Missed opportunity

I felt like banging my head on the wall when I saw a message left for me on Flickr, requesting some photos of Lister Mill/Silk Warehouse for the Financial Times.

I was working on the river barge at that period and had no internet access, and I seldom check on the messages left there... Now I've to go more frequent...

This is the apartment mentioned.

http://38zeying.multiply.com/photos/album/26/Silk_Warehouse_Bradford#

081104 – New Jobs, New Lifes, New Friends : Past 2 months plus

A quick summary of what I’ve been up to for the past 2 months plus, to start with.  I know I promised some friends to blog frequent but I didn’t.  I’ve been moving about, most of the no internet access or no time for it, and many a time I felt pretty nomadic.

080824&080825→ London Nottinghill Carnival: volunteered as steward.

080826→Oxford in the morning, then→Gloucester in the evening, then →Trowbridge (accommodation for the week: Romsey Oak Farm Cottages) : Beginning of a week of Dialoguing (getting contacts for potential regular donors for charities, kind of street fundraising thingy)

080827→Weston-SuperMare: a seaside city

080828→Bristol

080829→Trowbridge

080830→Bath→South  Wales (Swansea)

080831→Birmingham→London

080901-080905 → Casual staff at the new library cafe of Imperial’s College, London.

080907-->Bushy Park: Volunteered as marshal for a fundraising duathlon --> Hampton Court Palace: on board Magna Carta (www.magna-carta.co.uk) for a 2 weeks work as crew hostess

080908--> Shepperton

080909-->Runnymede

080910--> Windsor

080911--> Cookham-->Bournend Marina

080912-080914-->Marlow

080915--> Hurley --> Bournend Marina

080916-->Cookham-->Windsor

080917--> Runnymede

080918-->Hampton Court

080919-->London

080922&080923, 080926&080927-->Casual staff at the café at Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial’s College, London

080924-->Hampton Court: assist moving Magna Carta -->Runnymede, then back-->London

081004-->Singapore-->Penang-->Ipoh

081010-->Petaling Jaya

081011-->my sister’s ROM

081012-->KLIA to welcome my big fat brother back to Malaysia.

081013-->Banting : set up the room for the to-be-weds (Traditional custom for Chinese weddings), then back --> Ipoh

081016-->Petaling Jaya: fetch the to-be-bride --> Morib

081017-->around Morib & Banting: my sister’s wedding ceremony, the old way

081018-->Klang: wedding luncheon

081019-->KLIA: sent my brother off, again…

081020-->Ipoh

081023&081024-->Penang: met up with some friends, colleagues and client.

081025-->Singapore: 12hr transit, met up with some friends.

081026-->London, then head right to -->Hampton Court to board Magna Carta for a week of hostessing.

081027-->Shepperton

081028-->Runnymede

081029--> Windsor

081030--> Cookham-->Bournend Marina

081031-->Hurley-->Henley-on-Thames

081101-->Oakley Court Hotel

081102-->Runnymede

081103-->London

Ah… what a long list, haha… and a whole bunch of tickets.

A bunch of Tickets

And tomorrow… I’ll head for Egham again to assist in moving the boat to a safer location and also to finish off whatever needs to be done.

Malaysia Boleh: World vehicle per capita

Stumbled upon this.  Interesting to know that we're one of the highest no. of vehicle per capita.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:World_vehicles_per_capita.svg

080808

I love the feeling of my fingers dancing swiftly on the keyboard.
Just as much as I love the excitement of the fingers speeding on the piano keys.
How I missed those days, though I’m never a good piano player.
As for the time being, I could only let my fingers roaming with speed on the notebook’s keyboard, I shall resume frequent blogging.

It’s midnight now, the internet connection is unusually slow and frustrating for this hour.  I was having some problem with customizing the blogs some time ago with the WYSIWYG format, and decided to learn some html editing.  Furthermore, I find it more convenient with HTML at times, especially when the internet ain’t working well like now.  I could just prepare everything and copy paste when the internet is well.  Anyway, it’s time to learn about creating a website.

Oh ya, today is 080808! I bet there’re many weddings all around the world, beside the Olympic Games.

