Dear Kok Kuan,

How old are you now? I’m guessing that you are nineteen now!
Still haven’t found a girl yet?!
Don’t worry, we’ll be going “there” tomorrow! HA HA!

Happy Birthday Kok Kuan!

Don’t “accidentally” start a family yet!
Wait for your masters and get a solid career first! =d

Meh, I phail at writing Birthday Greetings!
Darn you Irna!

In a few days time, 3 full moons would have passed before me. I shuddered at the trails I have blazed and wondered how 3 months could have shifted the tectonic plates of one’s believes and horizon.

I first settled here in Ann Arbor in the baby mornings of the summer, when trees still bore the colors of green, and the sun still shone so bright. The slipping sands of time silenced the summer and forced the dawn of autumn. Verdant greens gave way to moody browns. Trees hung their heads in sadness as they shed their happy friends to embrace the solitude of silence. 

It was so funny that it was only in the depths of autumn did the campus spring alive. Soldiers of scholars tracked the wide stretched roads, scuttling to their nearby classes. Respective clubs erected their fortresses to galvanize young blood into their cause. Fresh-ies mustered into the semi-warmth darkness of Crysler Arena for our big send off.

Welcome to Michigan!! Class of 2012!

New Student Convocation at Crylser Arena

New friends were made; old threads of camaraderie maintained…..

Volunteers to direct us to an event!

Clubs set up tents to woo students!

University of Michigan celebrated its renewal.   

—

I took my first baby steps towards the beginning of academia in the energized halls of Ann Arbor. Brimmed with overflowing exuberance, I wanted it all. Defied the advice of my academic advisor, I stocked up my classes to its full. Armed with Economics from both the micro and macro realm, Calculus, Undergraduate Research and the Art of Film…..I cajoled myself: I am all that I thought I could be.

“Sign up first, think later” was my motto. Any club that expressed a remote interest in me earned my signature and contact info. I was too excited to turn any clubs down. And soon, I had a nice collection of them….brilliant, no?

But exuberance is fire in disguise. In moderation, it is one’s greatest ally. Unchecked, it is one’s greatest enemy.

I was blind slighted. Visible cracks splintered across the shaky grounds in which I was threading. I chose not to heed it; brushing it as mere illusions of grandiose distractions. But as time slipped further into it’s place of origin; as the weight of my workload began to pile up; as my own ignorance consumed me…..

The shaky grounds gave way. I plunged into defeat. 

—

Saddled with Bs and Cs for my midterms, my ego was bruised. It was hard to reconcile with the truth that I was not as smart as I think I was; and that the epoch of easy grades and kick-ass-Jian-Wei was long over. I am new, fresh and untrained.

I picked my pieces together and with cups of bubble teas, I began my downward spiral into self re-evaluation.

I was the Humpty Dumpty. I had a great fall.

—

I knew I had to get away….at least for a while. I boarded a train to Chicago alone to heal the wounds of my ego. Vincent, my future colleague was kind enough to spare me some space within the walls of the University of Chicago. 

Vincent, BNM scholar and I in his room (University of Chicago)

In Millennium Park, Chicago

Snapshot from the boat ride! The best part of the tour!

I walked down the streets of Chicago; gave free hugs; got really lost; ate good food; journeyed good rides; hatched new memories…..

Deep Dish Pizza! The famous pizza in Chicago! It was orgasmic pleasure man!

Free Hugs! I wonder why we can’t have these things in Malaysia….

Things start to look right again. I knew what I had to do.

Humpty Dumpty climbed up the wall.

—

I deferred my Calculus, narrowed in on clubs…and soon I was running again. 

With a renewed spirit, a heck lot more time, and memories from healed wounds, I danced a different waltz. 

I took myself less seriously; appreciate my new friends a little more; pampered myself with new books and yes…studied way ahead of time.

Humpty Dumpty saw sunshine!

—

It went really well. 

Not only did I have more time for my work, but I appreciated each second of my life more. It was only then I realized how much 3 months can do to a person. 

LiXian, another BNM scholar and I during Michigan’s Hari Raya Celebration!

I bagged a string of As for my second midterm; I plucked apples!; I visited Chicago TWICE; I found re-newed purpose for all that I have given up on….

My first experience for apple picking! My friends are behind me!

Life is great people! Life is great! =)

Humpty Dumpty is staring across his bedroom window, and is awed by the little droplets of snow. 

Details
A 1, 538 sq ft unit (Type B) on the 9th floor. Fully furnished brand new unit, with 3+1 bedrooms. The unit is situated at Block A. There are also 2 parking lots designated for the owners.

Like all luxury condominiums, Casa Tropicana Condominiums has gym and pool facilities, recreation and security intercom services. In addition to that, there is a courtyard with restaurants, convenient stores, salons and laundry services on the ground floor.

The owner aims to fetch a rent of MYR 3000 per month. The unit is fully equipped with essential electronic equipments ie: air cond for living, master bedroom and bedrooms 2 and 3, TV sets for living area and master bedroom, 6 kg Samsung Washing Machine, and a Toshiba Refrigerator.

