Four Leaves to a Clover

Passing the Culinary Test

2012-01-25T04:15:00.001+01:00

I owe it to the Malaysian Society for encouraging me to research and try out new recipes. Otherwise I'd be sticking to what I know. Nerve-wrecking as it is during the cooking process and the final judgement, it can be quite satisfying to see people having second helpings.

Disclaimer: This post contains photos of food. Typically Asian/Malaysian, so bear with me.

Passing the Culinary Test, a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

Above is the Nasi Briyani (or Briyani Rice in English) I made for that night. I didn't make it from scratch (I got a Biryani Rice Mix). Two pots of rice for my first try. Part of it is based on the agak-agak (Malay word for 'estimation') instinct and hence I probably have to fish it out from my memory the next time I try it out.

Check out the rest of our delights.

Roti Canai

Chicken Curry

Kuih Bakar

Our food for the Mamak night event have been approved and deemed delicious. I think we did a great job!

The Bright Shiny Slate and Plate

2012-01-19T23:22:00.003+01:00

When you celebrate New Years (and have a sleepover) with a group of good cooks, you know you're in for a few days of gastronomic pleasure. I concurred that on the fleeting seconds hovering between the new year and the old, full from a large dinner and ready for dessert.

Charlene and Diba were the chefs for our New Years Eve celebration, with two roasted Empire Chickens, roasted parsnips and carrots, potatoes, gravy and lasagne.

Charlene's Empire Chicken

Don't they look delicious?

Diba's lasagne

Later on, we had chocolate puds, made from a recipe that I found. The centre of the puds are molten and gooey, although the recipe could do well with some tweaking. Because it had to be hot out of the oven, it was a group effort to get our sugar fix.

After playing a round of an amusing board game and greeting in the New Year by watching the fireworks of London flicker on the screen, we moved on to the cheesecake baked by yours truly. I was pleasantly surprised that it got great response. That made my day!

Cheesecake

Over the next few days, the other cooks took charge, and we pretty much had a considerably relaxed time lazing about at home. Good day to start the new year since that's when your state of mind returns to point zero.

Afiq's Tuna and Potato

While at this point I cannot be sure that the new year would definitely turn out significantly better than the last, I suppose little moments of bliss and a full, satisfied stomach helps get us through these troubling times.

The Annoyance of the New Bus Routes

2012-01-18T02:04:00.001+01:00

Source of photo can be found here.

There is a new bus route in Bowthorpe. The usual buses have been replaced by a supposedly faster one which bypasses the hospital and other stops. Unfortunately that includes the one near ours.

According to the bus company, they have conducted a survey to gain the bus travelling statistics in the area as well as talked to people. They claim the bus helps students get into the university faster. Who, I wonder, have they been talking to? I don't know but they sure are not students who are representative of UEA.

No buses means more walking. We could take a bus to get closer but it won't be driving into the university.

All the while we have been relying on the bus services to get in; that was the reason we moved there in the first place. While I do appreciate a walk now and then, I have not made the universal "beginning-of-the-year" resolution of maintaining a walking regime. Especially not in this chilly weather. Especially when I have an annual bus pass.

Source of photo can be found here.

The timetables are rough on students wanting to go into the university. The fact that it only runs during term time makes the it less attractive.

My stress-o-meter has been relatively high lately. I wonder why.

This decision is still under review, they said, although I doubt they would do anything about it too soon. Until then I shall bite my lip and brace the cold. Spring will be a beautiful welcome at this point.

Edinburgh, the fringe city

2012-01-15T11:03:00.001+01:00

Edinburgh, the fringe city

By Rachael Lum

Rachael Lum bravely investigates Edinburgh’s literary past following its ghostly streets and its famous authors’ old haunts to discover both the light and the dark side of Scotland’s cultural capital.

Full article can be found here

Published in Concrete, UEA's Independent Student Newspaper.

Bye Bye

2012-01-14T19:08:00.000+01:00

I am breaking tradition this year. Normally, I create a montage of memories that I have gathered over the year and compile them into a written reminder of what I've been through. I have had to take a break from blogging for a bit to get my head around things that cannot be controlled.

Yes, if there's one thing I learnt this year, it's that sometimes things just happen. No matter what you do to control or avoid it, they just happen.

My family has had a rough year in Malaysia. If they can be so strong after the distress of four misfortunes and three operations, I will do the same here.

One year in a song. Such a touching video.

Here's to my two grandmas, aunt and a five-year-old relative. May you rest in peace.

And may you, my readers, always remind your family and friends just how much they mean to you, even if it is through a kind gesture, a hug, a smile, a phone call, a message, a letter or a postcard.

*smiles*

As It Comes to an End

2011-12-30T16:28:00.002+01:00

I cannot wait for this year to end. It's been a long and tiring one. If it were a graph chart, you would see unusual spikes in the tapestry of emotions. If it were a heart rate monitor, you'd see that I am very much alive. Right now, I just want to receive some good news and as few bad ones as possible.

I can't say much now. But the more people asked me if I am okay, the more I knew I would be.

Bring it on, 2012.

Christmas Dinner and Secret Santa

2011-12-22T02:28:00.000+01:00

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. However, this year took quite a different turn. Instead of snowing in November like last year, snow blankets have not properly draped themselves over the streets and settled on the surfaces. Here in our abode, the lights are up, the Christmas dinner was piled onto our plates and the Secret Santa gifts were exchanged.

Christmas Lights

On the day of our Secret Santa gift exchange we placed the gifts under the tree, got our own gifts and looked at what we got each other. The brown envelope at the side is another Secret Santa gift, only that it is from 'The Great Secret Santa' event that my college mates and I took part in. More about that another time.

The tree

I am always amazed by how similar people can be all over the world, particularly where food is concerned. People love their food.

Christmas Dinner

Like the year before, there was turkey, roast, pigs in blankets, potatoes, stuffing and vegetables, somewhere beneath the mountain pile.

It's a mountain!

Ezra was my Secret Santa and he gave me a lovely box of Marks and Spenser's chocolates and two Lush bath products. Thank you, Ezra!

Ohhh gorgeous!

Anyway, Christmas is on its way. Things are in store, so keep your eyes peeled!

Distraction

2011-12-15T03:36:00.002+01:00

It's been a while, hasn't it? I had three final essays to complete for the term. I just handed the last one in this afternoon. I ought to feel the Christmas cheer by now. Somehow unfortunate things are happening quite frequently this year. Strange and despondent causal effects.

I like distraction. I am a master of distraction. Distraction displaces the distracted side of a person. Distraction finishes an essay in an hour. Distraction cleans rooms and walks around the campus without stopping. Distraction listens to an Ipod in a bus and eats chocolate and cooks pasta. Distraction writes. Distraction laughs and talks and sleeps in a tangled throw in the living room. Distraction notices the tiniest things that used to be unnoticeable.

Then distraction stops.

So here it goes. My grandmother passed away. This time on my dad's side of the family. That's two in a year. And I won't be able to go back again. We knew it was a matter of time. I knew when I left after the summer break that it would probably be the last time. It was a knowledge we distracted ourselves from for quite a while.

Never mind me, I probably should realize that I've done this before; I hope my dad is okay. I hope my family are. I hope they are. I hope we are.

First Time Doing the Shoebox Appeal

2011-12-01T03:20:00.001+01:00

Shoebox Appeal, a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

Ever since I saw the booth on campus last year, decked with beautifully wrapped shoeboxes, I decided that I would participate (at least once) in the appeal. And that was just what I did.

The annual shoebox appeal is where people place items in decorated shoeboxes, be they food, books, toys, clothes or snacks. They will then be sent off alongside many other goodie-filled shoeboxes to less fortunate children in various different countries. This year they will go to Romania.

For some children, this would be the only time they receive gifts for Christmas. KAOs, short for Kids Action Overseas, is the society on campus that acts as the middleman to collect the boxes.

Most of my friends who are from the UK said that being a 'Shoebox Santa' was part of their school activities. It reminds me of the Hamper Project that my secondary school holds every year.

Ta-da! My first ever shoebox made; I'm really satisfied. Squint and you should be able to see most of the stuff I'd put inside. Otherwise give it a guess. I wrote a bilingual message in the card; I can only hope that Google Translate didn't make any mistakes with the Romanian language. Well, I've given mine to that booth now. If the translation isn't accurate, at least it would be laughable.

Oh, what do you know! It's already December and it has not started snowing yet! *touches wood* I can tell now that it's going to be a much better winter experience than the five months of prolonged bitter cold last year. *touches wood* Besides, the previous year was the worst one in history so how bad can this year get? *knocks on wood ferociously*

I better lay this down to rest or I'll be ritually tapping on my wooden table after each sentence I type. One must be careful not to jinx oneself with famous last words.

Frustration

2011-11-29T05:10:00.001+01:00

Upon stepping out of the Arts building after the Literature and Desire seminar we heard passionate but mournful singing echoing in the Square, for without considering the 11,000 signatures etched in the petition or consulting the Music School, UEA had announced that the department will be closed. That is the final decision.

It is painful to think that money is given precedence over the arts. It is more painful knowing that there were non-art students who added oil into the fire by commenting that music is not a "real" subject. How ironic that they do not realize music (and art in general) technically had prehistoric beginnings and that those who played music were highly regarded in Ancient Greece up until the discovery of science. And guess how long that was!

Perhaps it had not occurred to them that the university's ranking for the arts has been in the top ten for years. Mind you, the creative writing course just won a prestigious award presented by the Queen herself!

For sympathetic reasons (so you would not need to read too much reiteration), I will stop ranting about this melodic misfortune and move on to a different annoyance. I cannot get my head around the Hub, which is this bureaucratic system recently introduced to "maintain uniformity". While I admit it has its benefits, it isn't very friendly to the arts or liberal arts students. Just so you know, our essays aren't contained within themselves as would maths or science projects; they are subjective. We learn from the first essay before we can write the next essay.

Why it is taking so long to return our first essays to us is a question everyone has asked and frankly everyone already knows the answer to. Hopefully they are testing the waters and next term will be much better.

Lots of frustration this term, eh?

Sushi and Cheesecake

2011-11-22T00:53:00.001+01:00

Sushi followed by cheesecake - food is such bliss. Miki and I went to Yuuka's place to have dinner. Yuuka cooked the one below. It was delicious and I got a few little tips on Japanese cooking too.

Sushi

I joined the Baking Society in the university and our first baking activity was cheesecake. Seeing as I already have my mum's unbaked cheesecake recipe, I decided to try the baked cheesecake recipe. My first try was not too bad; it tasted great although the top had some burnt bits.

The second try, as you can see from below, turned out to be much better.

Fresh out of the Oven

The three of us ate till our tummies went into rest mode. Considering how well the day went, we were pleasantly surprised that time went by slowly and lazily too. Hopefully we can have another dinner like this soon; it was a really comfortable evening and I don't mind feeling as relaxed as that every other week. .

The next day, I went to Nottingham, so you can probably tell how far back this was. Since then I have made scones in the Baking Society, booked a flight to Florence, had a not-too-good meal at the Library restaurant that was made up with a lovely Millie's cookie cake, counted the number of should-have-been deaths in 'Home Alone 2' with my house mates (we counted that there should be 21), been in a Battlestar Galactica marathon with them too, cooked bak kut teh and had a great talk with Deidre.

Long, eventful week, don't you think?

Save UEA Music!

2011-11-19T05:12:00.001+01:00

Perhaps you have heard. Perhaps you haven't. UEA's Music School is under the threat of closing down.

Understandably, financial dilemmas are difficult to solve and having it closed down would be an easy way out. What bothers most people is the fact that the Music Department of UEA has been quite successful in the past, and that the arts (including music) is a prominent cultural feature of the university. Imagine having the likes of Coldplay, Westlife and other independent bands performing on campus, having classical concerts at St. Andrews Hall in the city centre, gigs at the Waterfront, then scrapping the department entirely. Contradiction is in play here.

Needless to say, this is the hottest debate on campus today. There was a protest on the 9th of November, although it pretty much is still going on through the mini musical gigs held around campus. There are petitions with over 7000 signatures collected so far (as I am told) which were also backed by musicians such as Coldplay. You can get more information on how to make your stand here. The final decision will be made on the 23rd of November.

There should be other ways to go about the funding issue. Sure, they may be hard during these rough economic times, but at least it would not resort to the closure of an entire school. Not only would the university suffer from a major loss in terms of its artistic value (it's like losing a limb), it would only make it a lot more difficult to have it start up again one day and regain its reputation.

If life were a show, it'd be an episode of Glee.

On that note, I shall drop this subject in favour of sleep.

Leonid Afremov's Late Street Music

A painter paints pictures on canvas.

But musicians paint their pictures on silence.

~Leopold Stokowski

A Little Bit of Notts

2011-11-16T01:03:00.001+01:00

Attending the Nottingham Malaysian Games for the second time felt different. I noticed new but familiar faces wandering about; I had to register UEA's contingent for the games; I realised that Scrabble is a game that depends on luck, skill and a great poker face. I got further than I did last year for Scrabble, although five games took a toll on me and frankly I have only ever played for fun, so certain rules were not too clear with me.

That aside, I thought the event was organized a lot better than the year before and hopefully our baby Malaysian Society will be able to send a bus next time.

Nottingham!

Rachel and Adrienne brought me around Lace Market in the city centre, particularly the areas with vintage or independent stores. While they did remind me of Norwich, there was something unique about them, as would most vintage shops.

Adrienne and I

We also went to Lee Rosy's for tea under the recommendation of my house mate. The cakes there were moist and delicious. Like some of Norwich's little tea houses and pubs, there are people reading and writing by the glass window as if being displayed for all to see. Definitely somewhere to go to if you lead a literary lifestyle.

Adrienne and Rachel Chiah

I enjoyed my trip up to Nottingham this time, thanks to these two wonderful ladies. Not only did I get a stress free weekend, my presentation for Literature and Desire the following day went well too.

That aside, creative juices are sporadically injecting themselves into my brain lately. I ought to milk them while they last.

Review: All the Fun of the Fair

2011-11-10T00:58:00.001+01:00

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Disclaimer: I do not own this photo. Its original source can be found here.

Funfairs are not all about bright lights and exotic thrills, as presented by Jon Conway’s All the Fun of the Fair. The musical production strips away its glamorous front and tells a heartwarming tale of a fairground owner, Levi (played by 1970’s pop star David Essex), who tries to balance between finding closure following his wife’s death and maintaining his relationship with his son, Jack (Rob Compton).

