The best things in life are free. I'm dreaming up a world with you.

(Ripped from chibird.tumblr.com)

How true.

Sometimes when we are too focused on the pursuit of material goods and we wallowed in self-pity when we are met with dreadful setbacks, we tend to forget that the best things in life are free.

How long has it been since you last gave a hug to someone dear to you? How long has it been since you last laugh heartily and it comes right from your true heart and not under a false pretence? How long has it been since you last have 8 hours of sleep per day?

Why do people have the tendency to forget these small little things that are free yet make us happy? Because we are too blinded by material pursuit, because we are too caught up by our hunger for more, that we continue living at such fast pace of life and we forgot to stop and enjoy the process of it.

So slow down and breathe. Look around you. Enjoy your life. Live in the moment.

Walking on a tightrope wire,
dropping poison pills of fire.
Hynoptised. Euphoria will be here soon.
Turn the lights down, let the answers fill the room.

Life is never a bed of roses.

Start of hell weeks.

It was quite a crazy insane Week 6 at school with so many things going on, and so little time! On top of tutorials, I had a 10 page report and two forum posts to write, two quizzes and one midterm to study for. Geeez, cognitive overload currently. Been sleeping at odd hours like 2am/3am/4am, it is no wonder that I have feeling so sick these days. T.T

(But it doesn't stop me from eating curry and fried food)

Hahahas, Yew Tee Point recently have new shops opening, which got me very excited LOLOL. I tried Encik Tan for dinner the other day and the food was quite good. To my dismay, the interior of the shop is quite big hahahaha. I think the other branches are quite small one though.

Anyways, back to the topic of school. I was so glad to be over and done with NM2212 Midterm today because it was honestly very draining. I'm looking forward to the recess week because it means that there will be a break from NM2212 LOL. Finally no more blinking of notifications at every other time of the day T.T But yeahs, I think I'm quite screwed for the midterm. Am I the only one who find it hard. Shit this. I don't want to die so badly please.

P.S. I am really, really very happy to find this group of friends over at NUS. Even though we only meet once a week during lecture, but you guys never fail me to make me laugh till I get fits. It has been so long since I really laugh until no image. ♥ No words can express how grateful I am.

(Japanese with Manda)

Throwback to dinner before event meeting two weeks back. Found this gem at the Raffles Xchange, and we can finally can stop eating subway everytime before event meeting/event. LOLOLOL! I guess it is worth the price (S$10) because it comes in a set, but the side dishes are very tiny. I'm not kidding.

Sometimes, we let our bodies become
Breeding grounds for sadness.
We do not see all the beauty trying
To grow within us, around us.

I grow up with the smell of the lake and the feeling of the woods.

Chinese New Year

初三

(Crowded)

Yes, so we decided to visit the Zoo and the River Safari on the third day of New Year because it has been quite some years since we visited the zoo. LOL, and not to our surprise, the zoo was filled with kids running around T.T

(Competition)

Before we headed right in, we chanced upon this competition board. We are supposed to take pictures of that two birds (Year of the Rooster), show the staff the pictures, and we would walk away with some attractive prizes. Apparently, I joined the competition and the prizes not very attractive ah LOL. It was some lanyard. And the lady even gave me this activity book about some dinosaurs (to my horror, I flipped over and it wrote ages 7-10). I gave it as a gift to my tuition kiddo instead. Hahahaha! 

(Baboon with their red butt)

Isn't this the perfect shot? Hahahaha, they were facing me directly with their butt. LOL! But nah, I'm not interested in primates. Had a bad encounter with monkeys during my MacRitchie hike before T.T

(I saw a joey)

Okay insane. It was raining heavily, so all the kangaroos come hopping towards the shelter. And yesh! I managed to see this cute little thing! (:

(During an animal show)

(Look at that stunning peacock)

Animal shows that are not interesting at all. All they do it introduce the animals and there are no animal tricks. Is it the animals all old already and they cannot be trained?

(Thick-skinned creatures)

Okay so I spot elephants. Not very fascinated by them but some day I hope that I can ride one. LOL.

(My Little Pony)

When I was young, why didn't my parents allow me to ride a pony?? Omg, regrets. Now they pose age restrictions.

(Looks a little like Trump?)

(Fruit bats)

(Bird)

(Lee Kwang Soo)

Apparently the giraffes are not gigantic enough because my sister actually came and ask me where are they when she is facing the enclosure directly. Are the giraffes too small or are they too good at camouflage? The giraffe is not visually salient here.

(Zebras)

Reminds me of the time when I wore a striped romper out to meet Vivian and she kept calling me a zebra the entire night T.T

(They are actually quite huge in size)

(They scream: "I'm so sick of life!)

(Woo white tiger)

(This weird-looking boar)

This concluded our trip to the zoo. They have a dinosaur exhibition ongoing as well, but the queue was too long and we still have River Safari to go to, so we gave it a miss! (But sounds interesting horhs? LOL).

(Look at those teeth on this 'piranha')

(I have no idea what these manatees are doing, it just looks wrong)

(My favourite pandas)

Hahahas, pandas always remind me of a certain someone from the past. We were so young that time, LOL. We gave each other nicknames, which is panda and dolphin. Omg damn childish now that I think of it. But still, memories. ♥

(Red Panda)

They are so cute. That day Licheng sent a picture of red panda in the whatsapp group, and I melted omg. Look at these flurry bears!

(This has got to be the deal)

LOLOL, my greatest achievement in the entire trip. LOL, wtf. I cannot believe I managed to capture such a shot. Hahaha, it is the polar bear in case you are wondering. She is quite old already, so I think that it is my luck to see her 'walking around'. Yay!

Some day I'll wish upon a star and 
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me,
Where laughters falls like lemon drops,
Away above the the chimney tops.
That's where you'll find me.

