Sneak peek: VIP Dinner album.

Yes, I am ridiculously biased sister who thinks that my baby sis is insanely gorgeous with simple combination of outfit. Urgh, I patient only.

Tangled up with you all night.

It doesn't take a genius to figure what kind of girl I am; five of my most listened tracks from 1989 somehow could tell you. I promise, you could try to figure me out that way. Yes, I'm not in a good place, but hey. Acknowledging my unseen issues is a start :)

And also yes, Wildest Dreams was one of my favorite (lyrically) song from the album since it came out and I went on the repeat-album loop (then again, Tay's magic songwriting hand made it impossible to have just one favorite) but when I saw the music video, I was blown away by the depth and the meaning behind the acts. As I've said it, this song knows the exact spot to injure my emotions and I'm not sure I could heal it.

Dreadfully simple, but at least it's true.

It all started when I decided to download all the Glee episodes to complete my collection. I mean, I used to watch Glee on the same day as it's released or shown in the USA.

It was when I watched the last number of the season five finale. The New Directions was singing Pompeii and I realized a familiar face among the background dancers; it's Hokuto Konishi from the Quest Crew heeey. In case you don't know, I had (still having it, sigh) this Quest Crew phase and they're this sick dancing crew with a buttload of personalities. They've won the America's Best Dance Crew season 3 so that's saying something.

This talented Hok, also choreographed several LMFAO's video clips too. Urgh these Quest people. They're so talented and crazy and they inspired me to take my Basic Dance I class when I was in foundation.

Cue cruel, sarcastic and disbelieving laugh there. Yeah, I danced, okay people? I also choreographed a dance routine for my hostel members for this jamuan blok when I was in form two. Laugh away, laugh away.

So, I explored my almost forgotten folder of the Quest's videos on my laptop and to make long stories short, I ended up reminding myself how I loved and was inspired by these Quest and YTF (which is another group, this one's full of Youtubers; if you know NigaHiga, then you're on the right track), especially this man called Victor Kim.

Honestly, back then, I was engulfed by this constant darkness and pessimism that I couldn't find a way out of it. This man helped me to believe in myself, and have a bit more faith in the goodness this life had to offer. He sings, and I particularly love this one song of his. I used to dedicate this song to a friend I considered close to, but after we have fallen apart, I don't think this song applies anymore.

But hey, I guess there's no harm in sharing this song and spreading the love, right? So here it is, my favorite, laid-back, beautiful and relaxing song.



If you feel like drowning in the parasitic feelings inside your head, or need a beachy pick-me-up to cheer your day up, give this song a try. You'll get this on repeat in no time. Enjoy! :)

Pre-Raya post.

There's no one to blame when I now am seeing slightly-blurred alphabets on my computer screen. Which at this rate, is somewhat alarming, considering that this case started about a year ago. And back then, it was on the lecture hall's white screen. I suspect my new obsessive habit of reading off ebooks from my little phone is the main cause.

Anyway, it's nearing Raya, and honestly, I couldn't wait to get home. Although this year's gonna be so different since Adan is not gonna come back from Queenstown, so we've ditched the "new baju raya" tradition and all. Hell, I ain't even gonna wear the traditional baju kurung. More like a batwing top thing with a mermaid skirt. Weird, I know. And since I've bought this new rice cooker last month (which apparently got ruined just now after my attempt of making murtabak maggi; in my defence, I've successfully made it before using it but I guess things got too hot this time HAHAHAH k not funny), I've tried to make this kek batik for the first time in my life and it turned out just fineeeee so I wanted to make it for raya.

My baby Polaroid (although it's not much of a baby it's so old luls) is coming home for the first time and I've not use it since my first picture so insya-Allah I'll have enough film to get through raya.

Yeay.

Okay I've just realized something. I was just looking at my board in from of me and my Maori Hei Matau necklace looks like them Lorien branding but mine's shaped like a, duh, fish hook instead of the circular ones. I'm a fishy Loric! Haha geddit geddit? Gila hambar.

