Entries for October, 2004
October 4th, 2004
Aim for something... Something Higher
Posted by vampire at 02:32 AM on October 4, 2004.
This has been lingering in my mind for quite a while...
I have many things that I wish for... Things I long to have... Not materialistic things, but more of character/knowledge sort:
1) I used to have a relatively excellent command of the English language during the primary/secondary school period. Teachers and friends/classmates commended on it. I was proud of it. When I sat for my SPM English Paper/1119, (this I heard from my ex-classmate, who heard from my English teacher) I was one of the two who were predicted to get A1 for the 1119 Paper. Alas, I obtained A2. I was disappointed. I think my English teacher was, as well.
When I entered university, the level of English was much higher than it was back in secondary school. I'd say I hardly use this level of English at all. I don't read books/novels that much. Most of my friends don't have that high a command of English. Truthfully, a lot of people I mix with since primary school, till now, have bad English. I'm not criticizing anyone, because they're brought up that way. Most of them are brought up in a Chinese household, go to Chinese schools, so are not exposed to speaking English. But, even with this level of language command, we were able to get through our education (up to degree/postgraduate levels) and lives in Malaysia, cos English is not that important in Malaysia.
I am an engineer, and I'd say I don't even need English much at work. I'd say Hokkien and Mandarin is even more important, for my job. Another language I must be good at is programming language, which is number (2), of my list. I go out, meeting clients, and I can just converse to them in Hokkien, or Mandarin or Malay. That's all I need.
The environment shapes a person. I could have a better command of English if I were around people of my standards, but really, I don't mind if my friends can't speak English. Even I speak broken English.
But one of my wishes, things I would like to do over time, is to have a better command of English. Not that I needed it, but it satisfies me to know I have it.
October 6th, 2004
I wanna...
Posted by vampire at 05:56 PM on October 6, 2004.
I wanna travel~!!!
I wanna go holiday!!!
I wanna go adventure!!!
Why I name this blog "Vampire's Adventures"? Cos I used to adventure quite a lot. Travel here & there. So much time. Food adventures everywhere I go. Gambling adventures in Genting. Visiting friends all over.
Now, not enough leaves. So must save it all up. No more wasting.
Money, also saving them up. Wanna go further.
Travelling to Malacca next weekend. Ah... Better than nothing.
Sad to say my Phuket trip is cancelled, due to unpopularity. Next time I might consider travelling alone, or with one or two other ppl only. Don wanna cater for others anymore. Lemme do work, in the end, tak jadi.
Anyway, it was a good time. Just that I learnt a lesson - I'm not in uni anymore. Life is different now. Lotsa ppl have their mates/partners/etc. They'd prefer to travel with them. Lotsa others for this holiday have their families to come or to visit, or visit elsewhere. Next time, I won't care abt others anymore.
There was one person who said "Yahla, you didn't arrange things early enough. Didn't arrange properly, and such". So I took the advice, and arranged this for everyone. I had been planning this since around July. I got the itinery confirmed weeks ago. Still, this person can't make it, for three occasions. Ah well... That's life.
NEVER DEPEND ON PPL ANYMORE! JUST DO IT YOURSELF!
October 7th, 2004
Five-Second Rule
Posted by vampire at 11:30 PM on October 7, 2004.
Have you ppl heard of the
5-Second Rule? If not, here it is:
"The rule states if food falls on the floor and remains there for five seconds or less then it's fine to pick it up and polish it off. "
Memorize this, might come out in exam :P
Anyway, some uni student did a study on this rule. Here's what she came out with, and won an Ig Nobel for it:
Bacteria can be transferred to food, in less than 5 seconds.
Links:
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/09/16/five_second030916
www-tech.mit.edu/V124/N41/41_ignobels.41n.html
October 9th, 2004
Movie Reviews
Posted by vampire at 03:22 PM on October 9, 2004.
Title: RESIDENT EVIL 2: APOCALYPSE
Source: Cineplex
Rating: 2.5/5
This movie continues where it left off from RE1. I was stuck waiting for my car to get polished, so I was late around half an hour for the movie. The storyline is not bad. But the cameraman really should be fired. The fight scenes were filmed as though the cameraman was involved in the fights, getting punches and all. Sad case. So, going to the cineplex is a waste.
Title: BOURNE SUPREMACY
Source: Cineplex
Rating: 3.5/5
Bourne Identity was ended hanging. He didn't know his identity. Well, this movie continues where it left off. The storyline, spy action, all are good. But again, I don't know if they hired the same cameraman. The whole movie was filmed by hand, I think. Again, fight scenes were blurry. Still, this movie is a must-watch for those who have watched the first. The 1st movie is better.
Title: ALIEN vs PREDATOR
Source: DVD
Rating: 2.5/5
Aliens bad guys. Predators good guys. It's like in the game. But like a horror/thriller kind of movie, kinda lame nowadays. The story is really bad, cos doesn't make sense. Action isn't that cool. Not as exciting. Only 3 predators. Aliens make predators look lame.
Title: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN
Souce: DVD
Rating: 3/5
Disney film. Family film. Storyline's close to "Mean Girls". Lindsay Lohan's newer film, but I preffered Mean Girls, cos it's not that 'family-values'-oriented. I just watched this, for the sake of watching all the DVDs I have. Enjoyable enough.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've just bought two DVDs - "DodgeBall" and "White Chicks". Yay... Looking forward to watching them this weekend.