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

Chinese New Year

初二

Drumrolls please. Hahahas, I'm so excited about this! LOL, having a small extended family means you finished all the house visitings on the first day of new year, so we were racking our brains on where to go for the second day.

And viola, Istana! :D

It was my second time there. My first time was when I was still a small kid and I absolutely have no recollection of it. Oops.

(Vast green)

(which makes it ideal for a jumpshot)

It was very crowded really! We queued for approximately 1.5h before we were allowed in. And there were also security checks which resembles the airport's security measures. Speaking of this, how come there were no security checks when I visited the official residence of the Cambodian king during my trip last year? LOL.

(Trying to take a nice solo picture but it was impossible with the crowds)

NUS Utown's green field is nothing compared to this. Hahaha! Then we continued to walk (the place is huge seriously)... 

(There were performances but I see no shit because I am short)

As we were strolling everywhere, suddenly we see mad crowds chasing after a 'car'. And so, being typical Singaporeans, you run as well. LOL!

(Guess who we saw!)

President Tony Tan with his wife. Ahhhh! My mother was still nagging throughout the entire day because I woke up late, and reached Istana only around 3pm plus (which means long queues and lesser time to explore). But hey, even President wakes up late? Hahahaha, if we had gone there earlier, we might not have seen Mr President.

(And in case you don't understand the situation)

I risked my life trying to snap good shots of Mr President. LOL, seriously. I think I can forget about exploring the career option of being a reporter, because apparently one criteria that you should possess is being big-sized so you can block off everyone and get good shots yourself T.T They pushed, they shouted, they stepped on your shoes and it was so painful, and even stood up on the chairs.

(Some school band performing)

Life was better when Mr President was seated listening to this school band playing some new year songs. Omg so cute lehs the kids! Their instruments even bigger than them. Ahhh, I missed performing and being on stage T.T

(财神爷)

After Mr President left, we came across 财神爷. Because we thought he looked very sad and lonely, so we decided to take pictures with him. HAHAHA. And also, I hope that since I touched the giantic gold, may my family and I be blessed with fortune. I need money to go travelling LOL!

(Dinner at Nandos)

Went Plaza Sing for dinner, and was feeling a little sad because Kopitiam was closed. T.T We conveniently forgot that there were other food shops in the basement, so we just settled for Nandos, which is so expensive x.x

(To celebrate the year of the Rooster)

(Mango lime flavoured)

Okay, at least they came up with a new flavour since the last time I patronized the restaurant. But still, it is so not worth it.

You know when the sun forgets to shine,
I'll be there to hold you through the night.

What you're giving me is nothing but a heartless lullaby.

And I'm Here

By Kim Kyung Hee

And I’m here just, just like I used to be We were here in old days, with you, with me All my fears have gone when you whisper to me No matter how near or far apart, apart When you feel so lonely, I’ll be here to shelter you (Have you completely erased me from your memories? , from yours?) When you feel so lonely, I’ll be here, here for you (While I still feel your breeze, holding your hands again, holding your hands) If I could fly above the clouds like all the birds And I could hold you for a while to let you feel my pulse Still here, all alone My whole life, and all my heart You’re my whole life, and all my heart And I’m here home home, With you, With me

Never let the pressure overpower the fun.

Chinese New Year

初一

(OOTD)

Didn't managed to find a good background because it was raining, and I don't want to get wet. x.x I woke up not in the mood for celebrations, but it got better as I donned my new clothes and applied my new lippie. This year was a little more casual.

(With the sister)

My phone front camera working well again. Hahaha, it went a little bonkers during my two overseas trip last year puke blood. But yay, red packets red packets come to me please! (:

(Cake)

And cake again (: Hahaha, who eats cakes for Chinese New Year other than us? Gosh. The sister ended her last day of work on the new year eve, and she bought her first present for herself, which was this $47 cake. Hahaha!

Damn proud of the little sister here because she survived her first job! I'm glad that she learnt a lot from the job, and she became more outspoken after having worked 2 months in the customer service line. That's good. :D I really feel that working is a good way to experience the outside world and it also helps to build self-confidence, and you get to earn some money at the same time! Productive long break yeahs.  My sister's all grown up. Proud.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity,
An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

Life is tough, my darling. But so are you.

Chinese New Year Eve

It still didn't feel like CNY to me. Perhaps because school ended late at 6pm on CNY eve (wtf), and I ended up having to rush everywhere.

Feeling blessed that I went home with the three friends after school. It was the first time I really laughed out loud with any university friends. For a moment, it felt as if I finally found a clique in school. Hahaha, but yeahs, that moment is temporary. They are the only gems that help me persevere in that dreadful class. Very, very thankful for them.

Went for my first round of reunion dinner over at my maternal grandparents' side. I was amazed by the spread homecooked by my granddad. Hehes, so happy :D My family (yes, extended) may be small, but we are closely-knitted. That's good.

After which, I went for my second round of reunion dinner with my paternal's side. This was the first time we were celebrating new year without your presence, I really missed you a lot. This year, the family decided to book a table at this place Blossom Garden instead of catering food:

(It feels like a wedding dinner instead?)

I don't know what to say. Hahaha, there were 68 tables in total if I'm not mistaken. LOL, I got a shock in my life when I reached.

(Getting ready to lohei)

We were served with duck, chicken, fish, prawns and everything. Taste wise, it was alright. Ambience wise, it was a little noisy. Music wise, it sucked. The projectors were screening old MVs from the 1990s?? Gosh.

We started at 8pm and ended at 11pm. That's a late dinner. Everyone waited for my sister to end work and me to end lecture. If not for my professor who insisted on holding the lecture (with quiz), it wouldn't be such a rush x.x

Maybe it's not about the happy ending,

Maybe it's about the story.