 

喜欢手指在电脑键盘上飞舞的感觉。
同样的， 也喜欢手指在琴键上奔驰的快感。
好久没有了。
有点怀念。
所以要将那份思念都放在电脑的键盘上了。
多写写部落格吧

夜深。 平时这种时候上网，速度都很快的。
今天不知道为什么，反常。
就这样， 学起了一点入门html。
不是一时兴起，而是有一些网站的那种WYSIWYG方式， 在苹果系统不怎么受用， 而且修改html让自己有更多得控制空间。

暂时，就是这篇简单文字的。

啊！080808！ 今天是大好日子吧！

London Festival of Architecture -LFA2008

It’s been long since I update something here, except some photos album occasionally.  Well, in a pretty low mood for sometime.  Anyway, will share on some events I went to.  

This LFA lasted almost a month, and held in 5 hubs.  Big festival, wide area coverage, but informations and directions less condusive, I conclude, especially for a new comer to London like me. 

The 1st event I went was some street installations at Exhibition Road.

Gloomy day.  Took a 390 bus from Archway to Notting Hill Gat. Yes, the famous Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.  Then walked to my destination.  Took me about half an hour to reach there, as it seems pretty close in the map, plus stopping to look around.  Okay, some photos for this trip.  The gloomy weather makes me feel like it’s late, and time to go back, so I just cincai walk around. 

Kensington High Street 

The World at Your Feet  - some iconic buildings for kids to locate them on the map.

Displays through windows of the Arriva buses.

Some place for you to seat or… see what the children use it for.. whatever.

One of the stages for performances at the area.  Londoners love music,  I think almost every event, every corner, there must be some music. 

Prince’s Gardens - That’s their life, seating on the grass, drinking beer, listening to music.

Fresh Flower –mobile platform for discussions and debate, moved around the 5 hubs during the month.

Interior of the Fresh Flower.

Tensile structure by Foster + Partners, really eye catching with that pink.  Pink is never my favourite. Oh, we may go in one or two at once to ‘feel’ the inside, which I didn’t, plainly because of the queue…...

Don't ask me what’s so special inside, I avoid queues.

I love these.

And these, something about development of the area, and for public comments.

And these,

Very serious little girl, look at her pose!

Inside Pachamama Toilet – Installation of a full size prototype of a sustainable fabric and earth toilet.   Forgot to take a photo of the overall outlook.  Emm… some of you might be wondering how to use it.  Well, not squatting on the triangular platform, but on the two curved platforms at each side, (it’s a toilet for two), and position your butt to let the shit drop to the earth below.  After the business is done, cover with earth.

External look of the shit container.  When it’s quite filled with earth (+shit), the earth bag will be removed and replaced with another.   For more information, look here http://www.paticas.co.uk/humanitarian.htm

Poly & Chai installation.

Last but not least, while trying my way back on another direction, I noticed this familiar building-Natural History Museum.  And.. look what I’ve found!! (see below photo)

Baden-Powell House- the place where our group stayed 15 years ago.

                                 

Jom Makan ~ So Called Malaysian Restaurant in London

A newly opened Malaysian restaurant in London.

Went to try it on my way to the Cesar Pelli lecture last Friday. 

Well... they stressed that it's Malaysian food, BUT... I don't feel the Malaysian taste, sorry to say that.  

I ordered the Assam Laksa which they claimed to be a good one, true that the fish paste is pretty thick, but it lacks the special aroma for Laksa.  The kind of pineapple they added taste wierd with the whole thing. Before that, I requested to make it more spicy, and the waitress said that I need to order extra sambal or chili which i remembered the extra chili cost £0.75... Insane! Anyway, when the food came, they did give me extra chili with no cost. 

Em... about going back there... perhaps when I really miss Malaysian food, and maybe give some other food some chances. I would say they do put a lot of ingredients in the food, but just lack the true Malaysian flavour... haha... 

Here's their official website: http://jommakan.co.uk/

and a TV3 coverage. (be patient, not the 1st news about murder, wait for the next)

http://www.tv3.com.my/Shows/EpHighlight.aspx?MasterID=190&ShowID=231&MenuID=2&TemplateID=1&SubMenuID=1&VideoID=13448&EpID=16764#anchorVid

A glimpse of London

Sunday 15th

Sunny Sunday

Went to China Town with 2 girls (friend of friend) who's squatting with me in a incredibly small bedroom for 1. China town is the best place to buy phone cards for cheap international calls.

