Days of Past 2014

Filling this blog with my daily activities hasn't been easy. Given that this month itself, I managed to publish two posts. Earlier this year, I tasked myself to decorate this blog as lively as I live my life throughout 2014. Seemed like not too long ago that I was drafting my first post for the year and now, it looks like I will be drafting my first post for 2015.

If you haven't been reading my blog (boo-hoo), you probably won't notice that I dedicated a post to feature each month that had past this year, sharing my experience from the point of view of an intern to a cashier to an educator. To say it was a roller coaster ride would be understatement because it offered so much more that I couldn't put into words (or maybe I can but I'm too sluggish to think of anything).

To walk down the memory lane of 2014, I will feature some of my personal best photos that I took this year which would also summarize my overall reminiscence of this past year.

It started as a battle...

All new year is a different battlefield that we must face inevitably. Like joining a newly created Dota game, the players differ each time. While some have no idea what's going on (me included), some are adept to the point that they can destroy you in matters of minutes. Similarly, I started this year with a slam of work ethics during my internship and I can honestly say that I had no clue as to what the heck was going on. Even to this point, there are times when I'm just so lost in work.




Work aside, my social life and hobbies came to frequent standstill as well. With regards to the former, I find myself lonelier after my degree ended. Needless to say, friends separated and went their own way and I was left to fend off the war of life myself. Over the time, some of them did come back to my circle while I acquainted some new ones too. This wasn't as depressing as my work life and I did learn to cherish my friends more.

Coming to my interest and hobbies, the reason why my blog or Instagram wasn't as lively as others' was due to the fact that I hit a bump on my creative side. Called it creative constipation, I couldn't muster an idea to write about or to photograph. I ended up watching adult cartoons and Sex and the City instead. While I'm adjusting myself to cope with my working life, I do hope my creativity will ignite from an ember to flame throughout next year.

Becoming a comforting melancholy...

In the span of 12 months, I had reverted back to the morbidity that I used to find comforting in the times when I was alone. The sweet melancholy of sadness and despondency developed from the tension of work and the ambiguity of my future enveloped me and I openly embraced it. I was a very repressed kid back in high school so I know a thing or two about being morbid. This was not to say I was suicidal but I looked at the work in a half empty way and I enjoyed it. Such phenomenon would rise and wane during certain months but I'm glad to say it's over now (well, there is some juice left but it's sealed tight).

Then, everything is awesome...

Of course, when it comes down to it, I would say I had fun venturing into new battle territories. Setbacks were to be expected but extra points scored from all the laughs and learning propelled me to look forward to another day no matter how gloomy the weather was.

Since the start, changes were around the corners and it was futility in practice to try to stop their influence. Same goes to whatever is going to happen in 2015. No matter how dark the clouds loom over the horizon, just sing a happy tune and you will realize they could provide a joyful wintry feel to the hot mess countries are facing these days (cue "Let It Go").





"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without" - Buddha

Energizer Bunnies

I'm tired, both physically and mentally. In the span of two weeks, my body would collapse onto my bed without any assistance from the Sandman. There were times when I couldn't even muster the energy to shower even though I have spent more than 12 hours outdoor and let me tell you that I'm a neat freak with my body. The urge to be clean was buried so deep in my subconsciousness.

Yet, everyday, I manage to wake up at the same time and I continue with my daily work routine. Initially, I would be drunk in drowsiness but a quick jab of self motivation can get me going for the rest of the day (or to be specific, another 12 hours). Let me remind you that I'm working with kiddies these days and those things are life-size Energizer Bunnies. I need to plaster a cheerful face and hype up an enormous amount of energy lest I want a class full of yawns and nappy time.

This thought comes to my mind whenever I'm teaching a class. Always on cue, I would dread about it whenever I go to work. However, no matter how mentally and physically drained, I'm somehow charged when I'm in front of my students. Regardless of their age, personality or attitude, my supposed plastered cheerfulness turns out to be genuine. Something about them just brings me joy and delight. Perhaps, it's their infectious glee or their determination to live. It dawns on me that they are not Energizer Bunnies but adorable Power Banks that just fully charged my battery.

Let's face it, we all are tired but we need something to motivate us, to get us through the day no matter how overwhelming our fatigue is. I will miss the bunnies that I was teaching in the past few days and it will take some time before I find another source of motivation (or other bunnies). Needless to say, every dawn is a new day and so long that we can find those motivation to carry us onwards, the day will start bright. 

Brewing a Successful Coffeehousel

In the versatile society that we live in, fads come as quickly as they go. The latest trend that brewed up in everyone's cup is enjoying a Cuppa Joe in a cafe. Indeed, strolling down any urban streets will be greeted with at least one coffeehouse. It ranges from a high end commercialized coffeehouse like Starbucks to seemingly obscure parlours with a name that skips everyone's mind. Although the qualities and standards vary, most of them always seem to be full house with patrons continuously pouring in by the hour, all the way til closing time.

There's no doubt that opening a coffeehouse seems like a auspicious business plan, giving current consumers' craving for all things caffeine and sweetness. As a consumer myself, I can name you more than 10 coffeehouses under 10 seconds. However, just like fads, some coffeehouses close down just as fast they set it up. Main reason is usually being that there isn't enough income to upkeep the perpetually rising economy.

As such, I dedicate this post as to the features of successful coffeehouses (from a consumer's perspective, of course).

1) Always Stay Connected
With the global demand to stay online 24/7, WIFI has become an urban survival need on par with water and air. As depressing as it may be, we need Internet these days if we want to keep up with the ever changing trends. Thus, coffeehouses are the best place to sit down and stay connected with the world since we can chill with a cup of coffee while a jazzy/lounge music is playing in the background (the playlists usually consist of early 2000s songs, much to my delight).

This is a top priority for patrons who do not have Internet at home (me included) or a slow one for that matter. Let's face it, students and employees these days are in dire need of Internet to complete their work which consist of surfing the web. For my case, I need to update myself with all the Youtube videos I subscribed to and not to mention, writing this blog.

Additionally, having WIFI alone is not enough. You need fast speed. Don't forget, people are becoming more hectic and everything must be on the go. That includes the WIFI. If the cafe doesn't have WIFI, it's horrible for business but if the cafe has slow WIFI, you get horrible reviews. At the very least, those parlours without WIFI are honest about not being connected to the web. As for those with slow Internet, patrons might cash in with the thought that they can surf the net at the place but those frowns would turn into frustrations, especially in the attempt of watching a Youtube video. They will feel cheated and the cafe would be unwelcomed with horrible reviews posted on social networks, like a Shyamalan movie.

Thus, to pack a coffeehouse with patrons, you need good and fast WIFI.

2) Freshly Brewed Goodness
To be known as a coffeehouse, you need coffee (duh!) but not just any coffee. It is undeniable that venues like Starbucks or Coffeebean are well-known, even if they have unstable WIFI. They offer freshly brewed caffeinated beverages with a beguiling fragrance that captivates a tensed mind like a hormonally charged teenager falling in love for the first time. Such aroma would bring even the most indefatigable business executives to their knees.