In the meantime, they have a travelling funfair to run and love affairs to handle. Jack becomes romantically involved with the daughter of a gang leader, which causes much trouble to their funfair family. The touching storyline explores what it means to be stigmatized as an ‘outsider’ and the realization that such ‘outsiders’ share the same everyday problems that people have beyond the colourful tents.

Essex may not be the smooth crooner he used to be, but there is now a rasp in his voice that fits rather perfectly with Levi’s weary character. Despite his shaky start during All the Fun of the Fair (the song in which the musical is named after), Essex’s overall delivery is emotional and nostalgic.

Adding to the nostalgia are some of Essex’s old hits, such as A Winter’s Tale, Gonna Make You a Star, Me and My Girl (Nightclubbing) and Rock On. There are also other soundtracks that are written for the play, some of which are commendable especially Dangerous and Here We Are All Together.

Louise English, who plays the gifted gypsy Rosa, steals the limelight with her captivating rendition of A Winter’s Tale. Tim Newman and Susan Hallam-Wright, on the other hand, deserve recognition for their refreshing takes on the doe-eyed Jonny and the heartbroken Mary respectively.

One of the most alluring features of the musical is undoubtedly the set design. A desolate street bursts into the beautiful funfair in a matter of seconds, carousel horses descend from the ceiling during the song He Noticed Me, cable cars race onto the stage and a motorcycle levitates in Silver Dream Machine. The detailed props and creative stage settings capture the vibrant nature of the fair, the spectacle of which leaves the audience constantly in awe.

Throughout the musical, Essex alludes to his younger days as well as both past and contemporary cultural references. While some of these jokes may be lost to the younger crowd, they are definitely treats for die-hard Essex fans.

In other words, All the Fun of the Fair can be described using one word: entertaining. Sad moments exist but they do not last long. More often than not, it is a feel-good ride that brings you to that surreal fairground of your imagination.

Rachael Lum

Published in Concrete, UEA's Independent Student Newspaper (Issue 260, Tuesday 8th of November 2011)

I'm Going to be Published in an Anthology!

2011-11-09T04:39:00.000+01:00

Guess what? I'm going to have six pages of my work published in the Creative Writing Society anthology! There is nothing as exciting as this for aspiring writers. Okay, unless it is a novel or poetry collection we're talking about. Or a movie. You know what I mean.

I have submitted one short story and two poems for my section. There will be a queer but quaint tale called 'The Girl Who Cries Glass Tears', which follows the psychological journey of a perceptive girl with a strange talent. I have a knack for writing about fantastical characters, which seems to be fuelled further by the modules I picked this year. There will also be two poems entitled 'Elegy for Life' and 'Dandelion Storm'.

It costs 7 pounds for a copy, and along with my submission there will be prose and poetry by other amazing writers as well (aka my friends).

If you'd like to buy one, let me know latest by this Friday (11/11/11) and I'll place the order (initially I mentioned Wednesday but circumstances changed). I won't be able to get any more copies after this Friday, so this would be the only chance! I accept international exchange rates. *coughs* *winks*

'Halloween' Weekend on the Sunny Side of London

2011-11-03T02:55:00.001+01:00

Now, let's see. Where shall I start? If you did notice my panicked posts on Facebook, then you would know that I had quite an eventful weekend at London, and not necessarily in good ways. It's difficult to say- they cancelled each other out and balanced the scale- I'll leave that for you to decide.

On the day I left for London, I booked a cab in advance to take me to the train station. It didn't come, so Jess brought me there. I almost missed the train by a minute; thank goodness I didn't.

I got off at London Liverpool Station and proceeded to the Underground, where I realized to my uttermost horror that my phone was not on me. Chances was that I dropped it somewhere in the station, although I couldn't rule out the possibility that someone has taken it.

Never mind about that at the time, I didn't have Pei Pei's number written down in black and white, or anyone else's for that matter! I had Charlene's name card at the time. She was at a different location in London, but I did call her using a guard's phone just in case I wouldn't be meeting someone as nice again. I found a McDonald and my first thought was- Wifi! And hence the odd capitalized messages or posts that you might have encountered on Friday. I appreciate the concerned replies, even from those who were not in the UK.

Chiah got my distress signal and Pei Pei got to me in the end.

I also lost a few other things along the way, leaving a trail of items tailing behind me all around London. As you can probably tell, I was in a pensive mood at the time.

And then something happened. Or more accurately, many things happened. A very lovely person called Adrian found my phone and decided to call a few of my contacts to get hold of me. I got the phone back the next day.

The nice guard I mentioned earlier found a book (on Freud too; is there a connection? Maybe not) I had accidentally left behind in panic when I had to leave.

On two separate occasions, two girls were so kind as to let me borrow their phones.

And something left behind in a restaurant had been kept very securely in a safe until it was claimed.

What are the odds that I can lose so many things and find them all again? In London? In reality? I don't know about you, but now I've been convinced that there are a lot of good people in the world and my faith in mankind has been restored.

My trip was okay overall. I had a relatively good time at the UKEC meeting too (the main reason I went to London). And although that weekend seemed to be some Halloween sequence for me at first, things worked out in the end.

As they should. Ordinary miracles of today.

I hope you had a good weekend.

PS. Handed in two essays today. Currently tired but satisfied.

Poem: The Rented House

2011-10-26T17:23:00.004+02:00

From the corner of her eye the apparition
Dissolves into flakes as the shadow, glazed by light,
Rocks its faceless hand against the door.
The carnivorous blinds chatter with elation
To see such a sight: a dishevelled girl plagued by fright
While Peter Parkers skate across the floor.

Arthritic stairs betray another arrival
Whose failed tiptoe amplifies into a carefree stomp.
The walls are ventriloquists contented with winning,
Establishing their presence to prolong their survival.
Home it may be, full of splendour and pomp,
Until the moon shines in. And that is just the beginning.

Rachael Lum

Published in Concrete, UEA's Independent Student Newspaper (Issue 258)

The rented house is great; don't get me wrong. It is just those few moments when the creaky house and the Peter Parkers by the heater begin to toy with the imagination. I quite like the poem, the fact being that I enjoy writing poems with just that little tinge of darkness to them.

That aside, I've not been posting over the past week because of how incredibly busy it has been. From plays to watch and food to cook, workshops and meetings to attend along with a lovely essay to hand up by the end of the week. Thankfully, after all is done, the days were much easier for me and I've been feeling relaxed so far.

Now to plan out my three essays. That's something to look forward to, ain't it?

Waffle House

2011-10-18T16:25:00.000+02:00

I finally went to the Waffle House in town. I've always been told that the waffles there are delicious but it didn't bug me enough over the past year to go try it out. Only this time it did. Diba was my buddy for the day. I had the Banoffee waffle. 'Banoffee' is a portmanteau of banana and toffee, a combination that I see quite frequently in recipes.

For a good reason too- food is the ultimate paradise when it tastes good. It's quite a coincidence that I should mention this. During my Literature and Desire (psychoanalysis) seminar, we were introduced to Freud's concept of food and feeding as being the first form of pleasure, the first form of desire, particularly since it starts at the infantile stage. Freud also thinks that kissing is likened to 'tasting' and somehow or other sparks the desire to 'eat' them. Weird as it may be, I find that concept pretty interesting for the exploration of human psychology.

Banoffee Waffle

Anyway, let's get back to the day. Right after we finished our delightful dessert, we started talking about what all Malaysians talk about: food. It must be a habit or culture; to talk about eating after we eat. I can't fathom why and yet I can't get out of it.

Disclaimer: This photo is not mine but from Photobucket.

Last year I craved Char Kuey Teow (some kind of fried noodles). This time round, I am curiously desiring Kuih Lapis Sarawak (the layered cake you see above). It is as good as it is pretty.

Gosh, I have to stop talking about food.

No Coldplay Tickets For Me

2011-10-16T04:50:00.002+02:00

How I decorated my wall: There is something charmingly peaceful about it, I think.

Well, I didn't manage to get the Coldplay ticket in the end. It's not everyday that someone can beat devoted fans who came prepared with sofas and inflatable mattresses to it. They were all slouched in their respective comfortable spots in the line, either sipping hot chocolate, sleeping in, watching movies online or strumming guitars. That's a dedication I ought to have. I had a class from 1 to 5pm, and I heard that by 2pm, the line had reached its maximum capacity.

After missing Eliza Doolittle (the tickets ran out so quickly) and Westlife (they performed at the university about a week or two after I left for home) and now this, it's only natural to feel disappointed. It's alright, though. I doubt they'll come back again soon but there will be more artistes coming in.

Layout!

On the bright side, above you can see the first page I ever laid out for the student newspaper. The programmes used are InDesign CS4 and Photoshop CS4, which seemed rather confusing at first although it does get easier after some practice. I'm not sure I remember the functions of some of the keys but I'm striving to master it by the end of one or two months.

Chocolate salami

Also, Caroline and I made chocolate salami using a recipe from her Italian cookbook. First thing's first- it's not chocolate-covered salami. The dessert is more sophisticated than that. It's a moist dark chocolate cake that is made to look like salami with roasted almonds and biscuit crumbs. With no flour at all, it is dense and rich and absolutely gorgeous. Food paves such a blissful road to paradise.

I suppose I could always use that 20 pounds meant for Coldplay to spend on good food. Things look so much happier this way.

Coldplay is coming to UEA!

2011-10-13T01:40:00.000+02:00

Group Photo

I'm going to like second year very much, I think. Yes, I know how much work I would have to put into studies, as well as the gravity of every research paper I write, but other than that, it comforts me to know that I am already quite adjusted to university life.

As I mentioned in my previous post, we had a Malaysian Meet and Greet last week, and we've just discussed about our event next week. Lately there have been a lot of helpful talks and training sessions about how to run the club finances and how to go about running it. Hopefully they'll be put to good use soon.

Here's a big news on campus: Coldplay is coming to perform at UEA! There are supposedly only 1000 tickets up for grabs, and they are 20 pounds per ticket! That's frankly very reasonable with or without the conversion rate. The tickets are only sold in person at the Union Box Office and we can only buy up to 2 tickets each; no online bookings too. Hence, the downside to this publicity is that there will be a long queue and most people would be expected to camp out on Friday to get them on Saturday morning.

Which I will be doing. Wish me luck!

Updates in Big Bites

2011-10-09T02:44:00.000+02:00

I've been filling my days with busy things, although on the bright side most of them ended up being pretty fun and I probably wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

There was a poetry and prose reading event at Birdcage on Wednesday. I didn't perform but it was great to meet people I haven't met for two months while listening to absolutely creative pieces. I couldn't stay for the whole thing, though. Nowadays one must consider the unfortunate bus schedule.

The Malaysian Meet and Greet was on Thursday. The whole afternoon to evening resembled a pressure cooker. Charlene and I went to my place to bake cinnamon rolls (we made two batches which made about 53 small pieces), then to Charlene's place to cook two pots of curries. All went well; they always do in the end. Plus, receiving compliments for the food really gets you going the whole night.

On Saturday afternoon, I went into the Concrete office to design the section layout. While it may be only one page and three articles, it did take a while. Particularly since it was my first time properly trying it out; Nisha showed me the ropes months ago but some things slipped my mind. Thank goodness for the chief editor's patience. I think it looks good! I'll post it up next week.

In the evening, Miki, Yuuka and I went to Nisha's place to have Malaysian dinner. She did a brilliant job; they were delicious! I especially loved the rendang (spiced meat broiled with spices and coconut milk). My hunger for nasi lemak (rice cooked with coconut milk, spicy sambal, egg, cucumber, fried anchovies and nuts) has been satiated.

That night, we attended the Navaratri Festival. That's a nine-day Indian celebration where people dance in circles clad in beautiful traditional costumes. It was so colourful, exciting and carefree. If only there were such events in Malaysia!

I've written quite a lot for now. I'll update again soon!

Cinnamon.

2011-10-04T02:51:00.000+02:00

Last Sunday, we had a mini BBQ in our garden. The weather's been too warm for what's meant to be Autumn (this time last year it was freezing) and everyone's trying to enjoy while it lasts. I heard that these will change drastically soon.

Anyway, everyone's settled in well. It's so comfortable to be at home after long busy days. It seems that we've sporadically felt the need to bake (or prepare desserts). Mike's got us a chocolate fudge cake; Ezra baked us apple crumble. And I made cinnamon rolls the day we had our mini BBQ!

Before

It could be because we now have a proper oven that, presumably, will not burn my pie from the inside out. We're trying to make full use of it while we can.

In the Oven

They taste delicious so I am extremely satisfied. I will be making a large batch soon for the Malaysian Meet and Greet; wish me luck!

After

New 'Housemate'

2011-10-01T04:24:00.001+02:00

Alice Rose, a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

I walked into our home the other day and introduced the new housemate. She will be living with us for at least two years, although most of the time she will be staying in my room.

Without further ado, meet Alice.

Yes, she is a rose plant. I adopted her at a sale on campus. I had been interested in getting myself a plant last year, but hesitated as I wasn't sure if I could take care of it. A friend of mine then told me that I should if I really want to- might as well while I have the time.

Why Alice? Honestly, I don't really know. I saw two plants that I really liked and decided that they were both called Alice. Later that day, one had been bought so I figured I should get the other Alice soon. It could be that it has been so surreal lately that it made me think of Alice in Wonderland.

Which, I must add, is an odd but beautiful story.

So far I am aware that she needs at least 4 hours of sunlight, which might not be sufficient considering the layout and position of our house, so I probably would give it supplementary light. Also, I need to water it only once a week. I'm not too familiar with taking care of roses (I used to be a cactus person) so do give me tips if you can.

Anyway, to end my little post, I am happy to have a lovely addition to my bedside window, had a not-too-brilliant seminar, a great night at the SEA Society Meet and Greet, walked back from university (with a housemate, of course) because I missed the last bus and I have three more episodes of Dr Who to catch up before tonight's season finale.

Turrah!

Being Back and Busy

2011-09-29T10:04:00.001+02:00

Now that I am back at the U E of A, settled down though not without a jet lag, here is a glimpse of what has been going on. Well, more appropriately, what hasn't been going on? The freshers have arrived and then I realized that I am a second-year. You know, the ones that walk around the campus as if they've been there for years, looking experienced and smug. On the bright side, I might as well bask in all that 'senior' glory while I can. I have this odd feeling that by the time students reach their third year, attention is minimal and sometimes nonexistent. Don't you think so? People normally ask if you are a first or second-year and not whether you are a final year.