Walked to Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, London Eye and Big Ben. Just a few shots here.

Dirty London

You think London is clean? Nope, it's not. A bit disappointing to see the rubbish at this tourist spot. London eye is just behind me. 

1st Parade

When we've decided to go back, we saw this parade. I would say it's the first time in my life, I'm so close to a parade.  It's about George Bush. 

As usual, the busy body Malaysians, found some higher place to climb up..

Stayed to watch for some time. One of us went into the crowd, don't know where.. so the other two of us found a nice spot to sit down, and I took this picture which I think looks like some photos in Times magazine.. haha.. 

Smart Policemen of London

Real smart! I don't need to elaborate much, here's a photo below and more here. That's when I've the mood to take more photos, but I did not want to drag too long there, and distract them from work. Don't you think they are smart? 

Haworth- Home of the Bronte Sisters

My memory is failing me, can't remember what I did the day before 7th June.

Anyway, Esther took me to Haworth, the home of the famous Bronte Sisters. For those who wonders who they are, check here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brontë

A little refreshments, 2 very famous English literature (I read in Secondary School, my bf didn't know about it, OMG... what school was that? hehe)

The sisters, Charlotte Bronte wrote Jane Eyre, and Emily Bronte wrote Wuthering Heights.

Back to the journey...

Did a little stroll to the bus stop in front of Morrisons, to save cost.

Bus: 696 to Keighley

Fare: ₤1.80 one way

Can't remember exactly how long it takes, 30min. perhaps. Stopped at Haworth Road and walked to the Bronte Parsonage Museum (the house that they lived).

Well, we did a little exploration to find short cuts, but ended up a longer route(click the photo for larger view). Anyway, interesting walk. Extra nice scenes to shoot. Check out the photo album of Haworth.

Treat ourselves with ice-creams upon reaching the junction to Main Street (the road to Bronte Parsonage).

Took a short tour in the Haworth Parish Church. Battery change when i'm about to take a photo of the frontage,but forgot about it after that.... no photos of the church frontage!

Didn't enter to the Bronte Parsonage Museum (the house of Bronte family) as it costs ₤6 per adult. Emm.. a bit expensive to view someone's old house, I think, and there's lots more of these kind of 'museums' throughout England. Can't go into all, I'll be broke, and you'll be bored.

So, we went to explore the meadows. There's a Bronte Meadow behind the house. Alas, I can have the chance to step on the meadows! Small one, but better than nothing!

Ended our day with fish and chips at a nearby shop. OMG, I forgot the name of the shop. Hmm.. I need to think of a better way to organize my travelogue and photos.

London Day2

Slept at 12:30am, woke at 6am! Very unlikely of me in Malaysia!

Followed my friend to the Ford service centre to get his car fixed in the morning.

The tube station that I arrived on the 1st day - Archway.

In the afternoon, his wife and sister had invitation to Burberry's warehouse sales for staffs and their family and friends, so we tagged along to Piccadilly Circus. 

China Town is just nearby, and we had dim sum for brunch. Well, I know I know, very unlikely 1st meal in London, but they missed the food, so... (I've just had the famous Ipoh dim sum before I came). Each had to order at least ₤6 of food, and the portion is big as usual. Then the gals went Burberry shopping, my friend took me around banks to check on opening a bank account. By 4 something, though I should wander around the city longer, my head is already getting heavy... yearning for sleep, so back we went.

~sigh... bad habit, didn't went to sleep immediately back home... dragged till the later evening, the weather was quite nice, so did some shooting around. Some pretty nice flowers they had in the common garden.

Main entrance. (Click here for more)

Landed In UK Again After 15 Years

Step foot in UK again after 15 years.

Thanks to those friends who went to send me off in the airport.  Luckily didn't cry... well, this time less emotional, perhaps I'm going to somewhere I've been, perhaps it's not the first time I'm away (though it's the longest period).  Who knows I'll start to be home sick pretty soon.