Each successful coffeehouse should possess its own signature beverage. For instance, Starbucks has its infamous Signature Hot Chocolate. It sounds like a recipe for diabetes but the chocolaty goodness is too strong to resist. Some coffeehouses like the one I'm currently in - Scooters -  have its own unique drink. Scooters offers a ball of cotton candy to compliment the coffee served to you. Even a greasy fast food restaurant like McDonald has its own brand of beverage endemic to its franchise - The Himalayan Tea. Contrary to its image of everything fried and oily, I'm quite fond of the Himalayan Tea.

3) The Rest of the Menu
While coffees are the quintessential of a coffeehouse, having a menu of varieties of goody treats always appeases a demanding crowd. Whoever says they do not have a craving for cakes and desserts are liars on a diet. Almost all coffeehouses I've been to have some cakes on display behind glass casing. The more colorful the display, the more 'ka-ching' you hear from the cash register. We are all fat little kids on the inside and we crave the delicious sweetness a cake can fulfill.

Some other cafes provide a different kind of menu. One of them is Meteora, a cafe near my workplace. It provides lunch meals and desserts like cheerios. It's not often you find such a treat in Malaysia. Basically, a myriad menu is appreciated by a myriad of customers.

4) Social Friendly Atmosphere
When you're meeting up with friends and you tired of walking aimlessly around the mall, the next place location to hang around is a coffeehouse. With the access to the Internet to respond the ever prerequisite Whatsapp messages and the taste of good coffee, you are in good mood to spend some wonderful time with your friend chatting about the insignificance of your life. As a social being, we humans need constant social contact.

Homes are usually off limits due to the presence of prying parents and dirty secret behind bedrooms. Thus, a location is needed to gossip about the studious students that always scoring A or the co-worker that seems to brag about being the boss's favourite. A coffeehouse offers the sort of ambiance one can sink into relaxation and release all the boxed up thoughts of hurdles of life. A hipster environment is an added advantage as it rubs off some of its authenticity to the customers, making them feel as though they are hipsters without even trying.

As such, an impeccable coffeehouse should contain a well air-conditioned room but leaving enough room for the caffeinated aroma to dance across the room. As mentioned beforehand, music is essential as well. Customers come to relax. So the playlists should not include any hardcore rock'n'roll or the R&B/Pop nonsense that has been filling radio these days. Lastly and dare I say it, the toilet should be homely as well. No one likes a dirty toilet. Nice decors like flower pots and pebbles are sufficient to transform a place of bad odour to an imagined room of comfort for deep thoughts of life.

And that's my reasons as to how a coffeehouse can be successful. Of course, there are many other reasons which I may have neglected but I believe that these fours should be an owner's priority. If the coffeehouse provides just the right conditions, a customer could literally stay here for 6 hours straight. Yup, I have been staying in this cafe since 5pm and it's almost 11pm. I better sign off before the owner realizes I'm free loading on their complimentary water. Ciaoz

The Missing Pieces

Whenever I have an idea or inspiration to build LEGO structures or take photographs using minifigures, I often find myself digging my box for the pieces that I want. I do not have a proper display case for them and I firmly believes that there is no use to exhibit them behind glass cases as I would take them out most of the times anyway for my photography. The idea of painstakingly rearranging them in a specific post is discomforting. Thus, I would rather have them sorted out in a box, a la minifigures, accessories and bricks.

Given the confined spaces of my boxes, some pieces would detach or fell apart whenever I attempt to dig up pieces at the bottom of the box. My clumsy hands inadvertently crumple the adjacent models. What I mean by models are like Snaily here. 

Consequently, during one of my building frenzies, I could literally spend a good two to three hours creating a LEGO-esqued scene because most of my time is wasted on finding those detached pieces which for some reason, always end up at the bottom of the box.

It is extremely frustrating as these pieces are minuscule. The situation becomes more dire when it comes to minifigures. At times, I would purposefully detach their tiny hands or legs so that I can create an original persona. Given my lack of fondness for all things meticulous, I would unknowingly drop these pieces into the seemingly giant boxes. The next time I try to reuse the same pieces, I have to go through the trouble of finding them. It doesn't help when they camouflage themselves with the other pieces, escaping detection.

There are times when these pieces could not be located at all. Even to the point of dumping out all the pieces, the intended ones still elude me. It is moments like this that I turn myself into a panicky White Rabbit and I would frantically search every nooks and crannies of my room for them. You know it's serious when droplets of sweat starts to soak your forehead and your shirt in an air-conditioned room. Tolerance fades away and annoyance worry and restlessness become your unwanted companions. Meanwhile, nothing will soothe your mind until you find those missing pieces. It will come to a point that it's futile to even continue. I end up lying on my mattress, thinking could I have accidentally lost the piece the last time I used it for photography outside.

All seem lost until I fumble among the pile of LEGO and there it is. The pieces I want have been hiding in plain sight. Letting a sigh of relief, I happily resume the building process, albeit the huge mess I have to clean up.

It is easy to think that things we are looking for go missing all the time when instead they have always been there. No intrusion, no theft but merely hiding in plain sight. We find them missing because we never truly appreciate them until we need them. I admit, I have yearned for the adoration of my students, carefully making sure that they get what they want while maintaining a certain level of discipline and boundary. I always thought that the pieces connecting me and my students are missing but instead, they have always been there. I found out about this when one of my students teared up in my last class with him, saying that he will miss me. I was touched. I supposed I have been focusing too much on making them happy with me that I didn't really focus on them.

So, appreciate the people around you and they will never become those missing pieces that you need to find.

Trip for Tripped

In the days of working culture, there comes a certain weekend when we will be jamming our bags impatiently with any clean loose clothes we can find in the closet; trying miserably to convince any available friends we can contact on Whatsapp to tag along; and rushing haphazardly to the first tourist hotspot our stressed out brain can muster. Yes, we occasionally make holiday trips, even if it's just for the weekends. But ever wonder why we make them? Why we gladly ignite the match that could potentially burn a hole in our pocket?

Truth of the matter is small excursions are made every now and then when life becomes a tad too unbearable. They are a necessity to keep our mind intact, given that spending our precious time in a counselling office is on no one's itinerary. Thus, on most weekends, certain tourist traps become a beacon of desperation for enjoyment. In Malaysia, historical cities like Malacca and Georgetown are epitome of tourist frenzy. In short, all these trips are eagerly done in a desperate attempt to cleanse our occupational tension that we have accumulated in (what I call) a hectic urban lifestyle.

That is to say, if we ponder deeply on this, it's life way of tripping us. Just like a mischievous brat, life has a knack of pulling prank on us. Using the element of surprise, it sticks out its foot when we are least expecting and before we are aware of it, it trips us. Whether we go down unscathed or we inflict a permanent scar, life would just snicker (Ha! Ha!) without a slightest hint of remorse or regret.

It takes a tremendous amount of self encouragement to pick ourselves up. On fortunate days, life would withhold its cruel demeanor and leave us alone. On other days, we are tripped again the moment we get back up on our feet.