Home Made T-Shirt!

First weeks are usually busy to rope in the first-years. There was a Socmart recently, whereby each society would set up their respective booths and students would sign up for the ones they are interested in. Throughout the day, I had shifts with the Malaysian Society, which you can see from the photo below, as well as the Concrete Newspaper. It took me a while the night before to decorate my shirt (which possibly didn't help that I had many characters to do) but I love the result.

Charlene and I

I signed up for several, mostly the ones that I can see myself going to this year. As for how we did- it's a no-brainer for Concrete seeing as it has a huge base on campus (I bet we have over a hundred)- for a newly formed society, our Malaysian Society did quite well.

SocMart

That aside, I've had two classes so far. Despite the difficulty I expect them to put me through, I think I am going to like them. Lots of events are happening soon thanks to the Socmart, especially since they need to make use of the fresher's enthusiasm at the start of the year. I've had to make myself daily schedules just to keep up!

Speaking of which, I better go now. It's going to be a busy day ahead. From a class to a newspaper recruitment drive to a meeting and two socials that I might or might not go to. That pretty much depends on how sleepy I still get by evening. When will this jetlag stop!!?

Till the next time.

PS. My little cousin asked me when I am coming back to Malaysia and commented that it'll be good if I could be back tomorrow. I miss her already!

Thoughts on the 23rd

2011-09-23T20:13:00.000+02:00

Is it really the 23rd? That's fast. It seemed like only a week ago that I came back.

I'm excited, really. There are so many things I have yet to do, so many sights I have yet to see- I am going to travel next year and absorb all that life has to offer. That's what I am going to do. Well, I'm going to see how far I can stretch my pounds and euros on the way.

There are goals to achieve; dreams to pursue, which somehow would seem different if they are done in Malaysia. One year ago, I believed that I was picking an odd art subject considering how others were going towards science and mathematics. Imagine my shock when I went abroad and saw that the arts always had a strong base at universities. I was the missing jigsaw that fitted in a huge arts faculty. I don't know exactly what else UK has to offer me, but I can tell that they would be good.

But don't be mistaken. If there's anywhere that's my home, it's right here in Malaysia. For now. I've met my family and friends, gobbled down gastronomic delicacies, engaged in traditions, learnt how my family's past could be turned into inspiration and even learnt how to inject a stomach along the way. That was random, but bear with me. It basically felt like home.

So tomorrow, my fellow readers, I leave with a heart that is both pumped with adrenaline and heavy with longing. Don't worry about me. I'll be coming home another day.

Dear Heart...

2011-09-21T19:47:00.003+02:00

Dear Heart,

It's been a while. I thought I'd take this opportunity to apologize for the things that I have put you through and those that I might make you go through again someday.

We have known each other all our lives, you and I. As far as I remember, your judgments have been good. Look at us; you've convinced me to take the course you love at university. The way you have sudden splurges of courage to step up to challenges never cease to amaze me. At times when I thought you'd absolutely embarrass yourself, you proved me wrong.

I am sorry that I have had to question you. I am sorry for all the arguments that I have won even though I know that you are the one who makes the better decisions. Truth is, I don't want to see you get hurt. I know that you can heal and get better, but are they worth the pain?

Truth is, I am the one that needs time to think. I'll let you have all the reins slowly but surely. Until then, I am going to ask that you be patient with me,

Your terrified friend,
Head

Also, thank you, Mei Shan, for a most amazing phone call. It's one of those ordinary miracles where fate and time have a way of telling us that there will always be friends who will share those random thoughts that you never knew were in the mind of someone else as well. And thank you for showing me the meaning of Sarah McLachlan's song.

"When you cannot hear your heart or your head, ask another heart." - Mei Shan

Peace on the Pinnacles

2011-09-18T18:16:00.000+02:00

The Pinnacles at Perth

Ancient hands- they cup a pool of sand,
Fingers slow emerging from the land,
Withered as the rolling world they stand-
Chiefs of chiefs see spirits set in stone,
So they leave the deserts all alone.

Palace grounds that to horizons reach,
Chambers buried ‘neath the thirsty beach.
Seven sisters, graced by starlight, teach:
Mothers’ tales of spirits set in stone,
Ask to leave the desert on its own.

Grains of sand sail ‘cross each golden wave,
Footprints of the roos and emus pave
Roads to kingdoms solemn as the grave-
Children sing of spirits set in stone,
Then they leave the deserts all alone.

Curious hands- they taste the limestone wall,
Pricked by sunny billows, rise and fall,
Relics kept in pockets beg and call-
We are living spirits set in stone
That can heal the wounds with trust alone.

Hidden beauties doused in dusty dreams,
Skylines gleam with opal stains and streams,
Nothing in the world is what it seems-
Peace is living spirit set in stone
Healing life and love with trust alone.

Rachael Lum

Every poem ever written has a whole other story behind it. Sometimes by seeing what inspires a person to write what he/she writes, it opens your eyes to another way of taking in your surroundings. That's what I believe. And this is a rough idea of what inspired this poem: The Pinnacles of Western Australia.

The Pinnacles are limestone structures in a vast desert in Nambung National Park, where the protruding roots of trees are coated by calcite layers over centuries. The Aborigines refuse to enter the park because they believe that the formations are manifestations of ghosts.

Footprint of an emu

Most of the animals in the park are nocturnal, but during the day, you might be able to see emus and kangaroos. I didn't see any wild ones, only the footprint of an emu.

Mini-pinnacle

More pinnacles are forming each day, albeit very slowly. Some tourists have a tendency to pocket broken mini-pinnacles, for with the presence of beguiling beauties of nature comes superstitions, such as the ability to heal arthritis or bone-related problems. Calcium carbonate after all, aren't they? The background of the photo above is a spot known as 'The Graveyards', as they supposedly look like tombstones.

A wave of darkness, a wave of light

Every now and then, the sun would be blocked by rushing clouds, which gave an illusion of sunny waves. It might be just me- but walking on the dusty dunes only greeted by silence was really peaceful. Time stops in the face of such majestic sights.

I leave the rest to your imagination.

Calm Down...

2011-09-16T19:59:00.000+02:00

Over the past few months, I've been kicking myself for every mistake that I've done. Every big one. Every small one. Every one. I should calm down, I know. I'm going to be honest and admit that this year has been a roller coaster. It's not really a good one compared to other times.

What goes down ought to come up again, right? I've got to calm down and tell myself that such things happen, even if they do seem to be happening a little too often lately. Calm down. Calm down.

Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.

The Thing about Dreams

2011-09-15T19:02:00.001+02:00

I love dreaming. Dreams are...fascinating. They dabble with the subconscious like a painting within the mind. They can be bizarre and crazy, and no one would question it. It's the creative output that people do not realize they have.

Some people say dreams highlight things that trouble them the most, or toy with them using wishful thinking. Psychoanalysts like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung explain that dreams can be decoded and interpreted using symbols, sometimes even forming subjective solutions to real-life questions. I'm open to most theories where the subconscious is concerned.

Someone claimed that if you keep dreams to yourself, it will come true, regardless of whether the dream was a good or nightmarish one. Recent events (and dreams) have led me to share them with others. You know, just in case.

Good ones are not a problem for me. I can only presume that I won't be breathing underwater anytime soon, or ice-skating around a frostbitten mall. I love out-of-this-world dreams, where anything is possible, where jumping out of the window is perfectly safe and walking on the walls is the futuristic way of hanging around.

Bad ones? Two weeks before my grandmother passed away, I had a strange dream of her, my cousin and I crying. Doing nothing but crying. That was when I decided I'll write a letter and send it to her. There were also a couple of other occasions where I dreamed that a particular person was not in the house they're supposed to be in, only to find out several days later that they have had to be admitted into the hospital.

So as a precaution, I must inform you that I have had apocalyptic dreams. And also one about evil ducks.

The thing about dreams is that sometimes it can be such a heartwarming one that I can't help but want to remain there for just a little longer.

Only to wake up and find that the dream has turned into dusty flakes that float in the sunlight by your bedroom window.

Mid-Autumn

2011-09-13T17:39:00.001+02:00

I suspect that one of the reasons the Mid-Autumn Festival (or Moon cake Festival) is such an irresistible celebration lies in the fact that it involves candles and fire. You actually have a good reason to light them up in massive quantities, and no one would think it weird that a bunch of people are excited to have their fingers burnt from the wax.

For most of us, lighting lanterns and eating mooncakes during this festival are as necessary as having Easter eggs and Lent in Spring. Celebrating this with the Low family this year made it absolutely amazing!

Candle

There are many folktales surrounding this tradition. One of them is regarding a goddess called Chang Er who, as a human, swallowed the pill of Immortality that belonged to her husband (could have been either to avoid her tyrannical husband from continuing his rule or out of curiousity) and found that she could fly to the Moon.

Another one talks about the Jade Rabbit who pounds herbs to make the said pills of Immortality. Some people say the rabbit is Chang Er's pet; others say it is the creature who sacrificed itself to feed several fairies.

There is also a story about Wu Kang, an impatient man who angered his immortal teacher and was banished to the moon until he can chop down a magical tree that will never fall. Too bad for him!

A row of lights

Let's go back to the fun part. I believe that in many cultures, the lighting of candles symbolize the dispelling of darkness and evil. Within minutes, the garden was illuminated by the soft glow of flickering flames behind colourful paper lanterns and bobbing on the surface of the melted scented wax. There is something incredibly warm and surreal about it, somehow, particularly in the way the dark can never touch the light until the fire dies off.

Beautiful painting

Left to Right: Mei Shan, me, Vincent

Do we look like we're holding a shard of starlight in our hands?

Moon Cakes

Later that night, we ate mooncakes too, which basically are little cakes with sweet fillings in them. The usual ones would have full egg yolks in the center to represent the full moon. Nowadays, there are different sorts to suit contemporary tastes, such as mooncakes with chocolate paste and snowskin crusts made of glutinous rice or as the Japanese might call mochi.

It is said that during the Mongolian ruling in China, a rebellion was planned by slipping messages into mooncakes and selling them to the public. On the night of the planned attack, the government was overthrown. Lots of stories behind a simple tradition, aren't there?

Lanterns!

Walking down the streets holding lanterns had those nostalgic feelings rush back to us. Mid-Autumn Festival is far too irresistible to miss. That night, apart from dinner and a very interesting round of Pictionary (with our newly dubbed 'Jack' and 'Rose' capable of recognizing each other's drawings when everyone else can't make head or tail out if them- I mean, how can a pool of water with odd shaped objects sticking out of it be the 'Titanic'?), there were good long talks about many things. Secrets and spoilers!

You've got to love it each year. You would have a good reason to meet up with great friends!

Lighting the Dark

2011-09-12T18:13:00.005+02:00

Lighting the Dark, a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

I've been telling myself all year to take risks, take the leap, be brave. I daresay I have gone further than I thought I would.

I've sent out some enclosed envelopes; I will only disclose what lies within if good news come back. I've applied for positions in societies at my university, such as the Malaysian Society as well as the independent newspaper, and that has given me a lot of confidence. Check this out- I'm in Wikipedia!

Hopefully things will go well so long as I continue stepping out of my comfort zone each time. That's one of my New Year's Resolution somewhat done.

But sometimes I wonder, have I? I've recently talked to two different friends about a subject which has led me to realize that I am, perhaps, still not as brave as I'd hoped to be. Admittedly, it's not easy, considering that I already know how it feels from a different point of view. I suppose that would be the 'ultimate' challenge, and if I do that- nothing else can stop me. Muahahaha! *coughs*

And yet, something tells me I can't. Not yet. Someone shed light on the dark for me! Well, we'll see how it goes, shall we?

PS. Next post will be on Mid Autumn Day celebration, for sure.

Two weeks left.

2011-09-09T12:42:00.000+02:00

It only just occurred to me that I have only two more weeks left before I hop on the plane and fly off again. And that still makes me nervous even though it wouldn't be the first time.

Being away means being cut off from the world you once knew. There will be incidents that they will hide from you, sudden announcements and situations that could have been boiling for a long time. There will be things that are supposedly "not important" or "would upset you". There will be too many words left unspoken, too many pieces of yourself still lingering between the two countries.

I know online social networks and chat sites would be there as a virtual bridge, but sometimes it really isn't the same. I wonder at times whether I am an outlier of 'Gen-Y's whose heartbeat skips when letters are in the mailbox. I mean the physical snail mail that people take time to think about and write.

Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy it in the UK; I have friends there. It's just scary knowing that the next time I come back, many more things will change- even me, maybe.

Maid Morning

2011-09-08T17:44:00.003+02:00

Sunrise in Perth, a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

Maid Morning woke me with her breakfast deal.
She smoothly spread the butter upon night,
The milky foams come bubbling high until
The egg yolk cracks into the distant light.

Oh! The sizzling scent that soothes the slumbered souls!
How fraught we are by Nature’s earnest steam.
For all the world does dream as life unfolds,
But do you dream the chase or chase the dream?

Rachael Lum

Little Improvements

2011-09-07T11:37:00.002+02:00

Fit for a Queen, a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

Such practices were once observed by my grandmother and the family friend that lived with her.

Days before the ceremony they would have had all the paper offerings folded into "gold coins". On the day itself they would have been up by 2am to bake the sponge cakes, all properly whisked without machines. They would have steamed the plates of vegetable-filled "pau"s (dumplings), cooked the chicken and pork dishes, prepared lots of food and arranged the fruits by 8am. Then we would come and help move their hard work out to the alter. Everything would be laid out according to my grandmother's meticulous preferences.

So to have it done without them now is to have high standards to reach.

We've been advised on how to improve by the family friend, which you should probably know is "kaimah" (godmother). And hence the results-

More food. More neatly arranged. Little improvements, I would have to agree. We'll learn as we go and take little steps each time. Some little things have not changed, though. We still have the spongecake made from their original recipe (their recipe book only exists in their heads) and the fried seaweed.

As we are now on the subject of improvements, I believed that I've changed a lot from when I first started blogging years ago. And there are several things I really should improve on.

But let's take it a little at a time.

