Nothing Interesting

Finally was able to change the template. Not because, technology was on the opposite side but more towards the fact, I LOVED my previous template. Well 2011 should come with changes, shouldn't it?

Hence the final outlook which is kept minimal. :-)

2010 Favorites

Eats

• Yoghurt at Dapuqiao, Shanghai
• Bejing Palace Cheese
• Okinawa Brown Sugar Milk Tea

Movies

• Inception
• Shutter Island
• Alice In Wonderland
• Toy Story 3
• Ghost Writer
• Social Network
• Buried
• Harry Potter And the Deathly Hallows
• Tangled
• Eat, Pray, Love

Music

• Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
• If I Die Young - The Band Perry
• Hidden Away - Josh Groban
• Waka Waka - Shakira (World Cup 2010)
• In My Veins - Andrew Belle
• Just A Dream - Sam Tsui
• Empire State of Mind - Glee Cast

Sites

• Matador Network
• The Road Forks
• Ridiculously Extraordinary
• Emm Media
• Vegan Backpacker
• Shutter Sisters
• A Cartoon Guide To Becoming A Doctor
• Little Purple Cow iPhoneography
• Travel With A Mate
• We Heart It   

Memories

• Experiencing First Ever Snow Fall
• Hiking Great Wall of China
• Dancing at a School Event for a Chinese Song
• Having a CT scan
• World Cups & Exams Simultaneously
• Friend's Visit to Shanghai
• Visits back home (A Couple at that!)
• Battle with The Witch
• 6 hour stint at Karaoke!
• Owning Bette and Maria. 

Have a Great 2011!

Note: Images on this post do not belong to this site.

高兴

Forbidden City, Beijing, China

很多事情感到了便我高兴。

看看星星便我高兴。

清晨去海滩散步让我高兴。

拍照东西便我高兴。

老人交谈便我高兴。

身体好的, 我也高兴。

我成为一名医生，我非常高兴。

Entertainment Today!

Because I should be studying, and also because this is the best time to come up with ridiculous posts so as to avoid the texts that lay before me: I write about my fictional love life heading downhill.

It started with Josh Groban. I am not sure if he is still interested in pretty girls or boys? 10% hope lingers on...

Continued with James McAvoy, who chose to get married even before I could express myself.

Wentworth Miller entered thy life and I wrote two letters. Yeah, something that never took off with McAvoy, thing is: now I hear rumors of him being interested in pretty boys as well. :(( Heartbreaking I know.

While I was still nursing the pain of Miller and choosing a deaf ear to all rumors, Jim Parsons entered. Yes, the tall lanky, intelligent kid from The Big Bang Theory. And Guess what? He is engaged to a Phillip!

What do I do now?

I am betting on Joseph Gordon- Lewitt. One reason cos he reminds me of an ex-flame who goes by the name  Keanu Reeves and another cos it was love at first sight from the film, 500 Days of Summer.  :-)

Note: All these guys who might google their own name and come across this post; please feel free to clarify at the comments section. 

Good News

Life is all bright and shiny now that my landlady is metaphorically dead. I have moved to the University dormitory which is way smaller but peaceful. I am way behind on most of my assignments and exam reviews. Despite all that, things are looking fairly manageable. Good news aye.

Australian Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo 2010

Hail Sleeping Bags!

At the current point in time, I am on the verge of going homeless. Not because I have lost my money to gambling and lead myself into an ocean of debts. But rather, I have unintentionally rented a wrong apartment.

My landlady; the epitome of villainy has a screwed up wiring system in the house which results in frequent electricity cuts. This is not good! Ever since I moved into this place, we have replaced the water heater, the lights, and I haven't got a heater to keep me warm cos the cable for the air-conditioner is equally messed up. If that was not enough, we have had bad piping systems. Not only are these power cuts frequent, the electrician assured us it was unsafe as well. And that the landlady should redo the wiring which includes tearing down the walls. Thing is I am not sure if she is up for that. And I don't wanna pay for her problems anymore. 

This villain I ended up with in the name of a Landlady has now decided she will not re-imburse the cash we spent on the apartment and perhaps even blame it on us for the frequent power cuts. 

THAT IS IT!

I'm moving out!

