Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Dream of a dream
Yesterday, i was sleeping on the couch..
dreaming that i was sleeping on the couch, dreaming that i was sleepnig on the couch..

O_o

Life's kinda like that sometimes, isn't it? When you finally think that you've woken up into reality, you go about your day only to really wake up later and find that what you thought was real was only a dream. Sometimes, the real real is better than the dream. Sometimes, it's not. But when you think about it - which is more real? The reality that really is, or the reality you choose to believe? Besides, who's to say that the reality you choose to believe isn't real at all?

Don't mind me, i'm musing.

Just realised that this would be the first time in a long time that i've blogged during sane daylight hours.. *weirds*

Anyways, to all my Hindu & Muslim friends..

Happy Deepavali & Selamat Hari Raya

Speaking of which, i gotta run off for a raya open house in a bit. Just a quick post of the rest of the pics we took during our zoo-rific trip :D *enjoy*


Bambi!!


Angry ostrich - she doesn't like paparazzi ;p


"Maybe if i pretend to sleep, they'll get the hint and stop disturbing me.."


Big Fish = Big Fish O Fillet *yum* (sorry i haven't had my breakfast yet..)


grumpy giraffe - he was making all these farny faces at me!


I think it's quite ironic how it takes squinting and looking through a small hole in a black box to help us to see better sometimes...


Behind the lens - Me! Thanks to SJ for the pic..


Behind the lens - Sian Jeen's GQ look


Behind the lens - Joanne smiling sweetly


Behind the lens - Yi Khai pretending to look at his watch :D


Teddy and me... they both have such cute lil dark eyes :)


This lil guy found some strange creature to look at..


I think he just found a stranger one.. @_@"


Artistic shot of friends.. (me first time using a warming filter :D)


Semi-artistic shot of friend.. (i make a cameo - spot me!)


Not-very-artistic shot of friends.. *hehe* L-R: SianJeen, Joanne & YiKhai doing their kawaii girl pose.

Sunday, October 22, 2006
The In Between..
There's something about slow mornings..
and quiet nights - just puts you in that mood..

Listening to: Nobody Knows - Tony Rich Project

And after that, it doesn't really matter if anything or nothing happened during the day in between. Much like everything else in life, all that people see or remember is what happened at the start and what happened at the end. It's that same frame of mind that pushes us to constantly feel like we should be acheiving more when in truth we spend most of our lives being "works-in-progress" rather than being the end product ;p I'm still in the 'in-between'...

Just something that was running around in my head. My sis read in Reader's Digest that if a song is playing again and again in your head, the best way to get it to stop is to sing and let it out - i hope the same applies for thoughts too.. :)

Going off on a random tangent for a bit - speaking of in-between-ers, i can't believe they killed off Tweener on Prison Break!! *argh* hahaa... i need episode 8 of Season 2... *sobs*

Meanwhile.. since Yi Khai has been so hard working and has already posted ALL his zoo pics, i, henceforth, shall double my efforts in posting zoo pics too *blek*


If there's one thing i don't really like about Zoo Negara, it's that all the animals are so obviously isolated from the zoo visitors. The elephants were chained to the back of their enclosure, the birds are locked away behind double layers of cage-wire-things (as are the mice - why? They're gonna escape and terrorise the zoo?) & about the only animals you can actually get close too are the chickens.. @_@" I don't really have to say much about this photo.. the monkey's eyes just say it all..


Scaree looking monitor lizard..


Lazy hippos..


I am officially a CANON girl :D
(Thanx to SJ for shooting this for me. i've been wanting to take a shot like this ever since i got my cam!!)



Though the elephants were way at the back of their enclosure, a 100-300mm zoom lens ensured that i got to sneak a shot of them smiling shyly (Thanks again Kevin for letting me steal your lens!)


Speaking of birds, Mr. Macaw says hi :)


A shy lil porcupine hiding out in his fake log thingy


Roo!! Reminds me of Aus, which reminds me of my indecision - *change subject*


Hmm.. now what's this strange creature? Wait, i'll try to get closure and get a better look..