While we're on that subject, their sixth book, The Fate of Ten (which the leaked-cover looks suspiciously like it's frosted with ice, a direct reference to Marina of the sea maybe? and I'm genuinely intrigued to find out what'll happen to Ella and Ra's curse thingy) is coming out in about two months! Honestly, I can't wait to get my hands on that book. No, this time I'll try yo get the actual, real book instead of another ebook in my iBook app. I mean, I was hooked when I read the whole (existed) series the first time 'round and right now, I'm rereading them all again and perhaps still remember it when the TFoT comes out.

Don't get me wrong, it's the legacies and numbers that made my head all jumbled up. Like, Four with his Lumen and stuff, Six and her weather, Marina and healing and her ice (which is so cool!), Nine with his everything like seriously, I think he's the coolest. And to think, all of them Garde has more than one legacies (or powers) in each of them.

And (well I've so much to share I guess) for the first time in my life, I've gotten the chance to shop at the Big Bad Wolf! To get eighteen books is so good and self-satisfying, given that I've indulged too much in Cecelia Ahern's books lately, that I've had this strange animalistic to read and read and read more than I used to. I also bought books for my family; I've never had the chance to give them anything really, so a tailored-gift-book for each of em will hopefully make them happy.

It's already past two in the morning. I'm sure he's gonna be upset about how late I stayed up but he also knows how hard it is for me to go to bed early. I mean, this shitty schedule developed when I first start to worry about my intern thing. I mean, I could be awake till it's nearly four worrying about stuff. Yeah it's not healthy, but when I try to sleep, well, that's when my mind starts to question me about loads of ridiculous stuff. Till now, which makes it all not-awesome.

Well, I don't have the best of cuticles and shiz. But violet's cool eh? *winks*

I guess, I'm gonna just baring. Maybe I'll fall asleep faster AND I will stop ranting. Good night y'all!

Another post-reading madness.

Do you know the feeling when you feel like life is going to fail you? Like it has gone dark, no matter how bright the sun shines on you? Like how two bad stuff happened to you consecutively that you had the compelling urge to shout "Oh what the hell man?!" to the world? And in the end, you felt like lying on the bed, curling into the well-known fetal position and just feel empty?

From my experience, I know it's ridiculous to say "It's all going to be okay" to the person who's feeling all those. But believe me, as a survivor from the depths of endless abyss (that turned out, it has a bottom. Oh yeah), it will get better.

From my recently finished read, some people will see that at some point of the abyss, the only way out from its suffocating darkness is ending your own life. Even with my background; surrounded by people who would think that option is the stupid-est choice in the history of ever, I would most definitely understand. And as ridiculous as it sounded, find someone you could talk to. Be it a hotline when the people around you are a bunch of assholes, but talk about it.

I know that I live in a very fabricated world, made up of a hopeless romantic person, a thinking from a very pessimistic mind, completed with a sarcastic and bitter tongue. I have just finished a book that I've got to force myself to use up the book vouchers on the expiry date itself; How To Fall in  Love, by Cecelia Ahern, and what I've realized was, there's always someone to talk to. Even when you feel like there's nobody, but believe me, there's somebody.

There's always a somebody.

 

Australasia trip, Pt. 3

The last installment: the Wallabies Land.

Australia Day #1: That fateful night.

Okay, the people who knew, knew. But for those who didn't, here's the thing. We boarded a Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney. However, our baggage boarded another plane, which destination was Auckland. How unjust it was; our bag actually set their "feet" on North Island. North Island I tell youuu. So anyway, to make things complicated (not THAT complicated really, just to spice up the situation), we arrived at Sydney near sunset, and we had to collect our rented car for us to stay the night in Wollongong, which still in NSW thankfully, and to drive to Ibu's university next day. Wollongong is about an hour away from Sydney.

So after syncing with Qantas on how and when will our baggage be delivered, they gave us a credit card with AUD 240 in it and four sets of overnight-toiletries bag, which consisted of a tee, a pair of shorts, toothbrush, a Colgate, soap and shampoo, a comb and a deodorant that smells strangely like a not-properly-cleaned-toilet.

So, with only that and our carry-ons, Ayah drove us to Wollongong, ate some dinner at this Halal, cosy little Indian restaurant, and bought some breads and tidbits for tomorrow's breakfast.