There's no doubt that it hurts. No matter how much we anticipate it, we are still caught by surprise when life shows up out of nowhere. Here's the thing, life constantly has its eyes on us. Like a predator keeping a watchful eye on its potential meal, we are never out of sight. Knowing the inevitable, we need some getaway before it strikes again.

It began, then, the irony of all this cycle - a cycle of trips. One that we are desperately trying to take control of and one that's out of ours. When tripped one too many times, I too subject myself to this cycle. In a month of October, I was in need of a trip and I found myself on Penang Island. Given that I had been to the island twice in my lifetime, it wasn't my first option of a trip but as the cycle spinned, I desperately needed one. This brought me to the realization that I had been making a trip almost every other month. The brutal truth is I have been falling down all this time. Life tripped me by laying out incessant amount of work I had to complete and the continuous reminder that failure is just right at my doorstep if I don't push myself. When I'm not careful, I stumbled and I'm on my knees.

Even now, I'm still trapped in this cycle of tripped and trips. Undeniably, I vouch that I would find myself on a trip again. These trips may only span a few days but it becomes a part of life necessity if we are to recover past tripped as well as endure the pending ones in future. Perhaps the cycle of trips symbolize the cycle of life or perhaps, we are doomed to a perpetual falling down and standing up. Whatever the answer is, the cycle continues. At the very least, we are still standing up in the end.

The Comfort

A soothing warmth beamed through the window. Flickers of dust glided through the ray like tiny fairies reveled, ready for the new daylight. The ray gently creeped its way to a face in a slumber. As it reached, it tickled softly on the cheeks as if to wake up a sleeping baby. In a moment or two, there was success. As the mouth yawned, the nose wiggled and eyes blinked, yet, the body remained motionless. It was just a moment and then, all of it ceased.

In a state of weak consciousness, the mind was still aware. Half awaked, half dozing; half dreaming, half aroused. It was in this moment, the sense of touch was at its peak. A soft delight was felt as the silky fabric of the pillow rubbed against a weathered face. Never had the softness felt so comforting.

Meanwhile, the body was engulfed in a cozy comforter, wrapping itself around a tender embrace. It was this peaceful contentment rendering awakeness futile. 

Turning to the side, a familiar scent appeared. It lingered in the pillow and gradually transforming itself into a nostalgia. The urge to search for a missing hand underneath the comforter appeared but it faded just as it came when realization settled down. A feeling of loneliness suddenly hanged in the air. The comfort and delight were gone.

Somehow, the ray sensed this and dimmed itself down before it got too bright or hot, maintaining its warmth. Minutes later, the comfort returned and the body was in an embrace again. There was another presence this time but a welcoming one. An imaginary voice soothingly reassured, "I will be see you soon." Just like that the fairies are dancing again and the comfort took over the room.

A Day at a Coffee Parlor

In the late afternoon of a coffee parlor, there was sense of serenity. Aroma of freshly brewed caffeinated beverage lingers in the air. So thick was the scent that one would be bombarded by it even at the doorstep of the parlor. Even those who were not fond of caffeine would find the scent mesmerizingly alluring. 

While the scent of coffee and tea danced in the air, their stage varied from venues to venues. Most stages featured a vintage 1970s designs and layout with a slight touch of modernism. Audience flight find themselves dazed by the atmosphere, time travelled back to their elders' past life. Coming back to the current era, a lovely greet of welcome and smile would invite anyone in. All the seats would bring comfort and one would sink into it if stayed too long.

The lights were dim but the room was illuminating with interesting patrons. All of them sought for a little getaway from the tension imposed by urban lifestyle. Speakers would offer placating melody, massaging patrons' stress away. There was no need for headphones as the ambiance would sway you away with its lullaby. Just like a siren, all worries and sorrows were temporarily forgotten. Who wouldn't cuddle up to such embrace?

As with everything in this world, such comfort comes with a hefty patronage but none seemed to mind the cost. It was a needed remedy urban denizens required. Medicinal treats like tantalizing chocolate cake and therapeutic coffee rendered one wanting for more. However, one should control their intake lest one yearned to become a Lotus Eater.

The hours passed. Plates and cups on the table were empty again with a stain of delighted pleasure. A reluctance to part ways was held deep in the heart but the train of life was waiting. It was a quintessential ride one would not afford to miss. With a push of the table, steps were made towards the doorway. The train would stop here again and it would be a stop to look forward to. Just like that, in the late afternoon of a coffee parlor, there was sense of serenity.

Happy Halloween

"Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange? Come with us and you'll see, this's our town of Halloween."

Yes, today is the All Hallow's Eve when people suddenly develop a knack for everything spooky. Some take this as an opportunity to flaunt their eerie fashion sense and no one would judge since one is supposed to dress up.

To minimize this post so that you have a trick-a-treat fun fest, I leave you with Pumpkin Jack to wish you all a Happy Halloween 

Itinerary of Life

Review of my September comes a bit late. Heck, I'm only posting this on the second last day of October. I supposed that's what happens when no itineraries are made in one's journey of life. Your mind is aimless; steps are askew; paths are unclear.

Fortunately, the month of September had its itinerary planned out. Some are mine while others are planned by others. The major highlight of my Sept was my first ever company trip to Port Dickson, Seremban. The beach wasn't something to be wowed about but the sceneries were perfect backdrop to test my photography skills. To add on, it was a period where I could relax and pretend that I didn't have any kids to take care of.

My luggage wasn't unpacked after that. I continued on to see you know who in Gopeng but only for 2 days. It was a simple getaway as well to keep my sanity in check and remind me that I needed to build a cabin so that I might retire there one day when I couldn't handle city life anymore.

Uprooting is definitely in my itinerary in the pending future. While I'm not sure whether I mentioned this before, I'm a type of person who can't stay a place that I'm not comfortable with. Of course, those which I'm comfortable with, I will latch onto them like a leech and drain the life out of them (whahahahahaha).

Needless to say, what is your itinerary for your life? Plan anything yet? Even staying home and not doing anything is still a plan, though I'm not sure if it's an exciting one. Plan now before others plan your life for you.

My Thoughts on Avengers: Age of Ultron (1st Trailer)

In the land of geeks and fanboys, there was shrill from the denizens on 22 October when the first trailer of the upcoming Avengers Sequel was released. Labelled as a teaser trailer, it provided more than enough preview of the feature film, premiering next year May.

As a self-proclaimed fanboy and a major geek of the comic world, I just had to talk about it and one way to do it is via this blog. Firstly, similar to the reaction of most dedicated comic fans in the world, I'm just astounded; knocked off my chair; the little girl voice inside me screaming like a maniac; so on and so forth. My excitement for the film was indicated through my ceaseless replay of the trailer. I can be pretty crazy when it comes to my geek stuff.