Ahh!! It's a Yi Khai! I knew it! *hee* What could he possibly be shooting??


Why, ME of course! Weirdos la.. go to zoo, shoot each other *sighs* (Thanks to SJ for shooting me shooting him shooting me)
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Choices..
The initial excitement..
has disintergrated into full-blown confusion..

Listening too: Sunzet - Telling Lies (album: First Hotel Skt. Petri, Vol. 3)

Got the last 2 university acceptance offers earlier this week. I now officially have no more excusse not to think seriously about which uni to got to next year. I feel like someone who's gonna marry someone online without ever having met them before..

-_-"

I mean, how can you possibly make an "informed decision" like this without EVER having gone to either place, personally spoken to students from your prospective faculties or anything of that sort? And yeah, photos online don't help - i know what photoshop and good camera angles can do to reality ;p Plus, reading bout the place from websites and hearing about it from the uni marketing staff can sometimes paint quite different pictures from what happens in reality (take lkw for example).

...and what do you do when the pros and cons lists match up evenly between the two???

*excuse me while i rant*

Wish i could just wallow in peaceful nothingness for a bit like this boar at the zoo.. Just chilling. Knowing that each day will come, and with it the assurance of provision as always. God, help... *eep*


Just another boar-ing day ( get it? get it? BOAR -ing?? *hee* :D )
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
New Camera + Lenses + Filters = Zoo Negara :)
So many things running around in my head..
..and i don't wanna think about any of them..

So i post!

Another zoo update! I should sleep but i can't help it.. can't... fight... this... need... to... must... post... photos..

@_@

It's a drug i swear ;p *haha*


Sing with me now " I like big butts and i can't deny.." (P/s: clcik the pic to see the full-size version of this pic.. i liked the texture on the hippo's butt - this is one time when visible cellulite is actually a good thing *hee*)


Hyperactive lil dude who was running about on SianJeen's hands!


Erm.. why i shot chickens in a zoo.. i have no idea ;p but she sat there and sulked at me so *snap snap*


i loved this lil guy, he was just chilling on the rock sticking his lil nose into things then looking up at us - keh-poh-nya! loved his lil black eyes..


Speaking of eyes - a scary looking baby gator giving me the "evil eye"..




Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Retail Theraphy + Road Trip = Zoo Negara(?)
Exhausted beyond words..
..but it's all for a good cause

My weekend trip to Singapore was one long retail therapy session peppered with bouts of shooting with Matthias and lots and lots of yummy meals.. this all adds up to a very very VERY happy grace. :)

Got back from Sunny Singapore (actually, twas pretty hazy down there too ;p) on Sunday with my new baby!!! Finally got my Canon 350D!! *yaaays* Thanks so much to everyone who chipped in for it for my 21st bday *does happy dance*

Went shooting at Zoo Negara yesterday with Yi Khai, Sian Jeen & Joanne to test run my new baby. Brought along more photog gear that i stole from my dear cousin Kevin :D I love gadgets!! Seriously, one experiences such an amazing rush to the head when armed with multiple lenses, filters, Manfrotto tripods and such. Most of us had not been back to the zoo since kindergarten and so, as we turned 21, we decided that we were long overdue for a SERIOUS dose of second-childhood-syndrome. With Yi Khai and SianJeen happily singing in the background to scare away other visitors, we set of to conquer the zoo. Will post more shots from the zoo trip and the S'pore trip soon.

Will post more shots from my S'pore trip and the zoo trip soon. For now, here are a few snake shots taken at the Reptile House @ Zoo Negara.. puuuurty snakes!!





Wednesday, October 11, 2006
23 hours and counting...
22 and 1/2 hours more and i'll be 100% lawfully legal for.. just about AnYtHiNg...

@_@

I feel old...
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Wonderful Weekend...


i had a wonderful weekend..
Absolutely wonderful weekend from start to end.