*taking off from Penang (very seldom see reflections like this on the wings, the plane must be very well kept.. hehe)

Flying on SIA

Both flight was not full. I've chosen a window seat for the long flight, 2 seats/row so that it's easier to go to the lavatories, just pass 1 person. Who knows, not many passengers, I've 2 seats to myself with some extra space to put my things.  If I've booked the 3 seated row, I can lay flat. Now I can only straighten my legs on the other seat, but... don't hiam not bad liao la... pretty lucky, the screen of my booked seat was old and a bit blur... so I watched movie on the other, show flight

status on the lousy screen.

Food? not a problem for me.. consider good.  

Service? I'll say good. They kept going around serving drinks. Not like MAS, you've to kept asking for attendance between meal times. 

high up in the sky

London greeted me with this weather, raining.

Arrival

Bravo to the pilot (didn't notice his name), smooth landing. Sometimes you'll feel the jerk if not landed smoothly.

Long queue at the immigration. Was questioned if I intend to work or travel more (of course have to answer travel more lah, I'm on WHM Visa leh). Then what kind of jobs I intend to do, of course contract architects or architectural technician lor... (if just mention architecture jobs, I'm sure they'll question further, luckily I did my homework well, hehe).  

Since I'm staying for more than 6 months, they sent me to the health control for X-ray. So... when I went to claim baggage, everyone else collected and left, mine was left on the floor. 

Walked few Kilometers

From exit gate to immigration counter, I don't know how long I've walked, seems very far. 

From Immigration to Underground station, it's also a long way. I believed it summed up to at least 3-5km. Can you imagine how big Heathrow Airport is? Sorry, no photos, don't want to drag too long, getting late and I'm traveling on Tube to my friend's place myself. 

Not very wheelchair friendly underground system. 

No lifts, no escalator at some stations. I've to take tube on Piccadilly Line and change at Leicester Square, damn! There's few flights of stairs! With a 23kg trolley luggage, and a 10kg backpack on my back, regretted I didn't ask my friend to come fetch me at the airport, but it's too late. Slowly and carefully, with my stronger right arm, holding the rail with another hand, I managed to get up the stairs. No one around when I carry them up, until the last few steps, the guys must be surprised: such a fragile little body carrying such big luggage! haha.. 

Again! When I reached Archway, few more stairs... oh dear! 

Oh ya, there's about 6" difference in the level of the platform and the train, so... my strong arm was in use again.. haha.. 

Now tumpang at my friend's house in London, sleeping in the living room. What to do? small place.  

Work, will find later.

Mood

Well, not much difference. Even upon arrival, just feel like another process. Perhaps old liao.. haha...

Whatever it is, just face it! 

Time To Say Goodbye

At this point, the song 'Time to Say Goodbye' came to my mind.. 

For the past week, cleared as many stuffs I could, painted few deteriorating interior walls of my home (Ipoh one la). Planned to do the portfolio during the nights, but ended up worked my house till late night and lay flat right away. 

Planned to do the portfolio by Saturday no matter what, but still busy tidying, cleaning the mess, dragged on till Sunday, have to let go... close my eyes and quickly pack... With a super overloaded luggage, rushed to Sungai Petani to meet my bf's family before leaving the country. 

Wanted to continue the portfolio overnight, but seriously sleep deprived, I decided to let go, just get it done in UK, and print there... at least less weight (which at the end of packing, I realized that's a smart choice).

Finally, finished packing. 

1st round, overloaded and overweighted. 

2nd round, overweighted.

At the end, switched to another smaller luggage that weighs less by itself, and let go more stuffs.  

Friends asked how's my feeling and emotions, before I finished packing. Now... well, I've to say I'm feeling sleepy, finally I can rest for few hours before I fly.  

Almost exactly another 24hrs, I'll be in UK. Yeah! To my new life! Still not much changes in emotion, I guess sleep is more important now....

To be continue when I step foot in UK....