Without wasting any more virtual space on my over-dramatic thrill, I will get right on to the trailer. While the movie will bring back the original cast of Avengers (some in new outfits), what I'm most excited about is the introduction of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. Most fanboys would know the perpetual hell of copyright discord between Marvel and Fox. So, it's interesting as to how Marvel Studios will bring about introducing the aforementioned characters without infringing on any rights. Plus, I'm a big fan of mutants. Specifically, I'm more interested in  Scarlet Witch. In the comics, she had both mutant abilities as well as actual magic. I don't care what others say because I'm still hoping Whedon would somehow make her powers slightly magical. C'mon. This is a perfect kickoff to tie the films to Marvel's supernatural superheroes.

Another interesting detail I retrieved from the trailer and other sources is the fact that some parts of the movies will be set in South Africa. The opening of trailer itself (according to commenters) is the skyline of Johannesburg. We all know which superhero derives from Africa - Black Panther. The other indicator of the Panther superhero is the appearance of actor, Andy Serkis whom fans believe is playing the role of Klaw, Panther's big bad.

Coming to the lead villain of the film, Ultron, I would have to say he is just stupendous. The featured song (I've got no strings from Disney's Pinocchio) in the trailer matches Ultron's demeanor lovely. However, I must say that I'm becoming a bit bored with the whole mechanical suits and robots. It just reminded me too much of Iron Man. It was great to see it for one or two films but it might be overladen if they keep this up.

So, what do you think of the trailer? If you haven't watch it, how could you? Just click the link below which will take you to Marvel's Official Youtube account to view the videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmeOjFno6Do

Fallen

Ever find yourself trapped helplessly in a corner of a room? Lying down on the floor in a fetus position. Unable to get up and strive for the exit as if you are firmly glued to that corner. The room seems like a torture chamber but there are no captors keeping watch over you. As a matter of fact, you bind yourself to that corner of the room.

There are moments in life that even the strongest of us face a defeating sense of helplessness. The world, in your mind, is perpetually challenging you with seemingly impossible hurdles to jump over. 

One after another, there is no time or comfort to seek, even for just a short while. Arduous tasks are continuously hurled towards you by an unseen force.

One after another, you feel tired and hopeless to even give a damn about it any longer and you start to curl in that corner. It maybe dark and forlorn but there is some comfort in it for you don't even need to care anymore.

One after another, the unseen force persists on with its incessant tasks, piling up the room. Eventually, there will be no space or air left for you to breathe in if you continue to give in.

We all had those moments. Either you seek the comfort to give in or dig your way out until you find the exit for a fresher air to breathe in. Don't ever clip those wings and become a fallen angel when there's are better moments to behold.

(I dedicated this post to a special person who finds it hard to go through life in moments of defeat. Please fight on and see the light of the day when you deserve)

Alone

There are more than 7 billions of people in the whole wide world and Malaysia itself has an estimation of more than 29 millions. How is that people still find themselves sitting by the corner alone in the public? A simple task such as finding a companion for dinner or anything can be really exhausting.

For the past few weeks, maybe even months, I myself eating alone most of the times. There are times when I manage to snatch a friend away for a quick meal. Yet, most other times, I can't believe my only companion is my iPad which is practically useless if there's no WiFi.

Today, I had a wonderful time talking about Lara Croft with someone I just acquainted and usually, I would not reveal so much about myself in a conversation. Sometimes, I wonder if I am so miserably lonely that I couldn't care less who I socialize with anymore. It could be a total stranger for all I care.

I find this painstakingly annoying as I never face such situation before. Perhaps I did back then but it would just be a day or two being alone in front of my computer. Nowadays, I am alone almost everyday, especially in the presence of people surrounding me. Cliques here and there remind me too much of my social life in university. Furthermore, with Cyren away, I'm just down in the dirt, buried under several feet of earth.

Identifying Minifigures Series 12

With the release of the latest Minifigure Series, everyone is in a state of frenzy. I'm no exception. So far, I managed to snatch away three figures which are indicated in the picture below. Without further ado, I will show the tricks to detect these bricky figures.

1) Wizard
He is one of the two bricks with a decorated slope. The other one is the Fairytale Prince. To differentiate him from the princess, just feel for a stick and a diamond.

2) Hun Warrior
Just feel for the shield and sword. The horns are detachable so use them as an indicator.

3) Fairytale Princess
Similar to the Wizard, you will know it's the princess if there are no stick in the bag. You can try to detect the tiny froggie as well.

4) Video Game Guy
One might confuse him with the Jester but as long as you don't feel more than two 2 x 4 plate, it's the vid guy. Plus, Jester has a big hat that's a giveaway.

5) Battle Goddess
Another easy figure to detect. The shield and spear are easy to detect.

6) Space Miner
Just know that the space miner is the bulkiest in the whole series.

7) Lifeguard
The hot stud can be identified by his binoculars and float. The float is point on one end.

8) Prospector (the miner)
Look for his pickaxe

9) Jester
Look under Video Game Guy

10) Dino Tracker
The syringe and bow and arrow are the keys

11) Pizza Delivery Man
Look for the pizza and pizza box

12) Rock Star
The electric guitar but one has to be careful and not mistook the guitar for other stick-like props.

13) Swashbuckler
His hat and sword can be identified easily. The sword is bendy.

14) Piggy Guy
Apple

15) Genie Girl
Two things; her long hair, the genie bottom. As long as you feel the bag contains no regular minifigure legs, it's her.

16) Spooky Girl
The teddy bear and her soft (literally) hair. It never occured to me that her hair is squishy until one Legofan told me so.


As far as I know, the Genie Girl is the rarest but everyone seemed to aim for the Piggy Guy. Spooky Girl wasn't supposed to be hard to find but I only managed to find one in a recently opened box. Guess everyone is aiming for her too. Swashbuckler, Dino Tracker and Video Game Guy are some of the common ones. Seriously, there's too much of them.

Anyhow, hope you all find what you want. I still have a few figures I'm eyeing for.

Know Your Limit

Too often that our surroundings fill us with the notion of achieving as many goals and dreams before "time runs out". Too often that our environment enforce the idea of reaching beyond the stars or else, life would be nothing but a pointless journey. Too often that our parents, teachers and even motivational strangers would encourage us to sacrifice fun and live prosperously.

Amidst these notions and 'encouragement', we blindly charge ahead, believing more is better in a world of consumption. We thrive at the idea of living large while pity or scorn those who are happy and satisfied with a not-so-high income. In our mind, all we ever know is to achieve your goals and aim for the top prize. To put it in simple terms, we simply want to win.

In contrast, I'm not implying that we should not have goal. As a matter of fact, it is essential that we set a few goals in our life so that we won't walk astray and aimless, especially in this doggy dog world that we unavoidably live in.

Problem arises when we set no boundaries for ourselves and persist in striving for more when our shoulders could not bear the weight anymore. Consequently, we find our wallowing in tears and stress, not knowing where all these pressures are coming from. As we are so caught up with achievement, we punish ourselves with self loathing when we do not push for the extra mile.