For more in depth information of the specifications and facilities of Casa Tropicana Condominiums, visit: http://www.dijaya.com.my/project/casa_tropicana/intro.html

Interested parties can email Eugene at eujuin89@hotmail.com

Images

Above: Floor Plan for the unit (Type B)

Above: A view from the main entrance through to the living area.

Above: Living Area

Above: Dining Area

Above: Kitchen with breakfast table

Above: Master Bedroom

Above: Master Bedroom’s lounge area.

Above: Bedroom 2 (Single Size Bed)

Above: Bedroom 3 (Queen Size Bed)

Above: Guard house

Above: Elevated Park (on the 6th floor)

Above: Children’s pool, the adult’s pool is on the further end. This is also on the 6th floor.

Above: a view of phase 1 from ground level.

The Newcastle Malaysian Society, mostly known as Malsoc organised Deeparaya Celebration on the 11th of October 2008. It was located at the medical school building which was walking distance away from where I usually have my class. I was there with my MY friends from the same hall of residence. Surprisingly, many people turned up for this event.

The rule of this event was that everyone must bring their own MY food (cook yourself of course, unless you can “tapau” from MY) and share it with others. People without food will be fined £2.00. My friend and I made roti canai at one of our seniors’ house. The roti canai that we prepared were actually edible although it looked more like pan cakes. (Some people commented it tastes good!) xD

My main intention of attending this event was to know more people from MY studying in Newcastle. Cameras were flashing everywhere throughout the event. I was with my L lens camera (yes, you read that right!) looking for new friends. Overall, the food was nice and has the taste of MY food. There were games and photography sessions before the event ended.

I got to know so many friends from this event and I truly enjoyed myself on that day. Not many pictures taken though.

Note: L means Leica here.

My friends

Food

More friends

President and secretary of Malsoc

I met my A-Level classmate there!

More friends

Group photo, with many people missing, credits to Al

The gals

The guys

I will be going to Nottingham on 8-Nov-2008 for the Nottingham Malaysia Games event!

I finally got my first L lens after a year and a half’s savings!
Hope this baby will not let me down, or else!
Was not able to make it for the Prefect’s Honorary Night due to this!
Waiting for another event to have it tested!

I’m broke now!
D’oh!

P/S - Picture taken by Digital IXUS 60

Giovanni Silva de Oliveira, better known as Giovanni, is a football player from Brazil. He plays forward for Sport Club do Recife in the Brazilian National League A and he was also capped for the Brazilian national team.

Born in Abaetetuba, Giovanni started his career in 1991 at Tuna Luso. In 1993, he scored 24 goals, before joining Remo, Paysandu and Sãocarlense before moving to top Brazilian club Santos in 1995. Pelé himself paid for his transfer, and proclaimed him as the “new Pelé”.

Excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Silva_de_Oliveira

Giovanni with more fans

I was lucky enough to have checked the speaker’s list before Sunday!
If not, I wouldn’t have brought my camera to church =].
There was another football player but he was invited to the hospitality room immediately after service.

Now, you might wonder what on earth are these football stars doing in Asia?
They are on a mission, the Tour of Hope to help relief & rebuilding projects for the victims of Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar.
In fact, they are having a charity dinner at the Bangsar Seafood Garden Restaurant right now.
Continue to pray for them, people!

Cheers!

At first we planned to have our meal at “China Town Express” but changed our mind to “Number 1 Buffet Restaurant” due to the price. A set of lunch meal without drink cost £4.80 at Tian Tian while buffet only cost £4.96 with student discount. We settled down in “Number 1″ and enjoyed our meal. The food was delicous and you can eat as much as you want. It was worth the money!

After lunch, my friend from MY and I went to a chinese supermarket to purchase ingredients for roti canai. We were required to prepare MY food for Deeparaya Celebration organised by Malaysian Society at night. I was shocked to see Maggi Mee for sale on the shelves. Not to left out my favourite Milo! xD

Here are the pictures:

Lots of people in the street

Landmark of China Town

China Town Express, pics of food in the previous post

Food

Closer view, I actually had 2 or 3 plates of these

Dessert

A group picture before we left. Pic credits to Yan

Chinese supermarket

Maggi, 25p each

Milo, £2.95 for 500g

Pei Pa Koa, £4.95 each

Bus stop

Next Up -> Newcastle Malaysian Society Deeparaya Celebration

All pictures were taken with my camera in iA mode (Auto). I neither have the luxury time to compose every shots nor enhance them in photoshop. I hope they are not a pain in the eye. Remember to click on the pictures for larger view and click again to close the window. Enjoy~

A walk to the bus stop from hall of residence.
Houses, with very small garage.

Road junction

Highway. I need to cross over to the opposite for bus.

In the city. Rolex.

Monument. Eldon square shopping center in background.

Streets.

Pizza Hut, KFC and McD (beside where I stood, not in pic)

New Gate shopping center, with Food Co on the left. Food Co is where you can do cheap groceries.

Wilkinson store, mini Giant?

The Gate, cinema. Going to watch James Bond there.

China Town

China Town street

Food in China Town

Miss chinese food in Malaysia? Here’s the temporary solution.

This does not look good. =/

Northumberland street

Random shot in bus stop

Next Update -> Visit to China Town