activity, shall we?21st September - Monash Ball
Cue the best disco song in the world, ever (how I wish I went for their concert when they came down to Malaysia a couple of months back):
Do you remember the 21st night of September?
Love was changing the mind of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away...
...
...
Ba de ya - Say do you remember?
Ba de ya - Dancing in September
Ba de ya - Never was a cloudy daaaaaaaay!
And so very apt too, for the ball was indeed on the 21st night of September.
*Ahem*
Anyway, the theme of the ball (the rest of the modern world would call it a prom) was Film Noir (which I suggested!), or more exactly what I had in mind, the 1930's. Overall, the ball was a blast, but it could've been better if:
1 - Taha did not make me wait 30 minutes for him at Lagoon View
2 - I performed that night
3 - I wasn't part of the Ball Crew and therefore could have gotten a seat at a table and a date
4 - I won the Best Dressed award.
Since none of these are true and because I've already sulked enough in real life, I shall spare all you readers from having to endure my whining and go straight into posting up photos:
For starters, this was what I wore on that night, sans the white rose I would eventually put through my lapel buttonhole.
My brother and I changing into our costumes. He came to perform that night.
The lovely .JPG)
Ammar (School of IT Representative) here looked very much like a Phileas Fogg-kinda character.
Vince, the Monash Performing Arts Club president and all-round auntie.
Nisha, the MUSA Council's General Secretary. I thought she resembled Jennifer Lopez that night.
Megah, my School of Business Representative counterpart. I was completely shocked when I saw her because she looked so different with makeup on.
Cze Wien, Daleel and Leanne from MNSM; you've heard about them a million and one times already.
Desmond and Darren (Ng Peck Yun), the latter of which has been a close friend of mine since Form 1. That thing in my hand was my 'date' for the night, a pink cat named Fleur (who lives in my car).
Marie-Ann and Samia from Ball Crew.
Kathia once again, a veritable mix of brains and beauty. She won Best Dressed Female!
Hui Ling, the Activities Chairperson and head of the Ball.
These are the guys that hang out quite often at the MUSA Lounge and offices in Monash.
The Monash Performing Arts Club gang.
MPAC again.
Rachel wanted to take a picture with Fleur, so here it is.
This here is Taha, the coolest thing to ever come out of Sudan. I'd have said the "coolest thing to come out of Africa" if not for the fact that he made me wait 30 minutes at the Lagoon View lobby to pick him up, on top of the 15 minutes I already gave him when he asked me to come later... We were almost late for the Ball as a result.
And one more photo with my brother, Dennis Yin. Do you see the resemblance?
The SJBA peeps!
Finally, Elaine likes me so much she And that shall be it for this morning! In approximately eight hours, I will be performing at the concert that I've been so incessantly promoting, and will be doing so up until Sunday. So don't bother me until then! Ta~
Pointless Fact of the Day:Have you heard of Article 160 of the Malaysian Constitution? It states that:
"Malay" means a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, conforms to Malay custom and -This means that anybody marrying into Islam would be considered a Malay if they habitually spoke Malay and conformed to Malay custom. That's the ticket, people; now everyone can bumiputra!
(a) was before Merdeka Day born in the Federation or in Singapore or born of parents one of whom was born in the Federation or in Singapore, or is on that day domiciled in the Federation or in Singapore
Zhen was here at 12:16 pm,
2 comment(s)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Yet Another One of Those Posts
*Sigh*
I've been super busy lately. Like I've said before, it's ironic that the more you have to blog about, the less time you actually have to blog about it. September is actually the busiest month of the year for me, so if you take into account the aforementioned inverse relationship, you can expect a proper blog post (complete with pictures!) by the end of this week or the next.
What I've been busy with: Monash Talent Time, MNSM Chiling Waterfall Trek, MNSM International Coastal Cleanup Day at Kuala Selangor.
What I'll be busy with: Monash Ball, as well as Choir, Choir, Choir, Choir and Choir with a 100% chance for a Concert next week at Actors Studio Bangsar plus scattered thunderstorms in the rest of the country.
And I have a Television Studies Assignment due this Friday, the same night as the ball. The assignment should be 2,000 words long.
And I've yet to write a single word yet.
And it contributes 50% to my final assessment.
*Slaps forehead*
I need some love, man. Show me some love (by going for the concert stated below)!!
Pointless Fact of the Day:
I can't seem to find my Kingston 1GB grey thumbdrive... If anybody borrowed it and conveniently forgot to return it to me, would you be nice and return it to me please? Thanks. The same goes to everybody out there who had borrowed my homemade DVDs, too; I'm missing a couple of seasons of Friends (go look for it la Jimmy!) and half a season of House.
I've been super busy lately. Like I've said before, it's ironic that the more you have to blog about, the less time you actually have to blog about it. September is actually the busiest month of the year for me, so if you take into account the aforementioned inverse relationship, you can expect a proper blog post (complete with pictures!) by the end of this week or the next.
What I've been busy with: Monash Talent Time, MNSM Chiling Waterfall Trek, MNSM International Coastal Cleanup Day at Kuala Selangor.
What I'll be busy with: Monash Ball, as well as Choir, Choir, Choir, Choir and Choir with a 100% chance for a Concert next week at Actors Studio Bangsar plus scattered thunderstorms in the rest of the country.
And I have a Television Studies Assignment due this Friday, the same night as the ball. The assignment should be 2,000 words long.