Unfortunately, not all of us realize the origins of our tensions. Comfort are, instead found in the form of pills and therapy. In my life experience, I trapped myself in this awful notion once. Being one of best in class was all that occupied my mind. My soul was a competitive one but at the cost of someone else's endeavour. In the end, a little part of me crumpled and it took a very long time to repair it. It wasn't until I realized that while goals are imperative to our social survival, it's not fatal to us if we do not succeed them.

In a nutshell, we need to understand the limits that we can impose on our body and our mind. Don't crumple up and dissolve into a messy pulp but most of all don't inflict pain on yourself.

Life Story of a Lego Lover: Conquest

Picking up from where I left off in the other post, I was on top of the bricks. From seafaring pirates to heroic firefighters to ghoulish ghost, I had it all. Every opportunity that I encountered, I would want to have it. An empire was within my grasp. Of course, all of these required the help of parental support. Nonetheless, my conquest of LEGO sets were expanding.

Like all famous conquerors in history, the thirst for lands and resources would never be quenched. If so, the British would not have sailed all the way to Malaysia and left its quaint lifestyle here nor would the Vietnamese be able to borrow culinary ideas from the French such as the extensive usage for a baguette. Indeed, my thirst was similar to all these conquerors.

Unlike all these conquerors, my quest for dominion did no include any treaties or bonds of loyalty. In other words, I would yearn for toys with interlocking bricks. As long as the toys have interlocking bricks that I could build a tower with, I would want it. I supposed back then, the concept of brand was not familiar to me. In my eyes, all toys were the same and the labels were just different colorful words that I would completely ignore.

Thus, my possessions included LEGO-ish toys from A&W, a knock off brand that a factory somewhere managed to produce, another knock off which I got hold of at the night market and among many more. It never occurred to me that all these bricks were different but I did notice the vast difference in price. During days of privation (that is, me with limited pocket money), I would opt for the cheaper products but most of the time, my parents surprised me with the real deal.

It was not long after that I realized certain bricks did not fit well together. I was perplexed of course. How was it that some bricks fit perfectly together while others would fall apart immediately the moment I turned it upside down? A mystery to which I solved when I noticed the tiny LEGO words on each legitimate LEGO bricks and minifigures.

As I scratched my head to this findings, I began to wonder why some other bricks were not branded. This was when I first understood copyrights. My eyes opened up to all the things around my house and school. Certain things might look the same but they might not necessary derive from the same source. Soon enough, the dark magic of materialism and branding had overthrown my innocent/naive mind and I unconsciously fell under their influence, following their rules and regulation.

Just like that, I was conquered. While I eventually realized this colonization of my perception of the world, it had integrated itself into me. Similar to all the colonized countries of the world, we want independence and governance of our country or culture. Yet, we cannot deny the influence the past has on our lifestyle. Sometimes, we are not even aware of it and perceive things as the way it has always been.

Regardless, my love for Lego was a relationship I dare not break. One must know that all relationships have its ups and downs and mine was no exceptional. My next life story would feature the love/hate relationship I had experience with my favorite toy brand.

Chronicles of My Motorbike: Kitty Loves My Bike

No worries. There would be no road accident stories for this post. In fact, current post revolves around a feline friend that has been exploiting my bike as a personal cozy bed.

Just about anywhere we live, one is bound to find stray animals strolling around while putting on the saddest face to beg for food. So, around my neighborhood, there lives this cute cuddly cat which could lose a few pounds. A few weeks after I moved in to my new place, I noticed it running around with that bug-eyed face, asking for some catnip or something. Given that I have no cat food to bargain with it, I ignored it.

One morning as I was walking towards my motorbike, getting ready to go to work, there it was, that cute cuddly cat resting in the basket of my motorbike. It laid in there like a feline royalty. When it heard me coming nearer to my bike, it was startled at first, not knowing whether to move or continue its majestic nap. On the off chance that the cat had fleas, I couldn't care less how cute it was. I shooed it away.

Next few mornings later, I came across the same putty cat and like our first encounter on the bike, it was resting like a royalty. I admitted that I kinda fell for it with it cute cuddly face and that fluffy stomach. The same couldn't be say when it saw me as it quickly jolted away, giving me the irritated look on its face as I sat on her majestic throne.

I supposed the cat learned that the throne was mine to reign because it never came back to dominate it after that morning. Cats maybe regal but they know their own territory to rule. Nonetheless, I'm still frightened by the possibility of fleas overthrowing me for my bike.

Life Story of a LEGO Lover: New Found Interest

Once upon a brick ago, there lived a seemingly innocent boy in a small town built on Southeast Asia's largest island. This town was conquered by ethnically similar townsfolk with a knack for not minding their own business. Such was the lifestyle when the only excitement residents could enjoy was the annual holiday sales.

As for this little boy, his surrounding was filled with such like-minded people as well. He would have joined their cult if it wasn't for the superhero that saved him. That superhero was LEGO. More accurately, it was DUPLO, a subdivision of LEGO catered towards kids below 5 years old. Kids have the habit of swallowing anything that they can put into their mouth, especially something as colourful as LEGO bricks. Thus, DUPLO was created as temporary replacement until kids move pass their Oral Stage.

Coming back to the little boy, for as young as he could remember, he always had these blocks called DUPLO. Back then, he didn't really know the name. All he knew was that he had this interlocking blocks along with a few animal characters which he could place on top of the blocks. He was happy with such a simple toy design. Eventually, DUPLO was switched to LEGO, the one with the smaller bricks but the fun was still there nonetheless. In his mind, he was building a plastic empire with his little animal friends. In his parents' mind, it was something they could occupy him while they were busying gossiping about other people's life.

In the next coming months, the boy was so fascinated with these bricks that a little green monster called Greed was growing inside him. He wanted more. He wanted to expand his empire and there weren't enough resources. Unfortunately, the complexity of these interlocking bricks in the small town was too much for the minds of the locals to bear. Hence, it was slightly impossible for the boy to find these goodies in the town. He relied on his caretaker - his father - to savage these rare plastic goodies.

Of course, the father had to travel to this foreign land to find these plastic treasures. Sometimes he would come home with a handful of these plastic bricks and sometimes he would come home empty handed. Initially, the Greed inside the boy was in its infancy. So, the empty handedness didn't really bother him. However, as the collection piled up, the Greed transformed into a tiny gremlin, fed by constant wanting and needing.The boy would find himself shouting, sulking and crying for in his mind, he had the image of an uncaring father. It was one of those obnoxious moments which no rational adults wanted to recall.

While the introduction of DUPLO/LEGO brought creativity and imagination to this little boy, it inadvertently set him on a path to a world of materialism and avarice. Nonetheless, the good virtue of playing these interlocking bricks would eventually develop in this boy but whether he was faithful to the same interlocking bricks is another story for another post.

Party in Port Dickson

When it comes to a person's first job, the things that usually come to the mind revolves around money, possibility of a Scrooge-like boss, limited holidays, tiredness and constant yapping about being tired. At least, that was true for me. As such, the idea of company's trip never really came to my attention until the day I was informed my colleagues and I would be going to Port Dickson (PD for short).