Cherry Ripe, Cherry Ripe

2011-09-03T19:01:00.001+02:00

Cherry Ripe, Cherry Ripe

Ripe I cry

Full and fair ones

Come and buy

Cherry Ripe, Cherry Ripe

Ripe I cry

Full and fair ones

Come and Buy

~ English Folk Song written by Robert Hennick and turned into music by Charles Edward Horn~

Cherries

I have the tendency to speak and write about random things that I observe or feel, most of which involving twisting lovely ideas into dark, strangely different perspectives. Some people think it the source of the weirdness I am occasionally labelled with. It's not a bad thing; it's just that sometimes my imagination goes wild.

Now several weeks ago, our extended family divided stacks of cherries amongst ourselves. They are quite a luxury; not something we have for dessert normally. And as I looked at the plumpness of their shape, felt the cool firmness of their skins, tasted the gushing sweetness of their juice, I couldn't help but link it to this thought.

Do cherries not resemble little hearts? All of them flushed with the rosy hues of the emotional organ, the seed being the promise of eternal life. Perhaps their parent tree is the plant that brings back the minute signs of the living after death in the form of little fruits beating in synchronization.

It bleeds too

I actually bit into the fruit and squeezed out a little drop of juice onto my palm to let you see what I mean. Looks rather like blood, does it not? It bleeds as would a heart. And if you lick the juice up, would that be how Gothic shows create their illusion of bloodshed? Then if the cherry is a heart, would you not be sinking your teeth into the core of a soft-beating life?

I either sound like I'm a day-dreamer of curious stuff or plain scary. Either way, it is something I embrace (well, sometimes), so hopefully this will make you think twice before eating cherries.

That leaves more for me!

PS. Am back from a long holiday. Managed to escape stress and reality for some time, hence being an overall wonderful trip. More strange ideas concurred from the trip later.

A Little Bit of Hope

2011-08-26T21:14:00.000+02:00

To all Muslims, Selamat Hari Aidilfitri! May you reach your respective destinations safely and be blessed with good luck. This is the Muslim celebration which marks the end of Ramadan (the month in which they must fast from morning to sunset each day). The dates of the celebration are determined based on the sighting of the Syawal New Moon; this year it falls on the 30th and 31st of August. Clashing with Malaysia's Independence Day, it seems. To all you lovely folks, this is an early wish.

Selamat Hari Aidilfitri!

Back to updates, thank goodness for the people who are holding me together. Sometimes a little hope, no matter how much it hurts, goes a long way. That being said, do you know the Greek Mythology on Pandora's Box? Pandora was a woman who opened a jar and unleashed all evils of mankind except Hope when she closed it again. In other versions, she manages to trap all of them again by opening the jar for Hope to escape. Is Hope not actually an Evil then?

In reality, hope is the worst of all evils, because it prolongs man's torments.
~Friedrich Nietzsche

Secret Recipe

Of course, don't mistake me for a pessimist. I do believe Hope helps us hold on, reminding us never to back down. At least, I hope so. Ignore the dark humour.

Ah Yee

Secrets are binding all of us together as well. As I cannot say too much, I will touch on the subject of my kaimah ('godmother' in Chinese) teaching us how some of her delicious dishes are made. Here are jars of deep fried seaweed wrapped with a thin layer of popiah ('thin crepes made from wheat flour' in Hokkien). I cannot find any other reason to explain the extensive collection of recipes in her head other than that it's built from secrets of the trade and years of experience.

All gobbled up by now

Also, I've had dim sum (点心) for breakfast. In restaurants, all you have to do here is wait for the waiters to come by with their huge trays full of different little savoury or sweet snacks. When you see one that you like, you just need to lift it off the tray and tuck in. To give you an idea of what sort of dim sum[s] there are, several examples include various dumplings, flavoured buns, fried or roasted meats, congee (or rice porridge), glutinous rice and rice noodle rolls (also known as 'chee cheong fun' in Cantonese). I haven't done much justice here, so perhaps one day I'll write a proper post on this gastronomic subject.

Dim Sum (Small Snacks in Cantonese)

Anyway, it is about time I go to bed. Goodness knows if it is because of stress, but my sleeping hours are starting to fluctuate again.

PS. Do cherish the people around you. And hope that Hope will be a friend to you.

Five

2011-08-24T17:07:00.001+02:00

When I was young, I'd lived at my grandparents' place until I was five. My memories are few but by no means hazy. I do remember growing up among the blaring of the siren that tells the workers it is lunch time (they lived in a shop house running a family business), the ringing of the telephones, the house being cleaned each day, the joss sticks lighted and 'fed' at the alters, the vacuum cleaner humming lullabies.

Sometimes it surprises me at how random the memories can be, such as running into the living room to give them a hug, sitting on the back of a bicycle and sitting on my grandfather's lap as he parks his car properly. And even the toy below which, believe it or not, I used to play with, the sort of toy where you have to fit some blocks in according to their shapes.

It has since been passed to my three younger cousins and recently the newest addition to the family. It used to be difficult to remove the blocks, taking a strong adult to open it and let the yellow blocks fall out once again. Time has loosened its grip.

During the Hungry Ghost Festival on the Seventh Month of the Chinese Calendar, we performed our first ancestral rites without the presence of either of my grandparents. I suppose the arrangement can be improved. Times are changing, it seems. We are all just holding onto the past.

And even so, time is loosening its grip.

Bound For Flight

2011-08-20T10:08:00.001+02:00

Childhood is a bird whose soul is bound for flight.
But men would clip their wings and force them to the ground.
Remember this for tomorrow it’ll ignite your dreams so bright.

Outside, the swing belongs to the little girl in white.
Inside, the carpet brings the boy to a quaint Arabic town.
Childhood is a bird whose soul is bound for flight.

Grown-ups gather just to witness such a sight.
Their bullets pierce the air till the crows come crashing down.
Remember this for tomorrow it’ll ignite your dreams so bright.

Some, in pain, let go and choose to lose the fight;
Others in a whisper let the message be passed round –
Childhood is a bird whose soul is bound for flight.

Those who still believe, like a swan that holds on tight
Glides beyond the clouds, the sunlight captured in its crown.
Remember this for tomorrow it’ll ignite your dreams so bright.

Who knows? Your reverie from yesterday just might
Be a phoenix perched upon an ashy mound.
Childhood is a bird whose soul is bound for flight:
Remember this for tomorrow it’ll ignite your dreams so bright.

Disclaimer: This image does not belong to me. Find it here.

This poem has been published last November in Concrete, my university's independent newspaper. It's written in a villanelle, which is a poetic form that consists of five tercets and one quatrain, where the 1st, 6th, 12th and 18th lines have the same sentence. Same goes for the 3rd, 9th, 15th and 19th lines. This sounds complicated, but after a while, you might notice that the form is pretty straightforward.

That aside, all I have to say is that no one should ever give up their childhood. I don't mean childishness, as this is different from being childlike. As a child we learn to hope, and that's a lesson every adult should know.

I'm open to constructive criticism. Suggest new flying techniques and not shoot me down. Bird metaphors still in my head. Thank you!

First One's the Charm

2011-08-18T09:36:00.000+02:00

I love first times. They are the most exciting, adrenaline-pumping, endorphin-inducing moments in life. Not that I am saying I don't love second times. Or thirds (Especially if we are talking about helpings). But first times never come back and hence are charms.

Earlier this month was my youngest cousin's first birthday, the same baby that I talked about last year right here. I had not seen her for at least nine months, and how she's grown! Quite the screamer, but I'm sure with time that would change.

Tradition

In Hokkien culture, on the first birthday, the baby will be placed before a number of items and allowed to pick three, which supposedly represents the possible types of careers that he or she would be inclined to, as well as certain personalities.

For example, if she had taken the abacus, she'll probably go for accountancy or maths. And if she'd taken the chicken drumstick, she'll love food. A red egg would represent poor results in exams. A book suggests one who loves to read or one who is studious. Money represents either a career that earns a lot of money or money-mindedness. Evidently, meanings change with each generation. As you can see, the first thing she took was a pencil, which probably means she would be able to write well.

FOOD!

The rest remains as usual. There will always be huge amounts of food to feed the large number of mouths. And a cake to top it off at the end of the day. She was not able to eat most of them given the absence of her teeth. She did get to taste the cheese cake though, and kept staring at it while smacking her lips afterwards.

Her first birthday cake

Here is her happiest face for the night, laughing and smiling while she waved and said "Ba-Bye" (That's baby language for Good Bye) to us. Ironic, isn't it?

Genuine smile

Meeting the Gang

2011-08-16T20:13:00.000+02:00

These are some of the friends, who, the moment I flew back home, immediately roped me out for outings. They considered organizing a Penang trip so that I could satiate my hunger for Char Kuey Teow when I'd been craving the noodles for months. And of course, the other reason being that "food tours" are the best tours around.

We wanted to go to Malacca (think chicken rice balls and Nyonya dishes) but due to lots of discrepancies with the timing and dates and all, it boiled down from Malacca to Penang (think Char Kuey Teow, Assam Laksa and more Nyonya dishes) to Sunway Lagoon (a water themed park) to Midvalley (a shopping complex).

Huge Plate of Spaghetti!

It was alright with all of us, since it was not short of a "food trip" anyway. And besides, what mattered was that we got to meet each other after such a long time!

Typically Malaysian

Taking photos of your food is quite an Asian habit (I kid you not), look at the photo above! Have you ever seen such a huge plate of spaghetti?

Ah, how I missed them- because we'd known each other since high school (four out of five of us were in the same class in our Second Form) our friendship is the sort where you can tease each other to your hearts desire without having to think through too much about what you want to say. We agreed to get ourselves lovely matching shirts to commemorate that.

I've met quite a few friends since I've returned, so there are more to come. But for now, I just want to thank my delightful, bubbly friends for constantly making the best of the time we get to be together.

Soon!

2011-08-14T19:12:00.001+02:00

How unlike me to indite frequent posts. Unfortunately, there has been a number of events that occurred lately, which, however stressful they were at first, seemed to boil down quite nicely, and things have ended well so far.

At Broga Hill

It is about time I revealed to you what I have been doing lately, but photos would take a while to be prepared for the blog. As a short summary, I have been on Broga Hill, attended a cousin's first birthday, attended several prayers, gone out with quite a lot of friends I have not seen since I got back and so on.

Anyway, time to get the details for each event going. Will have them done soon!

Colours of the Mind

2011-08-08T11:21:00.002+02:00

As I sit here struck by pangs of dizziness, I feel that it is time to show you my latest fascination. I admit that I am in favour of Impressionist and, to a certain extent, Post-Impressionist artworks, to which I will refer to later on.

Recently, however, I have discovered the beautiful masterpieces of Leonid Afremov. Born in Belarus, he is a painter who experiments with oil and palette-knife techniques. From that, he creates unique and vivid pieces. I find them quite dreamy. What do you think?

White Mood

Couple by Leonid Afremov

Autumn Park by Leonid Afremov

Much of his paintings include landscapes and figures. You might notice that he paints many scenes with umbrellas and wet grounds that reflect the light of the surroundings. I believe that is what makes them so optimistic and romantic...after all, the atmosphere right after a rain is extremely rejuvenating.

Bale by Leonid Afremov

Louis Armstrong by Leonid Afremov

Guitar and Violin by Leonid Afremov

As I had mentioned earlier, I love Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Basically, Impressionists paid attention to the spontaneous movement and light in the art while Post-Impressionists were more concerned about structure.

But they are similar in the way they use magnificent splashes of colours to create life in their works. I've placed some paintings alongside one another so that you can see why they remind me of the kinds of paintings I like.

Bridge Over Dreams by Leonid Afremov

The Japanese Bridge by Claude Monet (Impressionist)

Cafe in Paris by Leonid Afremov

Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh (Post-Impressionist)

Two Sisters by Leonid Afremov

Untitled by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Impressionist)

More importantly, I find that Afremov's painting, as do the likes of Monet, Van Gogh and Renoir, use bright colours to show us what artists see in their mind's eyes. From their paintings, we get to see how these artists interpret the world around them. We get to experience the beauty of everyday life and, eventually, change the way we see the world we all live in.

White Swan by Leonid Afremov

Now is the world not beautiful?

Balloon Parade by Leonid Afremov

Half Full or Half Empty?

2011-08-02T12:32:00.001+02:00

Life is a roller coaster. That is a fact. Deep down in our hearts, we know that fact to be true, no matter how optimistic we choose to be. There comes a time when it becomes too hard to see the cup as being half full instead of half empty. It becomes harder to stay hopeful and yet, hope is all we have to hold onto.

When one is away from home, domestic news travel late and much is cushioned to avoid excess worrying. And back home, it's been a roller coaster for everyone.

Trips to and from white buildings that roll in the withered and roll out the freshly bloomed. Men and women in white, all wishful and frank, their faces masking all that they must have seen and felt. On their lips are the words that reassure and in their hands are the risks that they will take because no one else will. The white buildings contain so many emotions. They are roller coasters themselves.

I have a reason for being cryptic, although I must state this one thing. This roller coaster ride of a year is too long and I want it to stop.

A very lovable person told me this a few days ago, "An optimist sees his cup half full; a pessimist sees his cup half empty...A chemist sees his cup full, half in liquid state and half in vapour state." Perhaps cups are always full, only that we do not always see half of it. It takes time to condense, I suppose.

Leonid Afremov's 'Loneliness of Autumn'

PS. I love Leonid Afremov's paintings. I think they deserve another post.

Modules for Next Term!

2011-07-29T08:12:00.001+02:00

Several months back, all students were required to make definite decisions as to which modules to take in the next year at the university. Unfortunately, there were too many interesting modules that I wished I had the superhuman ability to take and too few credits to allow such superhuman abilities to emerge.

Personally, I would have to say it had got to do with the descriptions they gave under each title: fascinating enough to spark interest but with not enough details to milk information from. Also, there were several 'rules' that we had to stick to, such as the allocation of a certain number of credits for pre-seventeenth century modules so that we can have a broader historical reading. A good idea, actually, although it could mean giving up another module you might want more.

After much deliberation and a couple of emails later, my first and second choices were sent in. And I just got the timetable a few days ago.

I got my first choices, which I am happy about!

Eighteenth-Century Writing

Plaisirs du bal (Pleasures of the Dance) by Jean-Antoine Watteau

This module reads major British fiction and some poetry of the eighteenth century in terms of its relation to the development of society which is recognisably modern. We will examine such writers as Defoe, Swift, Pope, Richardson, Fielding and Sterne, and exploring the `rise of the novel', the coming dominance of prose representation in journalism and fiction, the rise of the middle class, the move to an urban cash-nexus society governed by reason and contractual economic exchange, and the construction of new kinds of subjectivities for men and women according to the needs of middle-class patriarchy. In many ways, this module studies the development of the `modern mind'.