October 14th, 2004
There's more to life than work....
Posted by vampire at 02:39 AM on October 14, 2004.
There's more to life than work....
Before work, you could:
1) ...do exercises before you start your day.
2) ...read newspapers to keep updated.
3) ...do laundry or clean the car.
For lunch break, you could:
3) ...meet friends up for lunch. Not your colleagues day in day out.
4) ...settle some stuff such as going to the bank, the post office, etc.
After work, you could:
5) ...work out in the gym, or jog, or swim.
6) ...do sports (football, tennis, etc).
7) ...meet up friends, not always your colleagues day in day out.
8) ...read newspapers, if you hadn't done so.
9) ...watch TV/anime/movies (cineplex/DVD).
10) ...play games. PS2, etc.
11) ...get involved in some social activities.
12) ...shopping.
13) ...hobbying (assemble/paint model kits, philately, etc)
14) ...clean up your house/room.
15) ...go on a date.
16) ...read a book.
17) ...enjoy music.
18) ...learn something new (self-development). For example, martial arts, some new programming language, music lessons, cooking a new dish, and so on.
19) ...blog/write a journal/book.
When there's time, you could:
20) ...visit new places.
21) ...go on a holiday/cruise.
22) ...unwind and get away from it all.
When you have lotsa money, you can:
23) ...quit your job. :P
October 24th, 2004
Lost In Translation
Posted by vampire at 08:07 AM on October 24, 2004.
I've just completed watching the movie "Lost in Translation", starring Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray.
The movie is about two complete American strangers, who, for some time, have to stay in Japan, a foreign city with such a different culture and language. And they find warmth in each other's presence.
This movie is slow, but it's really nice. It really conveys a message across, if you've ever felt like the characters in the film. You'll feel that, if you were to be in a place where you have no friends or contacts, you'd just go along with any person who have something common with you.
I felt that when I was starting to work in Pg. There were little activities to do, and I'll just accept any offer to go somewhere do something from anyone. Usually these come from my uni-mates, but most of whom are just hi-bye friends in uni, but became close in Penang. You can feel warmth from them, but maybe not from closer ones whom I mixed with in uni.
SY, I can relate to part of your current experience with what I went through for my industrial training. It sux. Wish you best of luck for your future undertakings on your new career path!
October 26th, 2004
Longing for Adventure
Posted by vampire at 01:34 AM on October 26, 2004.
Has been quite long since I embarked on a holiday/adventure. The last I had was to Langkawi with Cheok, SuYuan, Nelson, Cla, Ray, and Lisa. But the Langkawi trip was a repeat of what I did last time I went, only with different people. So it wasn't too adventurous, although fun enough. Should've went longer and go island hopping.
So last weekend, I took the opportunity to visit Cyberjaya, and my friends there, because I was gonna attend a programming short course there on Saturday morning.
My company paid for my flight to KLIA from PG, and I took a KLIA limo to Cyberjaya. It costed Rm57.90!!! So expensive. Luckily it was paid for. I got off at Cyberia apartments, and waited for MrMiaow. I put my bags in his Cyberia apartment, and went for supper (one of my favourite pastimes).
One unit of Cyberia apartment would cost about Rm1000 to rent per month. That is so so expensive, but it's normal there, compared to Malacca or Penang. A master bedroom cost around Rm400-Rm500. So, you must be rich to be able to have your own room and privacy.
But it seems fun living there, with so many students about. Everyone lives so near each other. And there are towns nearby to have fun. They could even go to KL and go wet.
I managed to have supper with John at Cyberia's mamak, before following Boyd to Dengkil for a second round of supper. All these accompanied by a lot of chatting. At Dengkil's MaLee Malay stall, we were also joined by MrMiaow's GunBound gang - SleepyHead, MySaxyGFren, Low, Wyenn, and STeng.
After that I was supposed to go back to sleep and recharge for a big day the day after, but gave in to requests to play snooker in Serdang. So off we went - Me, Boyd, John, Ngeow. Played Lucky for three or for games, before ending it with snooker.
By then it was around 5am. Was hungry by then, so we went to have 3rd supper. There were lotsa Malays there eating before they start fasting.
I went back to Cyberia apartments, and slept for only 2 hours, before heading for the course, which was taught by a student! Argh! And I had to pay Rm25 for it! Dang. I didn't learn much from it. Luckily, it ended at 1pm. Managed to meet up a long-lost friend's brother there, working in the uni as a tutor.
After lunch at Bak Kut Teh in Dengkil, me, MrMiaow & SleepyHead set off for Genting Highlands. Yay.
Basically all we did there was gambling, but it was really exciting. From losing Rm900, I managed to win Rm200, and with minutes left before leaving Genting, I put all the winnings (Rm200), and lost it. I left Genting with no profit, no loss. Almost all my wins came from a single dealer. He was so unlucky. :P Good for me.
There was an old lady who keep taking people's earnings, and won't own up. The table supervisor had to resort to reviewing the recorded game on the table to settle a dispute between her and a foreigner (maybe Indian). She lost, but still complained a lot. She managed to take a Sarawakian's Rm10 about half an hour before that. I witnessed it. And a man took my earnings of Rm50! :((
Anyway, I left quite satisfied because I didn't lose. And headed off to Malacca from Pudu. Managed to have Claypot Chicken Rice for dinner at Petaling Street. My boss picked me up and I drove to Malacca, for my business trip the next day.