PD lies along the Western coastline of Peninsular Malaysia, located in the state of Negeri Sembilan. The beaches dotted along the coast are not known for their beauty but they are the target of family picnic and camping on the weekends or school holidays.

It is true that PD was not on my top 10 must go to places in Malaysia but I was happy anyway as I would going somewhere with the companion of my fellow work buddies (colleague is too formal). Bear in mind, I just started my job 3 months ago and as mentioned above, I never knew I would be entitled to go on a trip, fully paid by my company. So, I become the giddy kid that lives inside me.

In the span of 3 days and 2 nights, I rode my first jet-ski; played various wacky but exhilarating team building games; ate more than 5 meals that kept my belly bloated and enjoyed the company of the people who give me salary. To make an interesting post short, I shall illustrate the excitement I have experienced with a series of pictures displayed below:

Generic Sunset (still beautiful in my eyes)

Coconut on The Beach

Into the Pool

Breakfast Buffet

And of course,

Mermaid's Cove

I have many more LEGO photos which you view on my page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Legobricklife

Overall, it was a really fun trip filled with waves of laughter and memorable rapport. Honestly speaking, it negated the stress I had accumulated from obnoxious kids. Though the stress part is inevitable, it's replaceable with some fun time away from it.

(Note; Fun doesn't mean there would be no body aches from the activities, especially if you are a person who strays away from exercise.)

How I Spend My Days Off

Working life is never easy. That is why one doesn't work 24/7, seven days a week or basically, til you die. Most companies or establishments usually offer at least one day off and at most two days off. Mine is the latter to which I'm extremely grateful of.

When those days of the week finally come, it is expected that people should be elated with joy as they can afford not to care whatever happens at work. Contrary to the fact, I believed that the 5 days of the week have drained most of us dry to the bone and we want nothing more but a nice comfortable bed and a whole day of TV. Sadly, I'm the restless type of person and I find it extremely difficult to stay at home and just watch some brainless TV shows to pass the time.

As such, I will list down all the activities I engaged myself in and somehow trapped myself in during my days off.

1) I go out.

As simple as sentence is, I do not stay at home the whole day at all. My restless mind is fond of wandering around without supervision and when I tied myself down, I become...bored. I need to see things; I need to do stuffs and most of all, I need interaction. I personally believe I'm borderline ADHD but of course, that might just be me giving myself excuses to make mistakes. So far, for almost all my days off, I have never stayed at home.

2) I meet up with friends.

During my university years, I have constant interactions with my friends. In uni, at malls and even at home (I'm referring to you, Varsha). Unfortunately, the downside of graduating is that everyone will be going their own way. You can't force your friend to take the same path as you. That's utterly selfish and suffocating.

However, there are some friends who remain rooted and my days off are the best time to meet up with them. I don't seem overly clingy (though I am to a certain extent) and I get to fulfill my social needs. Thus, on my days off, I usually have lunch or dinner with my buddies and have a few laughs at our confusing life and unknown future (it's quite depressing sometimes).

3) I drink coffee.

Coffee has, one way or another, become an essential substance in my life. I drink it on an daily basis but those consist of the cheap Nescafe 3-in-1 sachets. While I admit this is obviously an addiction I should keep in check, I couldn't help but find myself at various coffee parlor (with wi-fi) and sip on one of the higher end coffees or teas. Of course, my definition of higher end is nothing more than RM15. I could just sit there the whole day, staring down on my book or iPad screen.

4) I buy grocery.

Although this doesn't happen as much as compared to my other days off behaviors, it is one of the few moments whereby I could buy decent raw food to cook at home for moi. Let's be honest, outside food is great but it ain't exactly the most hygienic.

5) I lament about my life.

On the usual working days, I don't have the chance to ponder or contemplate where I'm going with my life. Hence, these days are my opportunity to wonder if I know what I want in my life. Let's just say I look forward to this as much as I look forward to clean a toilet used by kids.


And that is how I spent my days off. For you readers, how do you spend days off? Is it as fun as mine or you rather spend your days at work?

In the Month of August...

Looking back at the month of August, there are a few things which I can recall vividly. Firstly, my ex-housemate, Varsha left back to her home country. I did a teary feature of her in a few post back. The event stroke my chord the hardest and it left a little void inside of me to which I'm still pondering of how to fill it up. While on the subject of friends, August seemed to resonate a few goodbyes, not in with my life in particular but with the people around me. With respect to the privacy of my friends, I would mention no further on the issue. So, there is an air of solemness lingered in the air of August.

However, that quickly dispersed for me as a few people entered back my life with a stronger foothold. We don't usually hang out as much before but now, it seems like we are seeing each other every week. Not to mention that, I acquainted new friends to which I'm positive about my relationship with them.

Honestly, there wasn't much more I could describe how I spent my August as my routine was pretty trite. The void did make me lonelier but it quickly dissipated as I moved on with my life with tremendous effort (I admit, it was extremely hard at first, like breaking up with someone). So, while I overlooked the sunset in the distance, I couldn't just sit there as the last sun drop beamed over me. I had to stand up and chased it if I ever wanted to feel the warmth again.

(PS. Buying that Groot and Rocket LEGO set really spiked up my spirit)

Traveling

Traveling - an action that in recent years, many have vigorously partake. From a short journey to a local tourist spot an hour away to a foreign country that contradicts one's own culture, traveling has become an experiential escapism for many to briefly elude the hardship of life.

Ask yourself this question. Why is that many people eagerly spend most of their hard earned cash just to indulge in momentary satisfaction in a location far from their home and workplace? Some of us meticulously plan the traveling agenda with a desperation to see all the sights and try all the delicacies. There are some of us who have no schedules planned but a mere intention to just experience some foreign air. Whether it's the former or the latter, we just couldn't wait to pack our bags and leave a familiar territory and into an u familiar one.

Truth of the matter is I'm a traveling junkie myself. During my university years, I was eager or even desperate to travel somewhere. By hook or by crook, I wanted to see all that I could see and indulge in all that I have yet to taste. That's where the problem started. I only wanted to visit places I haven't being to or somewhere that wasn't Malaysia. Whenever such demand couldn't be fulfilled, I would wallow in personal anguish and frustration. My days would involve an incessant amount of complains and rants. I remembered a time before I joined college, my father was traveling to Paris, France - the city of light and love or whatever they call it these days. Initially, dad planned to bring me along. My excitement couldn't be any more palpable than it already was. Of course, a rain cloud just had to gather at my doorstep. I was cut out of the trip and I threw a tantrum rivaling that of a toddler.

Thinking back, I supposed it's all that hope and yearning that I will finally travel to an European country that fueled my anger the moment I was told that I wasn't going. I was a very shallow and unappreciative person back then. Another reason was that my scorn derived from my jealousy of those who had the wealth to travel all over. I admitted that I hated anyone who had the privilege to go anywhere they desire but most of all, I hated myself for not having the same privilege as them. I loathed myself for being a middle class citizen. It didn't matter what bright side others had shown me: I was still able to study; I wasn't living on the street; I was still in one peace. I just despised my life to an extent of not seeing any hope of continuing it. As I mentioned, I was a shallow and unappreciative person back then.