Modernism

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali

The purpose of this module is to study the literature of the early decades of the twentieth century - very roughly 1900-1930 - in particular the work of those authors who attempted to break with received norms of literary style and content. The module is organised as a series of thematic explorations - poetic experiment, memory and desire, myth and innovation, and so on - and thus does not follow a chronological structure. The sequence of guiding lectures focuses its deliberations on a set of specific texts, with their contexts, and these are taken up for discussion in the accompanying seminars. 'Modernism' is this constructed gradually over the semester as a mosaic of closely related issues, each one reflecting on the others. As well as providing an overview of defining textual features, in prose and poetry, the module is concerned also with the interrelation of text and context, offering a range of ways of conceiving of modernist literature as both of, and self-consciously ahead of, its historical moment.

Romanticism

Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich

Romantic Literature is often thought of as poetry, primarily work by Blake, Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats and Bryon. But the signs and forms of Romantic sensibility can also be found in a much broader constituency of writing practice: the novel, letter writing, the essay, political and aesthetic theory, and writing of all kinds taken as social commentary.

Shakespeare

Madam Tussaud's in Hong Kong (2009)

The aim of this lecture-seminar module is to help you become a better reader of Shakespearean drama. He was writing between about 1590 and about 1610; obviously his plays speak to us over a great cultural distance, and we can find fresh ways of reading them by exploring the theatrical, generic and historical frameworks in which they were written and staged. The lectures, then, will introduce a range of contexts, and the seminars will seek to turn them to account in the reading of the dramatic texts themselves.

Literature and Desire

Psychoanalysis on Bridge by Zdenek Janda

The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the basic concepts and procedures of psychoanalysis, and the application of these concepts and procedures to literary texts. Beginning with an analysis of folk tales, we consider structures of desire in Shakespeare, Frankenstein, To the Lighthouse and the Brontes. The module requires systematic reading of the work of Freud, and some reading in Klein and Lacan, and equips students with a precise psychoanalytic understanding of how fantasy and projection contribute to the formation of literary significance. The teaching emphasis is on the presentation of class papers by students leading to intensive group discussions.

Creative Writing: Introduction

Amsterdam by Leonid Afremov
An introductory module open only to second year students. It is not available to students on the Creative Writing Minor and is offered as an alternative to other Level 2 Creative Writing modules. The teaching uses structured exercises based on objects, handouts, discussion and visualisation to stimulate the production of prose fiction and poetry. In the first half of the seminar students will write about 'what they know', drawing on notebooks, memories and family stories. In the second half the focus will shift to the work of established authors, using sample texts as a stimulus to students' own writing.

Disclaimer: Indented information are not in any way written by me and can be found in the website shown here. All photos obtained from Photobucket.

After deciding that I will do what I want instead of simply taking the 'safer, practical' path, I took the psychoanalysis module instead of the Publishing one. 19th-Century Writing was another module I would have liked to take, but timetable clashes disallowed that.

Apart from that, I'm pretty much contented.

What do you think?

Middle of It All

2011-07-27T11:50:00.000+02:00

25 June is six months before and after Christmas, which I find quite memorable when reminding anyone about my birthday. In the light of recent events and necessary research, as I was surfing the internet on my surfboard, I decided to entertain myself by looking up my date of birth. Give it a try- the results can be quite amusing.

Note: Names of these famous people are those of which I know or have heard of.

Famous Births:

George Orwell, British writer and journalist, Animal Farm
Carly Simon, American singer, You're So Vain
Eddie Floyd, American singer, Knock on Wood
Yann Martel, Canadian writer, Life of Pi
George Michael, English musician and producer, Careless Whisper
Rain, Korean singer and actor, Full House

Famous Deaths (Forgive the sobriety):

Michael Jackson, American singer, Black and White
Mary Tudor, Queen of France
E.T.A. Hoffman, German author and composer, The Nutcracker and the Mouse-King
Michel Foucault, French philosopher, The Order of Things

Wow, that's a lot to celebrate for, ain't it?

Durian @ Home

2011-07-20T06:15:00.001+02:00

Durian!, a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

Durian is the South-East Asian 'King of Fruits', characterized by its acquired taste and smell. It has been said to smell disgusting, but durian fans like myself find it aromatic. I was also told that, like chocolate, bitter is better, but I prefer the ones in between- both bitter and sweet.

Having durian in Malaysia is both a sign of home and a tradition since childhood. For me, at least.

Which brings me to the subject of home. There is a rather strange combination involving time. Weekends are extremely busy to the point where I have plans almost every week that stretch all the way to September. Then there are the weekdays, when the lives of people around me rush on whilst mine does not.

Seems confusing, does it not? Well, I've written several poems. That counts for something.

Chilly Delight from the Night Market

2011-07-18T18:04:00.003+02:00

Ice Kacang (1), a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

So far my posts on home have been about food. This would be no exception, particularly since it is a Malaysian dessert not many can resist!

Ice Kacang (2)

To those who do not know what this is, this is 'Ice Kacang' (aka ABC aka Air Batu Campur). It consists of shaven ice with various toppings such as red beans, attap chee (palm nuts), corn and grass jelly. Coloured syrups and evaporated milk would be drizzled on the top and voila! A thirst-quencher on a hot day.

For more aesthetic images (this was a take-away from SS2 after all), do search the net.

Our night time indulgence before bed! I'll update again soon!

The New House

2011-07-13T11:51:00.000+02:00

After leaving behind the room in the village emptied of its character, it was time to move on to greener pastures. Caroline, Ezra, Jess, Mike and I have moved into a new house. It is further than our previous accommodation but the area is lovely and so is our house.

The New House

Such a beauty, isn't it? Do not be fooled by its size. I would describe it as being 'like a TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space, also known as the time machine in Dr Who)'. In other words, it is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.

I can't show you all the rooms, but I can give you glimpses of what lies inside.

The Living Room (with a flat screen TV!)

You might be able to guess that the guys were enthusiastic about flipping the channels and playing on their PS2.

Gives it character, don't you think?

Even the lights are amusingly adorable.

My room

Now we have come to my little room, with the big wardrobe. You'd never know, just beyond that glass wardrobe might be a gateway to Narnia!

My desk

Now doesn't this look familiar?

The kitchen (HUGE kitchen)

We also love the size of the kitchen, which I suppose normally is the heart of the house.

Our shelf full of herbs and spices

And we have a large backyard with apple trees. They should turn ripe in autumn, so the next time I go back, there should be sploshes of crimsons on the greens.

The backyard

Now Edward Thomas can be wrong about houses in his poem, no?

Apple trees

Finally home!

2011-07-09T15:07:00.001+02:00

Where the good food is..., a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

After more than 18 hours travelling from the UK to Amsterdam to Singapore to Malaysia, with an additional 2 hours waiting for my luggage to arrive, I am finally home!

Malaysia has changed in several ways but many things remain the same. The minor changes merely shocked me when I saw buildings that were still under construction 10 months ago completed as if they had risen overnight.

For the most part, the food is as delicious as my dreams remember them and there's been a rally in KL today. It felt like home as well when I got to slip into various languages when the need arose.

Well, it's going to be a great summer for me!

Removing the Fingerprints

2011-07-04T20:26:00.000+02:00

After three days of gruesome packing, two days of lugging everything back and forth and finally returning the key to the Accommodation Office, I have officially settled in. The house is beautiful, yes, but before I release the photos, I feel the need to show what it is like to have your fingerprints removed. Not literally, as did the agents in 'Men in Black', although it feels just as eerie.

Before:

My room #1

After:

Before:

My room #2

After:

How strange it is to feel attached to a room you only had for nine months. Pinned to the walls were the fragments salvaged from the clusters of memories, reminding you that little parts of your life have already imprinted themselves upon the surfaces of that tiny room. Then having to remove them, ready for another tenant to live in it, take up the space and morph it into an unfamiliar environment. I have to tell myself evolution works that way. Cycle of life, is it not? To be forgotten when you're gone.

Now now, don't think this is a depressing post. It really isn't! My fingerprints have appeared on newer grounds. That, however, is a whole new story.

A Gift for the Cleaner

Let's also not forget the Cleaner who has been so nice to us. Anyway, see you guys soon!

Moving In

2011-07-02T15:09:00.000+02:00

The house is lovely; moving in is annoying. There's just so much to do and so little time. And transporting everything across is frustrating. I'm only here in my university accommodation so that I can use the internet and continue with my endless packing.

Packing. Packing. Packing.

Then I'll be unpacking. Unpacking. Unpacking. Rearranging.

Then I'll be packing. Packing. Packing.

Then I'll be home.

Blimey, you can tell I'm getting more and more annoyed by all this.

Room.

2011-06-30T02:14:00.003+02:00

All humankind are cousins., a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

The photo above was taken in Edinburgh. I just find the quote really thought-provoking. That aside, it is unrelated to my post today.

Time is ticking away and I am meant to pack everything up and be ready to move into my new house. Like I said, meant to be.

It's not that I haven't done anything. Since Monday, I have cleared most of my shelves, my cupboard and had countless to-keep-to-throw-or-maybe piles to make. I even had some happy little working songs to get me feeling calm and motivated.

Strangely enough, my room is in not in a heap of mess, but that state of mind might be temporary.

Not strangely enough, I am again back on my Dr Who marathon after taking several weeks off it. Which is keeping me calm but certainly not helping with the packing.

Of course, seeing as the day is getting closer, I will have to start shifting the posters and decorations soon. Without the little things that shape its character, the room is just a demanding space of austerity that takes over you if you don't take over them.

I can't even imagine it being empty and ready for the next person to dissolve the very memory of its previous resident. That being said, I probably did that to my predecessor.

And all of a sudden, another year is gone. And our fingerprints are fading slowly, steadily but surely.

Letter From a Friend, On Turning 20.

2011-06-25T00:54:00.003+02:00

Dear Rachael,

This is it. One hour from now, you will have a new set of obligations to follow. You will be expected to know what to do, even if you don't. You will be expected to make less mistakes. You will be expected to act your age, whatever that means. You will be expected...to be twenty.

Don't worry, everything will be fine, contrary to what people say about age. Age is as ripe as wine, more flavourful and valuable with each passing year. It is a natural way of life; everyone has to go through it. It is not a determinant of who you are or who you must be. Age is a number.

Besides, you had a good run, didn't you? Look back at who you were years ago and look at you now. You have changed for the better. As a child, you had adventures in lands of your imagination; today these adventures exist in the real world.

I hope you notice from those many brilliant years that you have exceeded yourself tremendously. You have done things you never thought you could do. You have experienced life and pushed boundaries. You became who you are today because of those amazing years of transition in between.

So please do not be afraid to move ahead. There are many more adventures waiting beyond that horizon. There are many more ambitions to pursue. The best days are yet to come. Just walk forward and hold onto the same courage that held your hand yesterday.

There is another thing. Please do not forget me. Do not even say good bye. I will always be walking behind you. I will be the one telling of the dreams you bore today and reminding you to hatch them tomorrow.

In fact, I will always be here, helping you find out what you should do so that there will be less mistakes. I will always be you, whatever age you may be. And that is the one thing that will never change.

Have a wonderful journey ahead.

Love,

Rachael.

Nottingham News

2011-06-23T23:45:00.000+02:00

More news on travelling! I went up to Nottingham two weeks ago to visit Chiah, and we had a great time. For lunch, she taught me how to make casserole, as you can see from the photo below. Later that day, we went for Enrique Iglesias's concert.

Casserole

Though this may come as a surprise to you, that was the first live concert I've been to. What did I think about it? Well, first thing's first, he's a good live performer, which made the experience a whole lot better. And considering how often his songs were being played, I'd say it was a fantastic first time. Most of the songs were the newer ones- 'Tonight', 'Heartbeat'- although he did perform songs like 'The Ping Pong Song' and 'Taking Back My Love'.

Concert

'Hero' seemed to be a crowd- pleaser. Thank you, Chiah, for helping me get the tickets!

The next day, we went to Nottingham Castle where, just outside, are Robin Hood related statues.

Robin Hood's Lair

Now, just in case you are not familiar with Robin Hood, he is the famous outlaw in English folklore that resides in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire. Along with his band of "Merry Men" (as I recall there's Little John and Friar Tuck), he stole from the rich to give to the poor during the reign of King John of England. Yes, if you notice, most of my knowledge on the outlaw is based on stories I've read as a child. But I don't believe many people have read the original accounts and probably only know as much as I do.

Whether or not he really existed is another matter. There are supposed historical evidence for both cases, but for the most part of it, Robin Hood's story has been passed down from generation to generation so much so that he's more of a legend than a historical figure.

Nottingham Castle Entrance

Nottingham Castle is similar to that in Norwich in terms of their modification into museums. The difference is the garden in the Nottingham Castle grounds is much bigger. It looks like a proper, well-kept part on its own. Possibly good for lazing about or studying, as Chiah noticed.

With a lovely park/garden inside

Picturesque?

Reminds me of the garden scene in 'The Sound of Music'

Lord Byron

Lord Byron was the Romantic poet and author who wrote Don Juan and close friend of the Shelleys (They had a famous "contest" among themselves one stormy night to write the best horror story. Mary Shelley won with Frankenstein).

Red Riding Hood

Tea House

Chiah brought me to a quaint little tea-house hidden away in the city called 'The Walk'. The most popular order from the menu is the tea set where you get snacks, both savoury and sweet, on a three-tier cake stand and a pot of tea. The snacks vary depending on what is available. We had tarts, scones and sandwiches that day.

Yums!

Definitely a place to look out for when you're in Nottingham.

Three-tier cake stand

Did I also mention that I adore the tiered cake stand? They give a classic vibe to desserts.

I'll be back in Nottingham another time; I'm sure of that. Hopefully I'll get to go for the Cave Tours the next time!

Auld Reekie Calls To Us: Edinburgh Part 2 of 2

2011-06-21T22:30:00.000+02:00

Something caught my eye when I walked pass this huge building. On it there were quotes regarding Edinburgh's status as the first UNESCO City of Literature. Think of R.L. Stevenson, whose inspiration for 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' sparked from the story of a Scottish man, Deacon Brodie, a deacon by day and burglar by night. Imagine that! Now it is time to unfold the second part to the Edinburgh trip!