The kind that makes you think the world is a happy place and that fairy god-mothers do exist (or at least fairy-aunts *hee*). Not gonna write much. As RayRay says, i'm in a far too lazy hazy mood to try to pen anything half useful (or not). Just a quick post about my early bday dinner with the whole family. A big thank you to everyone who came and everyone who sent gifts. It's a little sad to be your own photographer - was far too busy eating my bday cake anyways!

;p
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Have you ever..

70 out of 125..

I nicked this from Edmund who nicked this from some Friendster post heh *lame-O* i know but i'm posting it anyways. Why? Because i can. Because i went for a scrumilicious & absolutely sinful Japanese dinner at Mizu and even more sinful dessert at Bakerzin tonight with my family and i FORGOT to bring my camera.. heck i've been so giddy the whole day that i even forgot to bring my handphone.. gadget-less grace for the whole night - and it was liberating! Anyways, don't think i've ever posted twice in the same day before. There always a first.. here goes..

Have you ever..

Level 1
() smoked a cigarette
() smoked a cigar
() did Mary Jane

( ) kissed a member of the same sex
(x) drank alcohol

Level 2
(x) been in love
() been dumped
(x) shoplifted

( ) been fired
( ) been in a fist fight

Level 3
() snuck out of a parent's house
(x) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back

( ) been arrested
( ) made out with a stranger
( ) gone out on a blind date

Level 4
(x) had a crush on an older person
(x) skipped school/class
() slept with a co-worker
(x) seen someone/something die


Level 5
(x) had/have a crush on one of your FRIENDSTER
friends
(x) been to Paris (YES! YES! YES!)
( ) been to Spain (NEXT ON MY LIST!)
(x) been on a plane
() thrown up from drinking

Level 6
(x) eaten Sushi
(x) been snowboarding/surfing
( ) met someone BECAUSE of myspace
(x) been mosh pitting

Level 7
( ) been in an abusive relationship
(x) taken pain killers
(x) love/like someone right now
(x) laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by

( ) made a snow angel

Level 8
(x) had a tea party
(x) flown a kite
(x) built a sand castle

(x) gone puddle jumping (WHEE!)
(x) played dress up (DUH!)

Level 9
(x) jumped into a pile of leaves
( ) gone sledding
(x) cheated while playing a game
(x) been lonely
(x) fallen asleep at work/school


Level 10
(x) used a fake/someone else's ID
(x) watched the sun set
( ) felt an earthquake
( ) killed a snake

Level 11
(x) been tickled
( ) been robbed/vandalized
( ) robbed someone
(x) been misunderstood
( ) pet a reindeer (I GOT BUTTED BY A DEER, DOES THAT COUNT?)

Level 12
(x) won a contest
( ) been suspended from school
( ) had detention
(x) been in a car/motorcycle accident

Level 13
( ) had/have braces
(x) eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night (TWO ACTUALLY..)
(x) had deja vu
(x) danced in the moonlight

Level 14
(x) hated the way you look
( ) witnessed a crime
( ) pole danced
(x) questioned your heart
(x) been obsessed with post-it notes

Level 15
(x) squished barefoot through the mud
(x) been lost
(THE STORY OF MY LIFE @.@)
(x) been to the opposite side of the world
(x) swam in the ocean
(x) felt like you were dying


Level 16
(x) cried yourself to sleep
(x) played cops and robbers
(x) recently coloured with crayons/colored pencils/markers
(x) sang karaoke
(x) paid for a meal with only coins


Level 17
(x) done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) made prank phone calls
(x) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose (SOME KIND OF FRUIT TOO *hee*)
(x) kissed in the rain (AND KISSED IN THE RAIN too*whee*)

Level 18
(x) written a letter to Santa Claus (DEAR SANTA.. I WANT A CANON 400D..)
( ) been kissed under a mistletoe
(x) watched the sun set with someone you care/cared about
(x) blown bubbles
(x) made a bonfire on the beach


Level 19
(x) crashed a party
(x) have traveled more than 5 days with a car full of people
(x) gone roller skating/ blading
(x) had a wish come true
( ) humped a monkey (?!?!?!)