Australia Day #2: Harbour, university, wildlife park and Sydney's favorite attractions.

Wollongong Harbour.

It's known widely that while I'm the winter's princess, I am also a certified merperson.

So trust me when I say, when the smell of the brine and the cold wintery breeze mixed together,

I got intoxicated.

A natural rock pool, which, according to Ibu, is like a private swimming ocean.

Ibu's favorite spot, also according to her, is not this one, but another one at the other side of the harbour.

Remember that annoying "MINE MINE MINE" birds in Finding Nemo?

Yeaaaah here they are!

Not-so-realistic size.

Now here's the real size hahahahah

Definitely intoxicated.

Not-showdown tho, but the plant's so beautiful I can't even

Hey hey heeeey! 

Exactly ten years after visiting Ayah's university in TN, USA, we've finally visited Ibu's university :')

It's pronounced as something else I can't remember, but to me this will always be pronounced as wol-LON-gong.

#sorrynotsorry dearest Ibu :p

Continuing our journey, to Featherdale's Wildlife Park.

It's hard to describe the level of freedom for both both the animals and visitors.

Some animals were set free to roam about the park, like this fella who has not respect towards incoming traffic HAHAHAH I mean, it almost langgar Ayah and jump around like "Yeah it's normal for me, mate" kind-of attitude.

Ayah got geram already.

WOMBAT!

Sleeping wombat.

No. Giant, humongous, sleeping wombat.

Okay this is my favorite koala pose: the merenung masa hadapan pose.

In case y'all don't know, this is the original angry bird. Hahah, kidding. She's just grumpy looking.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE ANIMAL THANKS TO LOONEY TUNES: TASMANIAN DEVILS!

Hi babi. Like, literally.

Feeding time, bitches.

Sweet cute Dingoes, I wish I could keep em.

Totally will recommend this place. Toootally. 

Back to Sydney; on one of the famous landmarks.

Right you are, people. the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Yeah this is definitely from the camera. The bridge was quite dim, so by using not-that-slow shutter, I got this awesome shot.

The world-famous Opera House.

I was given the rare opportunity to explore two famous cities at night. One was Sydney, with its Opera House and Harbour Bridge and the other one was Paris, with its Eiffel Tower lit up like a Christmas tree every hour after sunset.

And from the two experience, I'd definitely want to do more nighttime-sightseeing. Without the sunlight, everything looks even more mysterious, eerily gorgeous, enigmatically beautiful.

Sydney's downtown.

Australia Day #3: Express sightseeing and home-bound :)

We stayed, again at the Ibis Sydney Budget Hotel, Sydney Airport and since our flight was in the afternoon, we spent the morning by doing some sightseeing and of course, a traditional Malaysians-must-do.

Or is it a traditional Rosmans-must-do? Hihi.

Pyrmont Bridge!

If I wasn't mistaken, this submarine's a part of the maritime museum at the Darling Harbour.

Daaaaarling, hahah.

Family tradition, from afar.

Family tradition, up close.

While waiting for the Rock Shop to be opened. 

It's almost time to go back.

Spot my Wombie!

Wombie didn't realize that she's only a stuffed animal, that she decided to sit at the table.

Most probably because the immigration and customs officers demanded to see her passport, so she feels almost human.

Girl, you only have a Featherdale Passport, ya hear me?

A rare one, don't ya think?

Bye Sydney!

Sigh. With the exception of Sydney, I have truly fallen in love with the small-town-life. Maybe in the future, I'd like to live in, say, Queenstown, and enjoy the rest of my life there. Maybe. But yes, I've been to the side of the world, and I thought, hey I think I want to be a New Yorker, or a Belgian. But, Alhamdulillah, when I was given the chance to explore this side of the world, I've never wanted to have a life in another country as badly I want to be in New Zealand.

Both countries has this cool, friendly and talkative kind of citizen, a trait which I love so much since that actually helps me to overcome my shyness and awkwardness around strangers. Well, if I were given another chance to visit and do more exploring in both countries, I wouldn't hesitate even for a millisecond to grab the it again.

Well guys, I guess that's it. My first (and complete) travelog. Till next time, yeah? G'day mates! :)