UNESCO City of Literature

Day Three:

Speaking of literature in Scotland, Rachel and I were interested in the Writer's Museum. Erwan decided to pay a visit to the Surgeon's Museum. Although eventually the Surgeon's Museum turned out to have later opening hours than expected, Rachel and I had a great time at our side.

Well, the only part that got on our nerves slightly was when we had to search for the Museum. It took us a while, after walking up and down the street, to discover a little lane leading to it. The red city tour bus drove away to reveal Lady Stair's Close, and if you look closer, you might be able to see its sign with the silhouette of a man in contemplation at his desk.

In the little path...

There were pretty wonderful exhibitions with original works of several Scottish writers, first or special editions, and their possessions. Fingers crossed, we hope to someday gain the same amount of recognition in the field of writing too.

The Writer's Museum

Later on, we went for the Edinburgh Dungeon. To make things clear, on all ghost/haunted/night tours and related entertainment, 'we' refers to Erwan and myself. It's some sort of "haunted house" tour where you get to rediscover the unfortunate past of the people in Edinburgh.

It's scary to think that people could be sentenced to death in the 16th century (by the gallows or guillotine) with only one accusation with no need for solid proof. According to what we were told, during a time of political and religious weakening, paranoia emerged followed by ridiculous Acts such as the burning of 'witches' (which then anyone could be sentenced for-if you look different, act different, or is simply disliked by someone else), the torture for a 'confession' and back then homelessness was also a crime (hence they were forced into the Underground). Let's not mention the body-snatchers, Burke and Hare, who dug up fresh graves and harvested bodies for the medical schools. The tour was spooky, definitely, but fun nonetheless.

The Edinburgh Dungeon

Coming out of the shadows and into the sun, we then took a bus to Queensferry, far from the city centre to the piers, where we sat on a cruise. Mind you, the Edinburgh Pass did stretch our pounds a great deal.

Queensferry

It was more for some moments of relaxation. Can't be in the city all day! We caught glimpses of seals, puffins (the adorable looking creature which is also the name of a publishing company, yes), jellyfishes and noticed seagulls everywhere. We might have seen other species of birds too but I don't remember if we did.

Seals

Queensferry Street

This place was actually quite a beauty, to be honest. If you look in the photo above, you might be able to see that the street has two levels. One leads upwards for pedestrians and the other that heads downwards, mostly for cars. They resemble the picturesque scenes in Romantic films, don't you think?

Also, we went for another night tour. However, since I've mentioned quite a lot of information on it earlier on, I'll leave it at that and say that overall it was fantastic.

Day Four:

Since Erwan has already been to the Castle, Rachel and I decided that it's time to see the most prominent landmark of Edinburgh. The entrance fees were quite hefty though, so we didn't go in. Maybe another time when I can go back. Yes, I believe I will go back.

Edinburgh Castle

Closer view of Castle

Instead, we spent more time window-shopping. Not too bad a replacement, I suppose. By afternoon, we were on our respective modes of transportation towards home. Quite the usual 'tourist-like' ending to the trip. So, yes, what happens when a law, literature and medical students go to Edinburgh? It's not really much of joke; it just shows that Edinburgh has so much history that involves and influences the three fields that there was something for all of us.

The sky is a canvas

On that note, I end my visual tour with a beautiful scene I saw on our way back to Norwich. Where the sky was a canvas graced by an alluring spectrum of colours as light made way for night, where the world can be colourful if we choose to see the paints, and life can be an adventure if we want it to be.

S'more S'mores

2011-06-18T00:52:00.001+02:00

S'more, a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

This summer I had my first taste of S'more, which was introduced to us by Amanda. S'mores, if you've not of it before, is a campfire treat that people have in America and Canada. Basically it looks like a sandwich catered for anyone with a sweet tooth.

So to prepare it, first of all we need a fire. Don't worry, there were no bonfires. We had a mini disposable BBQ grill, which we lighted up properly.

Then we had to collect sticks, which would be whittled so that a marshmallow can be placed at one end. Under the flame we must roast the marshmallows, until it becomes slightly brownish or burn like a torch.

The marshmallow, all melted and gooey on the inside, and some pieces of chocolate, go in between two crackers like what you see in the photo. It tastes delicious!

Amanda also said that another campfire 'tradition' is to be interrupted by a nutter. Which did happen, curiously enough. But let's not go there.

Anyway, here's a bit of America for you. Want s'more/some more?

Bouncing

2011-06-15T02:17:00.000+02:00

This is Amanda's last day in the UK. This is when events of the day before appear in flashes of light. In the morning, we had English scones with jam and clotted cream along with cream tea as our brunch. I like how having tea is a culture here, especially with all the delicious tit bits. I am in a bit of a cake stand craze now; the tiered set pieces look amazing. They make me want to bake. If only I can, that is.

Then someone said that there's a bouncing castle on campus, so I had an idea that it would be something small and would possibly charge an entrance fee. When I got to the Square, however, I found that I was wrong.

Surprise, surprise...(Also, all are free)

Oh, summer is such a wonderful season. Anyway, we went to the Lake after that and had an awesome time making impromptu video parodies of Star Wars. Amanda's in charge of compiling the bits and pieces.

The fun side of uni.

Well, after going through so many farewells, it is getting more difficult to say goodbye. So I won't. Instead I'll say 'See you later!' - you know, the sort you tell little kids on bouncy castles to pacify them- so that I can convince myself that someday, somehow, those days will come back again.

A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns

2011-06-14T03:13:00.002+02:00

A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns, a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

June. The supposed peak of Summer. The heat that flourishes carpets of grass beds and yields flushes of blossoms. The time people take off their jackets and engage in "summer-y" activities such as head off to the beach, embrace the sun, have loads of barbecues and have another ice-cream.

(At the moment, while we are able to do most of these "summer-y" events, it was still too chilly to go to the beach. The weather is being extremely temperamental.)

June. A good month where weddings are popular in honour of the Roman goddess of marriage, Juno. Or perhaps so that people had more choices of fashion rather than something just to keep warm.

June. The month many things come newly sprung, cradled by songs of Summer, seasoned and shaped by the warmth of it all.

As is yours truly.

Auld Reekie Calls To Us: Edinburgh Part 1 of 2

2011-06-12T01:52:00.003+02:00

Auld Reekie. In Scots, it means 'Old Smokey', the traditional nickname for Edinburgh, Scotland. I had always associated Edinburgh with art festivals, Scottish literature, heritage sites, ghosts and ghouls. Now I associate it with a history fraught by secrets and bloodshed. But let us take it from the beginning.

Edinburgh here we are!

Day One (31st May 2011):

Rachel, Erwan and I arrived at Haymarket as our hotel was nearby. For the three nights that we spent there, it cost less than £50 per person for a comfortable room with three beds (Ritz Hotel is about 3.5 stars on average according to websites); we agreed that it was a great bargain.

Park Overlooking the Castle

All the travelling took a bit of a toll on us on the first day, which led to a slower start to our trip. The weather was not bad too considering how far up North we were. Walking around the city, including the park overlooking the castle, was incredibly relaxing.

Anne Frank!

I taught them something I learnt in Spring this term. Not being something we have had as part of our childhood, making daisy chains was definitely a new 'skill' to pick up!

Teaching them how to make daisy chains

From the high rise buildings and streets to the men in kilts playing bagpipes and inscribed nameplates on the benches to the daisies, the awe over the new environment seeped into us like the cold yet inviting lotion smoothened on the skin.

Adorable Ice Cream Van

Day Two (1st June 2011):

The hotel provided us with breakfast each morning as well, and these were actually the only time we had purely "Scottish" food. Haggis (the brown one on the left side of the ham) is a mixture of the minced innards of sheep with spices and onions. I also had black pudding for the first time, which is something like sausages made of blood. Yes, you read this right, blood. There's also the fried oatcake above the tomato, along with the sausage, egg and ham.

I would like to taste deep fried Mars Bars one day, though.

Scottish breakfast

The Edinburgh Pass is such a money-saver! We purchased a two-day pass each for £39 and were able to enter many attractions (not the Castle, however) for free.

Group photo

Dynamic Earth, a science museum, is the first of the several we were to see. The exhibitions were wonderful, and I wonder why there are not a lot of interactive ones in Malaysia. I suppose the bill would hit the roof, but imagine how amazing learning could be! (On a related note, search 'Fun Theory' on Youtube for absolutely brilliant ways of making life fun.)

Hilarious signboard.

While we were in our time-travelling machine (an elevator), we heard an endearing conversation between a boy and his mum.

Mum: Look, this is like the TARDIS. Remember the TARDIS? (Doctor Who reference)
Son: Are we travelling through time?
Mum: Only pretend time-travelling.

Dynamic Earth

As we headed towards the Castle, we noticed the Museum of Childhood, a rather different sort of repository that consisted of many childhood related items covering the various aspects of childhood. Think of toys, books, clothes, objects from school and that of home.

One of the many lovely museums

We dropped by The Elephant House after that, hoping to have lunch where J.K. Rowling wrote part of her first Harry Potter book. Publicity from Rowling probably explains why there were too many customers already forming the crowd.

Camera Obscura, by the Castle, was our next stop. Here we entered a world of illusions. The pictures will speak for themselves.

Mirror maze

Further

Lovely masterpiece! Look at the surface of the cylinder!

Nearer

Beheaded

When you stand in the same room ...

...you may be feeling taller...

...or shorter.

Good one, Albert.

Magnificent views

Erwan and I went for the Auld Reekie Underground Tour. The abandoned storage vaults were once inhabited by the homeless after living on the streets was a crime. It became a grim confinement for the poor, the sick and the bad. The vaults are now said to be haunted. The dark and damp atmosphere was unnerving, but overall I thought it was alright. There will be lots more to tell.

Haunted Underground Tour, anyone?

Jekyll and Hyde Bar/Restaurant for dinner

By the way, R.L. Stevenson is Scottish.

We then went for an evening tour to discover the tales of Edinburgh's famous criminals, victims of the gallows and the guillotine. To be hung or have your head chopped? Much of the tour told of the blurred lines between the good and bad in the past, since ordinary people could be charged for the most trivial of things.

Spit in the Heart. No, really.

There was once a prison house in Merket Cross (aka Market Cross), where the heart on the ground marked the room where the criminal waiting for execution would sit in and the people would spit on to display their disgust.

History hails.

There is too much to write now, so I must split this post into two parts. The young survivor of collapse said in the 1800s, "Heave awa, Chaps. I'm no' dead yet" to tell his rescuers that he is still alive, but I will give it a bit of twist and say "Heave awa, Chaps. I'm not done yet!!"

But I will. Soon, I hope.

Back from Edinburgh!

2011-06-06T00:38:00.000+02:00

I've been back from my four days in Edinburgh since Friday and, well, I've not found much time to sit down and really get to posting about it just yet. For now what I have to say about Edinburgh is that...it is breath taking. The beauty of the city marked by the stone pavements, the old buildings and scenic views, with (my favourite bit) layer after layer of history captured in the architecture and literature surrounding.

Royal Mile

Both above ground and underground. But I'll tell you more about that later.

South Queensferry

As for how truly 'Scottish' my experience was, I won't be able to tell myself. I understood (for the most part) the Scottish accents, decided that blood pudding tasted better than haggis (though both are considerably acquired in taste) and whiskey is not for me.

Edinburgh City Centre

This should be more focused on Edinburgh, but tonight my head is floating off wherever Dr Who goes. It's a popular British science fiction series (already the word 'science fiction' got me interested) that no one seems to be able to stop talking about, which I decided at the end of last month to follow. Not counting the days I'm not around to watch them at my astoundingly fast pace, I'm done with Season 4 . Very much hooked on to it now.

Edinburgh Castle in a Distance

Anyway, I do think Edinburgh is a fantastic place which I would definitely return to one day. If only I could whizz off there in the Doctor's machine (which travels through time and space, by the way).

Soon to Be in Edinburgh

2011-05-31T06:40:00.028+02:00

A few hours from now I will be on a train up to Edinburgh, Scotland. Edinburgh, the City of Literature and Legends. Mind you, Norwich is inclined towards the arts as well, but if there's one place that has the most fervent stronghold on literature, it has got to be Edinburgh.

Of course, that's the aspect that draws me to it the most. There are all sort of other landmarks there, from malls for the shopaholic and apparently a Surgical Museum for those pursuing the white coat.

If there's one thing that doesn't need be said, it's that I can't wait to be there! Rachel will be travelling with me, and we're meeting Erwan at the station.

What happens when a literature, law and medical student go to Edinburgh? A fantastic mixture of sights and sounds I hope. See you all soon!

Golden Goose

2011-05-29T13:20:00.002+02:00

First and foremost, my exams are over! Being one who shuns the pressure of exams, I am particularly relieved of that fact. But that hit me as well. It's Summer... it's officially my summer break! The next few months with absolutely nothing to do...and....my first year is over.

Funny how fast time can be, even when you're on the slow path. After the exam, a few of us had cake outside Nelson's Court. Celebration of the last paper and last time we're a first year.

On Friday, Keb, Sarah, Amy and I went to Amanda's place for her farewell party. She'll be going back to America, and I'm going to miss all the fun times, including all the CWS (Creative Writing Society) meetings, that we've spent together.

Sopio

Sipping our "cocktail" (fizzy drink that tasted of ginger with some grapes randomly thrown in because of the amusing way they bob about in the glass) and eating snacks, we had games of Sopio and Blitz. The rules are complicated enough so I'll skip that, but I loved the stick figures on Sopio!

Cocktail, anyone?

Blitz!

To Amanda, all the best in the coming years and may "golden geese flutter to your feet". We'll meet again someday. I just know it.

Group photo (1)

I enjoyed our conversations that stretched our "we should go now" into "let's stay longer". We should do it again!

Group photo (2)

Also, we read the supposedly worst Harry Potter fan fiction online. Due to the atrocious manner of its content and grammar, I cannot find the strength and, more importantly, refuse to post the link here. Search for it and it will definitely turn up. Warning: We did laugh until our heads hurt (purely ironic laughters) over the things he/she wrote.

Ah, the funny things people do.

A Rapturous Day

2011-05-24T01:14:00.002+02:00

Saturday, 21st May 2011. 6pm in the UK. The day and time the rapture supposedly happened. Where some people are meant to disappear while the rest remain. And I'm updating to inform you that I am indeed still here. For your information, I'm not one to believe in that sort of stuff but the day was...memorable.