Level 20
(x) worn pearls
(x) jumped off a bridge
( ) screamed "penis" at a football game.
( ) swimming with dolphins

Level 22
( ) got your tongue stuck to a pole/freezer/ice cube
( ) kissed a fish
(x) worn the opposite sexes clothes (SHIRT ONLY OK..)
(x) Sat on a roof top

Level 23
(x) screamed at the top of your lungs
( ) can do a one-handed cartwheel
(x) talked on the phone for more than 6 hours
(x) stayed up all night (THE LIFE OF AN ARCHI STUDENT)

Level 24
( ) picked and ate an apple right off the tree
(x) climbed a tree
(x) had/been in a tree house
(x) are scared to watch scary movies alone (SCARED TO WATCH ANY SCARY MOVIE - PERIOD)

Level 25
(x) believe in fairies
( ) have/had more then 30 pairs of shoes
( ) gone streaking
( ) been in jail
Friday, October 06, 2006
Happy Bubbles
i love lazy afternoons*
the luxury of not having anything pressing to do is one i treasure...

Been in a somewhat happy mood the past few days. No apparent reason other than my mild excitement over turning 21 soon (6 days time to be exact - and yes, that was a MAJOR hint *hee*) but seriously, aside from the giddy anticipation of finally becoming legal, of getting my hands on my first D-SLR in about a weeks time and of just watching Lucky Number Slevin (mms.. Josh in a towel), i'm not entirely sure why i've been pleasantly attacked by this wave of happy bubbles.

It's not really a 'Ooh-i'm-so-happy' thing it's more of a 'Go-around-with-a-stupid-smile-on-my-face-for-no-apparent-reason' kinda thing. The kinda thing that makes you wanna sing like crazy to all the songs on the radio, dance around your room and use a plethora of smiley face icons

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Ooh.. and i finished slideshow one of TOS's 59 minutes production.. mms i think i might do another one or 2 depending on my mood la.. it's a tad big to load on the net though *blek* but i'm glad i finished it!

I'll stop now.. i think this swimmnig thing Ben Jin has coerced me into becoming addicted to, is bad for my health - too much oxygen in my brain now.. getting too hyper *whee* I think, it's time for me to go run around and bug somebody with this crazy vibe.

Ooh.. ooh! p/s: happy note - i bought a dress. nyahaha, my first in 3 years?!?! *yays*

*toodles*

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Oral Stage - The Making Of...

Hands and feet..


Reuben, Erin & Vino during warmups..


Christine deep in thought...


Discussions during pratice regarding the ever-evolving play - TRACK


Behind the scenes at the TOS shoot - thanx to KokKeong for taking this shot :)


Of speeches and smirks..
Monday, October 02, 2006
59 Minutes.. and counting :)
As i sit here in the quiet, still a little breathless from all the laughing, hugging and shooting, i look through the shots i've taken the past few days of The Oral Stage crew both on stage and off, i can't help but smile. I hadn't felt like shooting anything in quite a while but the past week has just reminded me why i do what i do - and why i love it so much :) It's not just about making pretty pictures, it's about telling stories and keeping memories alive *warm fuzzy feelings inside*...

Rather light-headed at the moment - after effects of the deadly combination of Chillie's Hi (now there's thought) & Mighty Pie and too much singing and dancing in the car with Kok & Ee.. think i'll just post this and float off to bed *happy sigh*

*cheers*

-----------------------------------------------------------

The Oral Stage Crew - 59 minutes


Grace (moi!) & Zalikha


Patricia "Maria" Low & Kok "Mario" Keong


Sanjiv & Louisa


Christine & Kelvin


Erin & Johann


Shirley & Vinolen


Melissa & Sheryn


Sharanya & Doreen


Brana & Ee


Li Peng & Tashwini