It was until an important person in my life slapped me in the face, insisting that I stopped with my laments and rants. In his own words, he stated that it's rather impossible to travel to wherever I want and it's a futile practice to try to out compete those around to compare who has traveled to the most states, countries or continents. Although it took a while before his words sank into my mind, I eventually realized I wasn't travel for personal pleasure at all. I just wanted to tick the location off my list of places I have traveled to and proudly said, "I have been here". It was pathetic and ignorant of me. All this while, I haven't been enjoying my travel at all, whether local or abroad.

It may seem like I have deviated from my initial question but I assure you, it's related. Ever since I started earning my own money, I have been visiting places and all of them are local tourist spots. Sometimes, I traveled to the same spot again and again. My previous self would see this as a boring errand to run but now, my perception is that as long as I'm going somewhere, even if it's a familiar place, I'm more than happy to hop onto any transports that take me there. As a matter of fact, I'm typing this while sitting through the local KTM en route to Kampar. While some parts of me still yearned to go abroad to see all those Wonders that TVs and Cinemas are vigorously advertising, I find enjoyment just going somewhere now. That important person of mine really hit me at the right spot.

My time to travel to other countries with my own money will come one day. It's definitely not any time soon but I don't mind traveling to the same backyard again. It's a bonus if someone important is there to travel with you.

Hiking Up Gunung Nuang on Merdeka

Most people would spend the National (Merdeka) Day of their country participating in parades or sleeping in on their cozy bed. Others would watch TV programs laden with National songs and documentaries about the history of the country. As for me and a few others, we decided to hike up a mountain. Truth be told, I was "persuaded" by a friend to join the hike. However, given that I haven't exactly exercise in a long while, I reluctantly joined because if not, my laziness would literally tangle me and suffocate the willpower out of me.

Fast forward - we ended up hiking Gunung Nuang, the tallest mountain in Selangor. As I knew, we didn't really plan to come here but GPS lady led us there. Now, I have been on numerous treks before but as I mentioned, that was a long while ago. Thinking that this should be like no other forest trekking that I have experienced, I enjoyed the first few meters of strolling. Not even 1km into the forest, the trail turned into a slope which after a few more meters, turned into another steeper slope. By the time we reached the first rest stop, we realized we had been only hiking for 1.6km. You have no idea how astonished I was. I thought we had hiked at the very least, more than 2km. I was really out of shape.

Now, the total journey to the peak of the mountain was at least 9km away. Initially, I told myself, "Meh, easy peasy". After being reminded of the hardship of trekking, I wanted to stay back and play with the butterflies. Luckily, the group unanimously agreed to trek half the way up since there was a waterfall in middle of the journey. Since the journey was cut short and I was a quarter way there, there was no point turning back, might as well move forward.

Thus, the journey continued and of course, there were more slopes to come (Don't forget, we were hiking up a mountain). Halfway up, my brain fried and I went into autopilot, letting my adrenaline took over me. I jogged up the trail, leaving the group behind (I'm such a horrible person). Before I knew it, I reached a stream with people having picnics around it. We regrouped and persisted onwards to the waterfall. When we we reached, I was glad that I didn't stop or else I wouldn't be able to take the following picture:

Imagine all sorts of Tomb Raider or Lord of the Rings scenes with this picture in mind. While the waterfall was spectacular, the object that caught my attention was the breathtaking tree that stood in the middle. It was just magnificent to see such a scene with my own eyes. Not from a book, not from Internet, not from any media but up front and close.

So, we stayed there a while, enjoying the scenery and the water. I would talk about the dreaded journey back but I do want to visit this place again. Hopefully, I have the energy to go all the way up to the peak then. In the meantime, let me enjoy my little comfort in my room.

And of course, not to forget:

Before I signed off, Happy Merdeka Day to all Malaysians!

Chronicles of My Motorbike: First Accident

The amount of motorbike accidents happened daily on the road is so great that people wouldn't even acknowledge it on the newspaper. As a motorcyclist, I agree that motorbikes are at a disadvantage as compared to that of a automobile in terms of safety and protection. A motorcyclist is vulnerable in every direction and one knock from any sides could render the rider incapacitated or even dead. Scary as it is, a skillful rider (like myself) could avoid such a catastrophe with tactical precision and maneuver while on the road. Alas, even I would fall to such catastrophe as there's a first for everything.

On my way back to my new abode, the street of Subang en route to USJ was dark and full of terror in the guise of potholes and inconsiderate drivers. As usual, I humbly zigzagged across the heavy traffic (I do not know why the road home if always congested). Amid the chaos, a car was eagerly swerving to catch the green light a few kilometers in front. Not to be a human pancake, I made way and maneuver to my left. Unbeknownst to me, I hit a pothole at the side of the road and given my lack of balance at that critical moment, I fell and slid across the road in front. Now, good thing it was at the side of the road or I would truly become a human pancake.

By then, I was on the street, grinding in pain. At the very least, the driver came down and checked if I was fine. Coming back to my senses, my body told me that there were nothing but minor bruises and scratches. Unfortunately, my bike experienced some scratches as well but it was still functional. A few construction workers came to my rescue and helped me adjusted my bike before I rode home. It was glad that to know that people still care these days.

Now that I'm thinking back, my bike was not at fault in this incident. I blamed the plotholes. Still, it was something interesting that happened while I was on my bike. Oh well. My scab just came off yesterday morning for those of you who care. Till next time, ciaoz

A Housemate Named Varsha

All this while, I have never shared much about the people in my life (with the exception of Cyren). Most of the post revolved around me and my many chronicles as an average boy who is forced into adulthood. Nevertheless, this post features one of the few special people in my life and her name is Varsha.

She is an islander girl, derived all the way from a tiny African island called Mauritius. Yet, her ethnicity is Indian. So, she's a whole myriad of things to which we both usually made a joke out of. While we were coursemates, we never really got along with each other when she moved into the same unit as I was, back when I used to stay in my old room. I was the typical xenophobic Malaysian but I was eager and curious enough to learn about others' culture, especially the one that's completely different from mine. Now, she's a major bitch but she's a friend I can put my trust on.

Although it hasn't even been a month since I moved out, I felt a void in my daily routine. See, back then, whenever I reached home (whether it's from university or work), I mooched onto her for life force and a sense of sanity from life. Most of the times, I would just knock on her door and she would invite me into her to talk and gossip about senseless things, just so that we would forget about the hardship of life. She was my withdrawal from the stresses and frustration I faced when I was alone (again, with the exception of Cyren).

Of course, I crossed my boundaries with her on a few occasion. For instance, I would secretly snack on her titbits or overstay my welcome in her room. Still, in the end, I would make some lame jokes and that would usually cheer her up. As heartless as I am on several occasions, she never held a grudge against me and we just move on with our life until the next day when we start the whole cycle again.