7.30pm. As part of the Norwich Fringe Festival, there was a poetry reading at Take 5 in the city by some seniors from the Creative Writing society about the supposed three prevalent themes in poetry 'Sex, Death and Stuff'. It was amazing watching them perform. Basically, they argued why each theme is more significant than the other while we voted for the best argument. 'Stuff' won! So I'm going to go on with the stuff now.

8-ish pm. Next up was a 5-star sock puppet performance by the Scottish Falsetto. Judging by how I understood and managed to laugh at the jokes and antics, I am sure I have lived here long enough to know a great deal of culture, for example, I get the Doctor Who allusions now. Do you know who Doctor Who is?

9pm. Bus to Eaton Park for another festival event.

9.30pm. Amanda, Sarah and I were at Eaton Park watching the Wired Aerial Performance called 'As the World Tipped', which is scarily coincidental considering the day but it was a wonderful show about the environment.

Slipping off the edge among the boxes of documents

Where in an office, environmental protocols are changed time after time after time to aid global warming but nothing is being done. Until it is too late.

Was both dark and awe-inspiring at the same time

Where the whole stage literally tilts and tips. And the performers, supported by wires, are thrown and tossed across the screen towards the end of the world.

Now this is amazing.

To lay down a word of comfort, I don't think 2012 is the end otherwise it would have ended 20 times before. It's probably a year of great changes (whatever that is). Saving the environment is evidently high up on the list. I hope.

Theme: Be the Change and Demand Change

11pm. Back and watching 'Doctor Who' just because I can and at a mildly unhealthy speed. I'd say it was a great day. Rapturous, even. Now does that count as a "rapture"? Well, I'm still here, aren't I?

Piano. Forte.

2011-05-16T23:09:00.000+02:00

Agitato (Italian Musical Term for 'agitated'), Staccato ('short and detached') ♪♪♪

I'm guilty of not updating. Yes. It bothers me, you know, to not have my deleted post returned to where it was. Well. Blogger is doing it's best to do just that after that maintenance issue. Keeps me wondering when it will reappear.

Andante ('in a walking pace') ♪♫♪♫

Now to push that away from my mind. I've been into the Music Room in the university! It felt wonderful to have the tinkling ivory keys before me again. It felt great to find that the notes, although a little rusty, still flow to the edge of my fingertips to form pieces once stuck in my head.

As far as music goes, sight-reading is not one of my strengths. My ears work better, so I let them choose which songs I would play. The more recent ones that I've learnt include the main theme of Pirates of the Caribbean, I'm Still Here (Jim's Theme) from Treasure Island, I Won't Say I'm In Love from Hercules, Bluebird (Theme Song) from Naruto and Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven.

That's on top of the other old ones, from Chinese to Malay tunes to movie soundtracks to a Classical piece (I think) which I've heard, liked and played but have no idea who wrote it or even what it's called.

It's a random assortment, like the sweets in a Celebration pack. I'm hungry.

Allegro ('fast and lively') ♫♫♫♫

That aside, I'm extremely happy that I've managed to tick off all the things I needed to do on my list today. And got positive feedback from various aspects. All I want to do for the rest of the day is have a snack and relax while catching up on shows. Sounds good, doesn't it?

Time to do just that.

ƒine ('the end')

Mother's Day in May

2011-05-08T14:35:00.000+02:00

When you see playful lambs frolicking and ducklings waddling downstream on a cold evening, accompanied by their protective mothers, you'd naturally remember that Mother's Day is around.

Not in the UK, since theirs is in April, but I'll always celebrate it in May. Or wherever my Mum is.

I hope my card arrives at Malaysia soon.

Tour in a Day

2011-05-04T23:58:00.000+02:00

My second visitor this Easter Break was May Ling, who came up for a day. And you know what? A day trip is in fact possible, although you don't get to see everything. Well, tours here would mostly consist of the same venues now, so I'll let the photos do most of the work.

Near the cathedral

Aren't the tulips gorgeous? The green carpet of the park had an extra layer of cherry blossom petals, like icing on a cake. A good spot for picnics!

The painting once hidden as a table

We also went to Britons Arms (second time for me) and got to sit in the rooftop garden this time. The weather was good that day so it was pretty comfortable sitting there, although there was an annoying bee. That's besides the point, though. The food is on the pricey side but it's no big fuss since the food is delicious and it's supposed to be traditionally English.

Britons Arms Rooftop Garden

We went into the Castle after that. During the last hour before closure, which is at 3pm, anyone can get into the museum for 1 pound instead of 6. Again, with time constraints, you won't be able to see everything but a couple more trips might cover it anyway!

Norwich Castle

Armoury

As we headed towards the Market, we walked pass the interesting little shops and a sign in the window of a sweet shop caught my eye...

Golden Ticket, Anyone?

Of course, you'd know that it's no Willy Wonka experience but it does make you feel like taking part, doesn't it?

Titbits at the Easter Market!

When we reached the Marketplace, lo and behold! There was an Easter market being held right beside it, with more little stalls to look at. Part of it somehow reminds me of the 'pasar malam' (Malay for 'night market') back at home.

Hotdog!

Tempting, ain't it?

Another View

Have you watched shows with people selling or eating caramel coated apples? I know I've seen them in movies of medieval times and even that scene in 'Enchanted'! There was a snacks stall selling just that. I couldn't help it.

My delicious chocolate coated apple!

Anyway, the Easter break is ending soon, which means it's time for me to hit the books!

When There Is 'Notting' To Do

2011-04-30T12:45:00.000+02:00

Earlier this month, Rachel came down to visit me, all the way from Nottingham. And I believe we had a great time! I did, since it gave me something to do. Here are some snapshots of what we did during that three days.

Rach(a)els

We had dinner (Shepherd's Pie and Mushroom Soup) back at my flat on the first day while watching 'Lie to Me'.

Dinner while watching 'Lie To Me'

We cooked noodles on the second day, and topped it off with the delicious banana crumble we made!

Banana Crumble and Ice Cream!

As for travelling about, it's not much of a surprise. We went to Elm Hill and had a traditional English lunch at Britons Arms House, walked around the little gift shops. Then to Tombland, the Cathedral and the bookshops.

Elm Hill

Britons Arm

Also, we managed to go to the Castle, the Market, Forum, City Council...several of the many confusing little churches... we pretty much covered most of the landmarks.

Patch of Greeness near the Norwich Cathedral

I'd always thought Norwich is a small city, the same thing I was told when I first arrived. But Chiah (and in fact, more than one person) commented on how huge the city is. That, perhaps, would mean there an incentive for them to come back!

Now you see it..

I also brought her to the river behind the village, and took lovely 'contemplative' photos. The one below is pretty, isn't it? With the sunlight trickling from the cracks of the horizon?

Looking out into the Sunlight

Thank you, Chiah, for coming to visit me! I'm pretty sure she'll be coming back *coughs* because I showed her the bookshops. Anyway, we'll be meeting up after the exams for a trip up North! Can't wait!!

La fete (no, it does not mean 'the feet' but 'the festival', irrelevant but amusing pun)

PS. Spring ends today. That's pretty quick considering how long Winter was this year (started in November and sort of lasted till March, which didn't have snowfalls but was extremely cold). Sigh. I don't want Spring to go!!

Chicken or Egg?

2011-04-25T00:10:00.000+02:00

Over the past few days I've had this question embedded in my head. Why...WHY does the Easter Rabbit get all the credit and not an Easter Chicken? I mean, eggs come from chickens, don't they? Is there some sort of bunny conspiracy? I always knew that innocent looking creature has a dark side. Quite like the essay I remember writing about a sinister bunny luring Alice to Wonderland.

So which came first then? The chicken or the egg? Or might I say, the chicken or the rabbit?
Moving back to the point, it should be obvious that this is an Easter Day post. Back in Malaysia, it's not as big a celebration but it is here. So Adiba, Sara and I had our own Easter Day Celebration.

Happy Easter!

The mint chocolate egg was a gift from my cousin, which vaguely reminds me of the egg in the fourth book of the Hogwarts series, and I made the little centrepiece above. I thought the words 'The Egg' on that hairdressing discount voucher seemed amusingly appropriate for the occasion.

Our Easter Dinner

They came over to my place and we had a lovely dinner, mostly because of the chicken curry (I'll tell you how I got it later) along with the vegetables, egg and soup.

Chicken Curry

Just look at it. It tasted as good as it looked too, after so long of craving spicy food. And some home-cooked food, for that matter. Besides, holidays are meant to be celebrated no matter where you are.

Rice, Egg and Beverage

On top of that, I had an Easter egg, as I had mentioned. I tried my hands at making icing, which wasn't perfect but it tasted quite delicious. With some household innovation (ie a freezer bag) we made a pipe bag and had some fun with our dessert. Playing with food is always fun.

Piping out the icing

It ended up with an icing flower, a bee, our initials, a turtle and a door where a chunk had chipped off.

Sara, Adibah and Rachael :)

And right inside the chocolate egg there lies....another box of chocolate! Surprise! While we were not able to finish the whole egg, I think it's safe to say that it was a sugar-infused evening.

Shape of a bunny!

And now to thank my family (my parents, especially) who bought these packets of spices from home and to May Ling who brought them over for me. It got me excited and provoked an immediate response to eat. Miss you all!

My beloved stash!

So here is my Easter account. Also, to leave nothing unanswered, I did some searching on the web and realised that the Easter bunny is actually a March hare, which is a symbol of fertility during spring (for all the biological reasons) while the egg is a symbol of renewal or rebirth. Putting them both together created this immortalised mascot of the season. Hence we solve our 'chicken and egg' question.

'HEY, RACHAEL!' You say. 'Don't you know a 'chicken or egg problem' has no definite answers?' Well... research shows that the egg has a sort of membrane that can only be produced by a chicken so the bird must have come first. And probably evolved from another animal. Like a duck, maybe.

Now that's a thought.

Dashing Days

2011-04-21T22:43:00.000+02:00

Spring is in the country and this weekend will be the rabbit-hopping, chocolate-egg-hunting day. Rabbits are definitely plentiful although I've not been hunting for eggs. Anyway, this post is about my few days with Amy and Caroline!

Chocolate Crispees and Marshmallows

We've had a lot of Chocolate Crispees in that short period of time. Amy and I watched 'Catch Me If You Can' and 'Tangled' on two separate 'movie nights' while indulging in our finger food/ dessert. Both are fantastic movies in their own ways (ie. I have soft spots for Di Caprio and Disney...Hey! What if there's a fusion of the two?!). That aside, I enjoyed our Disney-soundtracks moments!

She's got a dream! (He's got a dream!)
They've got a dream! (We've got a dream!)
So our differences ain't really that extreme!
We're one big team...!
Call us brutal, sick, sadistic

And grotesquely optimistic
'Cause way down deep inside
We've got a dream!

~'I've Got A Dream' from the Tangled soundtrack~

Surprised-Doggy spectre

While Caroline was around, we've been out by the river as well as unexplored roads that lead upstream. Crossing a bridge, we found ourselves close to an open field with ducks, geese, sheep and horses. Lately I've noticed their adorable offsprings flocking right behind the village too. The season is announcing itself for sure.

We've talked about paddling in the chilly stream one day. I only realised later that there are leeches in the deeper region of the river (which is not that deep actually; I don't think it would even reach my knee). Thankfully I learnt about it the easy way when a family came by and went in.

From left: Caroline, Amy and I

The River

While walking back from the University, Amy and I found a different-though-slightly-longer path back to our accommodation. It's actually quite a nice place for walks. That's next on my list.

So this is an account of my Spring-welcoming, Easter-arriving, Crispee-and-Marshmallow-Eating, Movie-Soundtrack-Singing, Upstream-Exploring days last week. Whoop~ would you be able to read the previous sentence in one breath?

Well, I just tried it and it's possible.

Norwich Cathedral

2011-04-18T15:18:00.000+02:00

There are so many churches in Norwich, and this is no exaggeration. I've gotten lost many times thinking that the familiar looking architecture is a landmark of somewhere I know when in fact it is a different church.

And with each step I take I am walking further down unknown territory. Now that is me being dramatic. Not exaggeration.

Norwich Cathedral

My first visit to the Norwich Cathedral was with Amy. It's the oldest cathedral in Norwich, with a history of over 900 years and it is very well preserved. I overheard some students in a bus once (I can't help it) saying that they asked one of the tour guides about whether it is possible for the concrete structure to last throughout the centuries without getting as much as a dent. The tour guide told them that there are documents and leases to prove it. No exaggeration here.

Lovely arches

It looked beautiful outside and the stonewalls were so majestic.

The inside

The second time I came to the Cathedral, Amy, Amanda and I went inside. I need not say much. Historical and sacred places normally come with aesthetic grandeur wherever it is you go. I like the stained glass pieces though.

To commemorate those lost in wars

The third time I came was with Chiah, and this time there was a tour guide who showed us around for a bit. And it does get a lot better having someone to tell the story behind the structure, such as why there is a symbol of an eagle and a seagull and the commemorative hall to those who perished in wars. They had a plate for Malaya, shortly before the Japanese invasion as I remember.

I particularly liked it when he talked about the painting, where, in a time when all religious paintings where being destroyed, that particular one survived because it was discovered to have been disguised as a table top, with the images facing downwards.

The outside

There is a Herb Garden outside, with a nice botanical layout.

Herb Garden

Herbs

There's also a private school nearby as well, and occasionally in the afternoon you can see students in elegant school uniforms strolling out with the ring of a bell.

Back of the Cathedral

And at the back of the Cathedral, a large tree which I deem photo-worthy. Although later Amy told me it wasn't that unusual as there are trees like this everywhere. It still was a lovely spot anyway.

Photo-worthy!

I just had to have a photo, by hook or crook. Now maybe that's exaggeration.

Sweet Serenity.

2011-04-15T02:57:00.002+02:00

The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,
And all the sweet serenity of books.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I found my favourite streets in Norwich. Possibly my favourite streets in the country. Maybe even of all time! It feels unusually calm and happy after walking down them, with sights of quaint and quirky shops selling quaint and quirky items. Beautiful is the word.

Elm Hill

Elm Hill is Norwich's most medieval street, preserved from medieval times. So close it is to the past that some scenes in the movie 'Stardust' had been filmed here. Beneath my feet is nothing but pure cobblestone, uneven but authentic. The buildings, as you can see, are all of the middle ages. Along the road there are shops selling local crafts, teddy bears, adorable trinkets, games, second hand books and so on.