UK Working Holiday Maker changing to Youth Mobility Scheme soon

For anyone intending to apply for the WHM visa, please act quick. Seems like confirmed changing the scheme to YMS, see link below:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/pbsdocs/statementofintent/temporaryworkersunderpbs.pdf

10+, 20+, 30... Recalling myself

More than 9 years in Penang, one can imagine how much stuffs I have gathered. Really big head while I was packing my stuffs, but it’s a good find – recalling my past. Found some diaries that I used to write down my mood (never since I started working), brought back some memories that I almost forgot.
So many things I wanted to throw away, save the trouble to sort. Then I realized, I’ve almost forgotten some fragments of my past, who I were, so decided to keep ‘soft copies’ of them before I get rid.
I was kinda surprised that I used to have pretty nice handwritings (in my humble opinion, hehe).
1997-1999, writing still kinda childish, well, I’m still in my teens.2001 onwards, wow! That’s the kind of handwriting that surprised myself... Haha!

10+

3 main important sector of life chapter 10+:Girl Guiding, Chin Woo Association & activities in Sam Tet.


Crazy about Girl Guiding during my teens. The best thing of course is the Sherwood 93’ International Girl Guide and Scouts Camp- eye opener and a strong friendship binder (PL, EP, YM & SY –dear friends that I’ll treasure forever).
The vest on the right is part of our camp uniform for Sherwood 93’, sewn with badges exchanged in the camp. This is one thing I’ll never ever throw away, no way! Over my dead body!
Then it’s Chin Woo Association, yeah.. The famous Chin Woo （精武门） of Fok Yun Kap （霍元甲). Don’t ask me about any martial art stances now... I’ve return to the sifu. I’ve only learnt Wushu for a year, then came SPM, and I’m forbidden to spend that much time there. Anyway, the real joy is with the lion & dragon dance troupe. Ah.. I’m not the lion dancer, once awhile be the lion’s butt only, not the head (too heavy for me, or say never spend enough time to practice on that). I only play a bit of drum, cymbals, gong... Emm... Sometimes dragon dance also (any part of the body except the head (too heavy again... Hehe). Love the days we go out on lorries to perform. Those who never tried sitting/standing at the back of lorry in the open air.. too bad. It’s a wonderful experience!

Sam Tet. It’s a boy’s school, ok. But with girls in 6th Form. It’s another level of fun in activities. More freedom, more chances to explore our capabilities compared to earlier years. Learn a lot, played a lot, that’s where I gave up the intention to go for fashion designing and set my eye in architecture....

20+

Life chapter in Penang. USM & work. Mindset changing during the few years striving in university. Lose patience in doing detail handycrafts. Learnt to open one eye, close one eye. Learnt to think differently, in fact, I’m already different in my 10+. Periodically losing directions, losing dreams and had to pull myself back on and off... That’s the importance of old stuffs~ reminding me of my past.
Late 20s, my life was almost like .... (simply plain, tasteless)... Course mates and friend leaving one by one to other places, less and less people to hang out with, except my bf and three two kittens (小猫三两只). Hard to make genuine friends from work, except a few perhaps.

30
Last opportunity for me to leave Malaysia – UK Working Holiday Maker. Most of the process was mentioned in the 1st blog. Going 30, I resigned, and... Some new friends came into my life, been a long time since I’ve made any new friends, friends that I enjoy their craziness. First, thanks to Oscar to bring me into the photography class, there’s where I get to know some friends from the Chinese Cari Forum and also ended up with the Mushroom Gang ( http://mushroomsarts.multiply.com/).
Then thanks to Kaye for introducing me to a forum about hiking, and ended up with a group of hiking friends that are all so nice and friendly. Since then, hang out with them almost every weekend that I’m in Penang, mainly hiking of course. Hike, hike, hike.. Like there’s no tomorrow.. Haha. Well, some of them ended up poisoned with photography.

Besides my old friends, I’m really happy and lucky to know all these new friends that share the same interest with me, and can withstand my craziness. To all my friends, old and new, even if I didn’t mention specifically here, Thank you for being my friend. Though I seldom show my appreciation on my face, but I really appreciate the friendship.
Oops.. Ended up talking about friendship... Supposed to be recalling myself.