And I've yet to write a single word yet.
And it contributes 50% to my final assessment.
*Slaps forehead*
I need some love, man. Show me some love (by going for the concert stated below)!!
Pointless Fact of the Day:
I can't seem to find my Kingston 1GB grey thumbdrive... If anybody borrowed it and conveniently forgot to return it to me, would you be nice and return it to me please? Thanks. The same goes to everybody out there who had borrowed my homemade DVDs, too; I'm missing a couple of seasons of Friends (go look for it la Jimmy!) and half a season of House.
Zhen was here at 8:28 am,
1 comment(s)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
YKLS 5th Anniversary Concert: Move It!
Please come and show me your love by supporting me at this concert!
The Young KL Singers (YKLS) turn 5 this year and we want to celebrate with YOU! Come move and sing with us at our 5th year anniversary concert – a celebration of music not to be missed!
Directed by YKLS' Artistic/Music Director Susanna Saw and visual artist/theatre practitioner, Chee Sek Thim of the Five Arts Centre, in collaboration with renowned dancer/choreographer, Mew Chang Tsing, as our guest choreographer - we will bring back all time YKLS favourites including, ‘One Day More’ from Les Miserables, ‘Light At the End of the Tunnel’ from Starlight Express, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from Carousel, ‘Magnificent Horses’, ‘Yang Indah’ from M! The Opera and ‘Yver, Vous N’etes Qu’un Villain’ performed by the YKLS Chamber Choir.
This year also celebrates the opening of the YKLS’ new home, under the Young Choral Academy (YCA) - an umbrella of the country’s first academy for choral music.
So, make a date to catch us in our element and join in our revelry of five wonderful years together!
Dates:
27-29 September @ 8.30 p.m.
29 & 30 September @ 3.00 p.m.
Ticket prices:
RM47 & RM32 (adults; centre/side seats)
RM32 (children aged 12 years and below)
Tel: 03-2094 0400/1400
E-mail: tickets@theactorsstudio.com.my
Venue:
The Actors Studio
Bangsar Shopping Centre
Jalan Maarof
Bukit Bandaraya
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Celebrity Fitness memberships worth RM1,000 to be won and 14-day FREE trial passes to be given out at every show!
The Young KL Singers (YKLS) turn 5 this year and we want to celebrate with YOU! Come move and sing with us at our 5th year anniversary concert – a celebration of music not to be missed!
Directed by YKLS' Artistic/Music Director Susanna Saw and visual artist/theatre practitioner, Chee Sek Thim of the Five Arts Centre, in collaboration with renowned dancer/choreographer, Mew Chang Tsing, as our guest choreographer - we will bring back all time YKLS favourites including, ‘One Day More’ from Les Miserables, ‘Light At the End of the Tunnel’ from Starlight Express, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from Carousel, ‘Magnificent Horses’, ‘Yang Indah’ from M! The Opera and ‘Yver, Vous N’etes Qu’un Villain’ performed by the YKLS Chamber Choir.
This year also celebrates the opening of the YKLS’ new home, under the Young Choral Academy (YCA) - an umbrella of the country’s first academy for choral music.
So, make a date to catch us in our element and join in our revelry of five wonderful years together!
Dates:
27-29 September @ 8.30 p.m.
29 & 30 September @ 3.00 p.m.
Ticket prices:
RM47 & RM32 (adults; centre/side seats)
RM32 (children aged 12 years and below)
Tel: 03-2094 0400/1400
E-mail: tickets@theactorsstudio.com.my
Venue:
The Actors Studio
Bangsar Shopping Centre
Jalan Maarof
Bukit Bandaraya
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Celebrity Fitness memberships worth RM1,000 to be won and 14-day FREE trial passes to be given out at every show!
Zhen was here at 10:53 pm,
2 comment(s)
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Glutton for Punishment
Aaaarg.
MPAC Talent Time full rehearsal tomorrow (or more exactly, tonight). Commercial Banking assignment on Friday. So is Talent Time. MNSM Donut Sale Fundraiser all week long. Chiling Waterfall Trek on Saturday. Probably auditioning on Sunday. Choir photoshoot on Sunday, too.
Aside: Why am I Unnecessarily Capitalising everything?
I think I may have been subconsciously masochistic all this while, considering how I oh-so-love torturing myself...especially by ranting like this when I should obviously be sleeping or doing my assignment (word count: 0/2,000). Now isn't it ironic?
"It's like raaaaaain on your wedding day, it's a freee riiiide when you've already paid..."
On the upside, it's only a 1 mark deduction per business day late, i.e. only 1/30 if I pass it up on Monday instead. Hmm...
Pointless Fact Ooh screw this
MPAC Talent Time full rehearsal tomorrow (or more exactly, tonight). Commercial Banking assignment on Friday. So is Talent Time. MNSM Donut Sale Fundraiser all week long. Chiling Waterfall Trek on Saturday. Probably auditioning on Sunday. Choir photoshoot on Sunday, too.
Aside: Why am I Unnecessarily Capitalising everything?
I think I may have been subconsciously masochistic all this while, considering how I oh-so-love torturing myself...especially by ranting like this when I should obviously be sleeping or doing my assignment (word count: 0/2,000). Now isn't it ironic?
"It's like raaaaaain on your wedding day, it's a freee riiiide when you've already paid..."
On the upside, it's only a 1 mark deduction per business day late, i.e. only 1/30 if I pass it up on Monday instead. Hmm...