Elm Hill

There is a tea house and restaurant at the edge of Elm Hill, which offers traditional English dishes with a menu that changes its chalky inscriptions every day. The food there is delicious and, at the risk of sounding bold, you can ask anyone who has eaten there and they'd say the same thing.

Britons Arms

Then on the other end of the road is Tombland, another wonderful part of the city centre that houses another beautiful bookshop, only here it not only sells second hand books but also antique books. Think first editions or special editions. Basically anyone who enjoys books, especially the classics, will find themselves fully immersed in the moment. You'd oo and aaa at the collections and you'd just want to lie there and take in the aroma.

Tombland Bookstore

I imagine having them in my personal library at home someday, catching the sunlight with their golden engravings, glistening in pride. Someday, with all those lovely editions. Someday.

The joy of it all

On a rather random note, I believe books enjoy whispering to one another and they entice us to whisper back. As I said, very random unless you get the idea.

What I'd really want to see on my bookshelves in the future one day

A blessed companion is a book - a book that, fitly chosen, is a lifelong friend ... a book that, at a touch, pours its heart into our own.

~Douglas Jerrold

Oopsie Daisy

2011-04-12T00:11:00.000+02:00

All the courseworks are done with and Easter Break is in Norwich! Everything seemed to shine a lot more after that. It is brighter, warmer and there are beautiful daisies and daffodils sprouting out from the emerald carpet. Spring... is beautiful.

We had a picnic last Friday out on the field, before Ben had to leave.

Picnic

Out in the Village

Sausages and Patties

It was initially supposed to be an open barbeque, but in the end we just cooked them indoor and brought them out. We'll save the first for another day.

Also, I haven't experienced Summer yet, but Spring feels incredible. Everything reviving from the roots to the shoots. The big blue sky with the warmth of the sun.

Village blocks

I went exploring on my own for a while, walking to the back of the village. I'd only just realised that there's a beautiful river so close to us, and there were people laying on the grassy clearing there as well. But the one that really caught my attention was the scene below.

Village River

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? It involves a book. Now that is just too obvious, ain't it?

Sunshine

Back in Malaysia I would simply avoid the sun at all costs. Of course, back in Malaysia the severity of the temperature can fry you, so air conditioning reigns supreme. Here, after going through an excessively long Winter (it was a long long Winter), the sun simply is a refreshing change. I probably won't feel the same when I go back but I shall complain then.

Steps leading to a church

More roads meant for Nature hikes of sorts.

Beautiful paths

Caroline taught me to make daisy chains. Daisies don't really grow back home so it wasn't something I'd consider part of childhood. It would have been nice, though.

Daisy chain

That aside, Easter Break is here, and I have much unwinding to do. Till the next post!

Weep Not For the Memories

2011-04-09T00:16:00.001+02:00

I woke up that morning with a thought: I wanted to write a letter to her. After all it has been a few months since I did, and online communcation, even Skype, would not cut it. A handwritten letter is always one of the most beautiful things to receive. Don't you think so? To me, it seems so much more personal and sincere.

I wrote that letter carefully, every Mandarin character clear and concise. She could not read, so while having the letter read to her would suffice, I decided to print out some photos to accompany it, sealing everything in an envelope. I thought it would be nice to keep her updated, and make several people smile when it reaches home.

The very next day - it was a Friday - I went to the Post Office and had it sent off, expecting it to be in Malaysia in a week. It usually takes around a week.

A few days later, I received news that she had passed away.

She never got to see that letter.

She has given so much to all of us in the family without asking for anything back. She would always smiling whenever we were around, even when she might not be feeling well. Never being one to complain, there was no denying that she's strong inside. She held onto tradition, the one to keep our roots firmly intact in the family, at the same time making do with the new as well. She used to reprimand us, but she would pamper us even more. And she would always remind us to excel in whatever we do.

I couldn't write anything much for a while, although it did make me unusually focused on my essays later on just so my thoughts wouldn't start wandering off.

I couldn't go back for the funeral. It was a difficult decision to make. But I could imagine her wanting me to get through all the work in university. I was on Skype to watch it all.

We'll always love and remember you, Ah Ma. I always will. <3

And It'll Be Alright.

2011-04-02T02:04:00.000+02:00

I love updating when I'm happy, contented, feeling random, mildly sad, crazy - and anything in between. It is in those situations where, whatever happens, at the end of the day, I know that things will be alright. Everything will fall into the right place. All the words will fall into the right spot, into the right order.

But when I'm really upset, and only when I'm really upset, everything stumbles out of my head and becomes this pool of jumbled up mess. Structure breaks down, simple lines of words disappear and reappear again. Then it might as well end up blank.

I haven't been updating, as you can see. And you know how much I don't like leaving this blog stagnant for a long period of time.

I just needed a break, that's all. And my behaviour won't be left unexplained. For now, just know that I am back. And it'll be alright.

Sweet Charity

2011-03-19T00:52:00.000+01:00

It's now the end of Charity Week at the University although the charity events are still being held. Down the Square today, there was a 'bouncing ring' (like a bouncing castle but in the shape of a sumo stage) and people could pay to dress up as sumos and battle for a fee. On Monday, I participated in the 'Sweet Charity' Open-Mic organised by the Creative Writing Society. Anyone who goes for the event pay 2 pounds for READ International, so it felt good to be part of it.

Good as it is, though, I was tensed before my slot (normal reaction for anyone) and was getting more and more nervous with the flow of people into the bar. The performances before mine were positively received too. Anyway, overall I think I did just as well and had a great time.

Poster of the week

Here is a poem that I wrote, which despite not having been read at the open mic, is something more relevant to this post, partly influenced by the recent earthquake.

Quiver

A quiver.
A little quiver.
A little quiver rocked the table,
Stirred the water
Pictures dancing at a corner-
Hark the herald of a slaughter!
Nothing now but puddles,
Glass and a shower of slivers!
And it all started with
A quiver.

A penny.
A little penny.
A little penny made a flip,
Fell into the rusty tin,
Fed the crane that sleeps within-
Nothing now to change the wind
But what you think won't add up to any
Someday adds up to a-plenty
And it all started with
A penny.

Rachael Lum

International Party 2011

2011-03-17T22:02:00.001+01:00

Ticket.

A long awaited post! Last Wednesday was the International Party! From the start of my semester I have been told about how this is the most interesting and unique event in the university. It was only natural for it to be on my list. My verdict? With the fact of it being a "club" night that involves bringing together students for home-cooked international food and performances, I agree with them.

The stage.

After refreshing my memory, I recall tasting Welsh cake (which look like scones), Brunei Kuih, Hellenic food which includes pita bread with unusual dips, Indonesian salad and fried mee and so on. Some of the food were new to me, but I'm not too picky with my culinary choices. A few tasted strange - possibly because first times work that way - and most were delicious.

The Malaysian society - brace yourself - had nasi lemak, kuih bakar, teh tarik and popiah. Slurp. Adiba, Sara, Vivien and I helped with the popiah earlier that day.

Dombra performance

The performances were pretty amazing too, and I liked how there was a range of different cultural showcases. There were several dancing styles, including a martial arts infused one and an Afro-Caribbean choreography that used claps and stomps as the beat. There's also singing and even the Kazakh dombra performance, which I thought was creative. My only uncertainty was that there should be more societies setting up their food booths and performing. Wonder why they weren't involved.

Jamnesty

It was too bad that I had to leave straight after the performances. There's always next year to look forward to, I guess.

Comfort

2011-03-16T01:19:00.001+01:00

Banana Fritters/Pisang Goreng a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

Comfort. The word so lulling and desirable.

Comfort. Somehow. It is just that time when you realise the limits of your bubble with respect to the world outside. Not being sure even so if being outside the bubble is all that good.

Comfort. Food. First try in deep-frying 'pisang goreng' also known as banana fritters. Not the same as back home, but it does bring a bit of that comfort.

Comfort. Hope so. I know this is me being incredibly vague and suggestive. All you need to know is that today I've been-

Comforted.

Pancakes!

2011-03-13T23:49:00.001+01:00

International Pancake Day was last Tuesday. Bowls of batter were made, pancakes sizzled on the hob, toppings were bought, whiffs of buttery aroma permeated the air and many students gorged on pancakes in and out of campus.

I was not one of them.

Not with my class ending late in the evening and with a literary festival event I wanted to attend that night.

Because there were a few of us who didn't get to eat pancakes, Caroline, Ezra, Michael and I made last Thursday our Personal Pancake Day, with some guidelines from a cookbook.

The Batter

Adapted Pancake Recipe
(~~Supposed to make 16 but ended up with only~~ 10 pancakes)
220g flour
2 eggs
1/2 pint of milk
1 tbs of oil
Sprinkles of salt
A bit of water
Butter for frying

Toppings (Lemon and Sugar, Chocolate Syrup/Spread, Maple Syrup, Honey, Bananas)

Instructions:
1. Mix in order. Carefully. (To put it plainly)
2. Fry a scoop of batter on pan till golden brown. Flip when necessary.
3. Put on toppings.
4. Eat while the next two people are frying their own pancake.

Pancakes!

Caroline and I did pretty well. See our pancakes! As for Mike and Ezra... *cough* *cough**COUGH*

With lemon and sugar.

Of course, this is not the first time I've had pancakes. I've had them back home; not as a typical breakfast but as the occasional treat. This really should become a tradition in Malaysia on top of with all the other ones we have. Mind you, it evolved from a religious background of sorts. But seeing as it involves food and it does taste good, why not?

Spring in a Wild Flower

2011-03-12T18:49:00.003+01:00

Spring a photo by rachlyf on Flickr.

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
~ William Blake

The cold is not as bone-chilling as it was before, the landscape is looking brighter by the day, the sun is up, and it is impossible to not notice the new additions in the park as I walk into the university.

Spring is on its way here for sure. The budding wild flowers tell me so.

Winter was wonderful at times but with its frostiness and dark, dingy days and nights it didn't take much to feel the blues. Sometimes it felt like a whole different world with the drifting snow, and other times you just want to curl up in your room with hot chocolate. I've been told that it was the coldest winter they've had for years. I don't know whether I should be annoyed by this or feel glad that I've survived through this.

It doesn't matter. What matters is that Spring has sprung out from the new grassy bed and I'm looking forward to the hint of warmth again.

So far, there have been many events going on, which I will share them with time and at my own pace. Now I have some matters to consider, some decisions to make with the break of a new season.

(What modules should I pick for next year!?)

Anyway, have a good day, guys! The snow has melted and the flowers are really making me smile. I hope you are too.

Follow the Frog

2011-03-07T23:49:00.001+01:00

On the 28th of February, I went to Keb's Japanese themed birthday party. Lots of lovely homemade Japanese food, lots of Japanese and Korean music and lots of memorable childhood games (and some that are new to me). Here are two photos that best describes it:

The Group Photo

Apart from the Pikachu cake and Keb's two sets of kigurumi (which I believe means character bodysuits), it was great getting to know many of them. To get a glimpse of the kigurumi and to understand the title of this post, look at Keb in green.

The Japanese Food!

Thank you again for inviting me to your party, Keb! I had an amazing time. Lunch appointment soon?

When Norwich, Newcastle and London Meet

2011-03-05T21:35:00.000+01:00

Meeting family is part of Chinese New Year. Always has been and always will. That weekend I went down to London to meet May Ling, while Kien Hsin came down from Newcastle. After so long, the photos are up and I'm going to let them take over now (mostly). Although they are not placed chronologically, enjoy the snapshots!

May Ling made us homemade Yee Sang (鱼生 in Cantonese or "raw fish", a dish that, when mixed together symbolizes good luck for the coming year. It's normally topped with salmon and is incredibly sweet. People don't normally finish the whole thing. Or at least, normal people don't.

We had our delicious lunch in a Lebanese Restaurant on Saturday. There was a kebab bar where the chefs/bartenders slice off chunks of meat to prepare the food.

YUM

Another view of our meal.

Some scenes along the way.

Hummingbird Cafe, famous for its cakes.

British Museum

Imperial University

We had dinner at their family friend's place. And the Malaysian food was absolutely delicious.

Dinner!

Desserts

I had a great time then. I'm looking forward to the next trip, hopefully. But I'll see how that goes.

Yummy, yummy, Love in my Tummy

2011-03-03T00:55:00.002+01:00

Finally, I get to post photos up! The only problem is that while I want Flickr to host my photos, they must be set to public to be posted directly. Something I am very hesitant about. For now all photo sharing would be pretty much hard work as I'm using the HTML instead.

I've handed in one essay on Monday and will be handing the other in tomorrow. I've gone through all the ferocious typing and that one instance when I thought I was never going to finish it (not a good feeling). I can feel the weight rolling off my shoulders behind me! Now the good times are to roll in!

Roll in! Roll in!

But before I flood my blog with new (and old) stories, I should mention the several things that I can't hold back. First thing's first - I'm returning to Malaysia in July, and I really miss home after so long. I would have booked for a flight in June but due to certain circumstances I have to be around until July.

I went for a great party with Japanese food which I will hopefully grace my blog with after the one on London which has been postponed for almost a month. Other than that I've been stuck in my room getting hyped up over the essays. And trying new recipes.

I think it turned out fine, although I cannot say the same for the aftermath when I had to clean up. The sauce stains on the pan took me a while to scrub off.

Pita Bread with Chicken and Vegetables

How it should look like close up

You're probably curious as to why I chose to post up photos of food instead of anything else. It's supposed to be a test - so testing, testing, 1, 2, 3! There, I've tested it. The dish below was pretty simple to cook, so I didn't have to leave my work unattended for too long. Saved me a lot of hassle, this did.

Fried noodles

Now you might also find that I am writing in an incredibly odd fashion. If you do, it might be my way of readjusting myself after coursework. Diving into too much literary theories and a very unorthodox novel does things to you.

I sometimes find the messages I send out during those coursework periods hilariously random and reflective of the novel I'd indulged in. Like how you'd think in Shakespearean after reading his works one too many times, or getting moody over Philip Larkin or right now churning out absolutely nonsensical things like Laurence Sterne that are supposed to make a lot of sense.

I better stop. Give myself a day to recollect my scattered thoughts and piece them together again into a quilt. Like a quilt comfy enough to tuck someone in tonight. Now I really have to stop. Good night!