After hiking to Mount Yong Yap, was sick for week, slimmed down a lot. Then was in Penang for the past week to pack. Ended up most of the time meeting friends. Photoshooting and Karaoke with Mushroom Gang (photos). My bosses (ex-bosses) gave me a treat, also an angpow with handwritings of their 7 yr old daughter, Karin, a very jovial child. I find it pretty cute, here’s a close up of the writings. One of our clients also gave me a treat at Kirishima Japanese Restaurant, Cititel. Should have taken a photo of the best salmon roe I’ve eaten so far. Sort of farewell with hiking friends, one of them going to Germany for training, I’m going to UK, another in KL going to Middle East.
Every afternoon, I had lunch appointment with some friends. Little time for packing. Anyway, managed to clear most of the rubbish or stuffs I’ve ‘collected’ over the years (no photos, too busy), phew... I swear, no more collecting of pamphlets during travel. One trip in Australia, another in US, is more than enough. Reluctant, but I’ve thrown them away, keeping only a few. Tired of throwing things, so it’s better to collect less.


More to go... I’ve some ‘collections’ in Ipoh. Hope to clear as many as I could, leave behind as little as possible, and recall more of myself.

*the process of posting is disastrous, just can't get the right layout I want, looks like I need to spend some time to learn about html editing... phew...

New Start

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane... Finally

So it's time to announce to all my friends.

Confirmed flight today, leaving on 3rd June.

I'll be leaving for UK on Working Holiday Maker Visa for 2 years. I'm also trying to take this opportunity to earn enough to fund myself to further studies, a childhood dream to study overseas, well, it's not so much for the sake of earning more in future because that's not likely to work in my field, but it's just a matter of being and seeing different environments. If my plan works well and i'm lucky enough, I'll start studying the following year, then it'll take a total of about 3 years in UK. (Chinese says: 1 stone kills 2 birds, for me it's 1 trip round 2 dreams, 1 of travel, another of study)

Sparks

Thanks to my dear friend Esther, who informed me that the WHM Visa was opened for application again... It was more than a year back when I decided that I wanted to apply for that. Few things that trigger me:

1. love of travel

2. further studies

3. was at a very down period at work due to some very stubborn colleague (been putting a lot more of my time at work to clean other's shit)

4. my sister signed a 3 year contract in local company = she can't go elsewhere... it's turn for me to explore now, at least some one is in Malaysia with my mum. 

It's hard though... most of my friends expected me to leave as I like, but I tell you now, it's kinda hard to get out of 'comfort zone', the place that you're used to. At the moment I hand in my resignation, I'm already getting quite familiar with my work, handling some very nice clients, enjoying designing for them so much... Being rather soft-hearted, I promised my boss to help them while I get my Visa done, so ended up I’ve been working part time for almost a year! Not fruitful in terms of financial and also time... I'm working part time with full-timer responsibility, no one to pass my projects to, actually I can just pat my butt and go.... but wanna do as much as I can, and also the greed to finish off a project for a super nice client (finally had to leave it to others, unfinished, coz my age can't wait).  Finally... made up my mind to put everything to a stop in April. Been dragging too long.... nothing done, going nowhere.  

Being out of job, finally... I can concentrate with my WHM application, and I'm lucky, I got it fast and smooth. Thanks to Esther and Gareth for  supplying some documents, thanks to my mother for great support  (financially and also understanding my decision) and my uncle(erjiu) for sponsoring my flight ticket.

Traveling Alone

Yes. I’m traveling alone. To answer the common question asked by many.

What about my bf? He says he’ll wait for me. He can’t let go of his family. I can’t let go of my dream. Well, nothing unfair to him, I’ve told him that I’ll go overseas in few years time before we get attached, if he can’t accept the distance, we’d rather not start, but he accepted, so… I kept my word (going overseas), he has to keep his (accepting my absence for few years).  As for his family of more conventional thinking, I’m really sorry that I can’t meet up to their expectation as of now. 

At this age, many of my peers are rushing into marriage or making babies. In fact, many are already mothers.  So what? I know I’m not young.  I can’t just follow what the majorities think. I can only walk at my own pace.  

Many may doubt the long distance relationship. Well, I don’t believe clinging tight to each other is the solution also.  My brother and sis-in-law passed the test, distant for more than 2 years, now married. Many couples, sleeping beside each other everyday, still went separate ways somehow.  I always believe what is meant to be yours, it’s yours, what is not meant to be yours, no matter how tight you hold to, it will still slip away. So… if we’re separated for so long and yet manage to keep the deep affection, then this relationship is genuine and we’ll truly appreciate.

Let fate decides.