Don't get me wrong. I am there for her whenever she needed it. The thing about her is that, being a foreigner, she gets sick easily here. Not sure if it's the weather or the food or she is just a sick puppy, I would do my best to help her. Recently, she was admitted to the hospital for dengue (nasty stuff) and she suffered further ailment and complication because of it.

That leads me to her current circumstances. Her doctor discovered lesions in her spinal cord and it might take some time for her to heal completely from it. Meanwhile, she is attending physio-therapy at the local hospital but as her medical bill accumulates, it becomes unbearable to stay back. Thus, she is going back to her home country in a few days time and I would honestly say that, I will miss her.

I never did properly thank Varsha for being there all the time for me and my stay here a little bit more enjoyable. So, thank you Varsha (if you are reading this). Do take care and let's see each other soon. Hope that doesn't sound too cliche.

Chronicles of My Motorbike: Engine Failing

Given the numerous moments of my bike attempting to turn me into a roadkill by failing on me in the middle of the road, it's time that I dedicate a post title specially for the things that happened between me and my bike. Somewhere in my past posts, I have complained about my bike almost ruining my life. Well, here's a continuation from that.

Just a good one week ago, I noticed that the throttle on my bike was stuck while I was on the bike. So I could just let my hand go and the bike would go on. After hitting a bump (I wasn't speeding mind you), the throttle went to the max and I had to maintain my bike at Gear 4 throughout the whole journey to keep its speed at its minimal.

I was completely astounded. I thought the throttle was jammed. Even when I reached home and I switched the gear to Neutral, the bike was still at full throttle. Imagined one of the gangster bikes pulling the throttle to the max without moving while trying to show off their bike engine to others. Yup, the throttle just stayed in that position until I had to pull out the key. There were a few pedestrians around and they thought I was making a full out of myself.

The very next day, I took it to a mechanic and guess what, there wasn't anything wrong with the throttle. Apparently, the engine was on the verge of falling off from the bottom of the bike. Since the engine is connected to the throttle, the weight of the engine was pulling the wires of the throttle, maximizing its speed. Luckily, I didn't have to pay much for the repair but damn, I could have been stranded on the highway if I didn't take it to the repair shop.

There's another interesting story that happened in the last few days but I will save that for another post. Hopefully, I don't have to keep this segment alive.

Moving on (July Review)

Think about it. Life is all about moving on, either going from one place to another or transiting from one phase to the next. As we enter adulthood, most of us would move out of our parents' house. Even if we stay in the same spot, our personality can be influenced too. If you can recall how you were when you were but a mere child and how you are now, you might notice a vast difference. It is to my understanding as well that if we carry out similar comparison with ourselves 10 years later, the difference would grow larger. We never stay the same unless we're dead but even then, your body would decompose, transferring the energy to the soil and recycle your life force (my current perspective of life). In a nutshell, nothing stays the same. Change is everywhere.

As I have highlighted numerous times in my previous blog, I found myself changing, evolving (hopefully not devolving) into a person that I would dismiss when I was younger. People around me are changing too. Some are moving on to seek personal goals while others are changing into someone I don't recognize anymore. Of course, new people are disembarking at my doorsteps with open arms.

In the month of July, the major change for me was moving out of the place that I was staying for 4years. Imagine waking up to the same window panels overlooking a god-awful loud water theme park and the same dust bunnies collected at the corners of the room. It took me great effort to initiate a search for new place because I was so comfortable on the same old rickety bed that creaks every now and then. Alas, change was bound to happen because life would not permit it (not to mention the extortionate rent I had to pay).

In truth, I do not like some of the changes I had to go through, especially the one about the people around me. The jokes. The laughter. Even the gossips. All these activities and companionship will be missed but what kind of companion would I be if I forbid them to change, perhaps for the better? I do not like to be a caged bird myself. Funny thing is, these days, I don't mind staying a tad longer inside my cage. See, this is what I meant about changing into someone you never realize you would be.

While my laments may sound melancholic, this post is far from that. I'm still positive and happy about my life and what lies ahead. I admit I may seem frantic or panicky in the face of change but over time, I will adapt to it. Aside from the changes I had to face, I am thankful that certain things in my love life remains the same as evident during my trip to Cameron Highlands.

(P.S. Shame on you if you think this post is about me moving on from my love life :P)

Chilling in Cameron - Part 2

(This a continuation of my previous post)

I think I should just stop apologizing for late posts because of my tardiness. However, like always, I have a good excuse. I recently moved out of my old place and this new abode of mine has no wi-fi or whatsoever. So, my only source of Internet surfing is either at my workplace or random cafes. More on that next time.

I will start off with a LEGO photo this time, featuring Mr Bee again (Cy in disguise). One of the highlights of Cameron Highlands is the numerous bee farms speckled from one end of the valley to the other. The one below was taken at a bee farm near the town, Brinchang.

buzzzz....

The bee farm aside, I have traversed from precipitous forest to posh British-styled cafe. Indeed, it was my opportunity to pretend as an adventurous trekker and high class bloke. Two polar opposite social roles which I was more than eager to become. 

Let's start with the latter. The venue was Ye Olde Smokehouse situated at a wide estate with a goft course to which I presumed was left by past colonists. I supposed in their mind, they were thinking that since the air is cooling and fresh, let's build a fancy house up here to take in this wondrous view of Malayan valleys. If so, I was glad that they did because the place was amazing. The moment I stepped into the house, I momentarily forgot that I was in Malaysia. The interior was decorated with ornaments you would usually find in an old European house, ranging from vintage pictures to intricately designed furniture.

Don't get me started on the food. I actually felt full (which is a rare moment for me). As a matter of fact, I would puke if I did not have a controlled gag reflex. Nonetheless, with such high end ambiance, my wallet endured a third degree burn. For just two people, we spent more than RM120, excluding appetizers and desserts. Still, it was one of those once in a blue moon experience that I don't mind spending.

The Entrance to Ye Olde Smokehouse.

Next stop, I will feature the Mossy Forest. As one of the popular tourist destination of Cameron Highlands, they did not fool around when they called this place mossy. Situated high up on one of the myriad mountains in the area, the environment is cold, humid and wet that just about any mosses grow in every inch and corner of the foliage there. There's this chilly and ominous feel when I was there but it was so cool that I didn't foresee any possible danger from the place. Of course, since it's high up on a mountain, one wrong step and it's hell of a way tumbling downhill.

I took this photo in the middle of the forest. At the entrance, there were stairs and wooden steps constructed to guide tourists into the forest. Halfway through, however, the journey becomes more arduous as travelers need to rely on their own strength to walk and climb. As you can see, the roots just extend haphazardly. For thrill seekers like me, this is a must-go-to place when you're in Cameron.

Besides that, when you all the way up on a mountain, you get to take a cool panoramic shot like the one below, overlooking the extensive hills and valleys of Pahang.

Just to conclude, I didn't do much on the last day since me and Cy almost traveled to every nooks and crannies of the highland. Sometimes, it's just nice to rest in a cafe and enjoy the other person's company (esp, if it's someone close to you).