However, there aren't any dorm rooms available at the campus and I am not too sure how quickly will I be able to rent a flat that is within MY budget. Did I mention the rent has gone up by 20%?

If world news covers a girl who has been seeking shelter in Chinese parks with a whole lot of things and a sleeping bag. You know who that is. 

Fate-Less

The Great Wall of China and Me

Morpheus: Do you believe in fate Neo?

Neo: no.

Morpheus: Why not?

Neo: Because I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life.

- The Matrix -

I honestly don't like the idea. On one hand, it may appear that less effort is required now that, fate/destiny whichever fancy name you wanna give it, has everything arranged and all one has to do is sit through and enjoy the ride.

On the other hand, it makes one wonder and perhaps feel helpless that his/her decisions that were made considering whatever he had to consider at that moment is in vain. That in actual fact, nothing was required after all. We have been given a brain and also told not to think since everything is laid out for us and we just have to move. 

Is that the way it is? Or is there something I have yet to notice?

Train. Flights. Automobiles

Presently using the internet from a rather deserted location off Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is known as Nilai here. From the hustle and bustle of crowded China, this area is eerily quiet. I'm lovin' it nevertheless.

There is so much I need to share. Including pictures. But sleep is getting to me and this is how much I can say after a 7 hour journey from Beijing to Malaysia  and waiting for another in 4 hours.

Next stop....Home Sweet Home.

So Far and Here On...

Finally, the dreaded finals are over. I feel so FREE now. It is so true that while there were important things that needed attention (ie. exams), we (at least myself) was so very inclined to slack. Read a book. Read Blogs. Check Twitter updates. Facebook. Waiting for a page to load even!

Now, exams have ended and I find myself spoilt for choices to spend my time. They ended way early as well. I have about two weeks to kill before I leave for Singapore.

So far...

• Exams were both good and bad. There might be a couple of supplements that I might need to study for again. *keeping my fingers crossed* 
• Learnt so much this year - specifically cramming last minute. Blame WorldCup!

Here on...

• Heading of to visit the Great Wall of China, Bejing from the 18th till 23rd July *very excited* Will post about the trip,when I get my ass back in Singapore. 
• Usually I embark non-stop flights back home. This time due to a promotion, I bought a ticket to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and heading off from there. There is a 12 hour waiting time. Haven't quite decided what I should do during that time.

Other stuff for the time being...

• Loads of novels to be read + blogs + god knows what else
• Movies + Documentaries to be watched
• Praying to the Gods of Soccer that Germany comes in 3rd at least.
• A tub of ice cream to be finished
• And weeks of Laundry. Damn!

If you think about it, I am still busy actually. 

Emo on Repeat Mode

Your pride has built a wall so strong

That I can't get through

Is there really no chance 

To start once again?

I'm loving you....

- Still Loving You - Scorpions - 

Missing M.J.

You always knew just how to make me cry

And never did I ask you questions why

It seems you get your kicks from hurting me

Don't try to understand me

Because your words just aren't enough

Love is a feeling

Quench my desire

Give it when I want it

Takin me higher

Tell it to the preacher

Satisfy the feeling

Give in to me

Give in to me

- Give in to me - Michael Jackson -

In Conversation - Fate

Sam: Do you believe in Fate?
Usha: I believe I can change Fate.
Sam: You may never know, maybe Fate is causing you to believe that you can change Fate.
Usha: What?! That doesn't make sense. Why would Fate cause me to change Fate itself?
Sam: Cos you were Fated.

Kyrgyztani is an Asian too.

We were in the midst of our "teach-usha-table-tennis" moment when this couple entered the student's lounge. After a few smiles and nods between the unknown couple and the four of us who were playing, they decided to wait and watch us play. From far, any light skinned, small eyes individual would be assumed for a Chinese or Korean. Well more so Chinese because we are in China remember. But wait, this was the International Student's Lounge. Yeah we are special. The local students rarely enter the lounge or you can I say I've never noticed them in the Lounge. Since he was watching us, we asked him if he wanted to join in the game. The girlfriend replied with a "Go ahead, play. I gotta go get some books".

Now wait a minute, Chinese do not break into English that easily. No, I am not stereotyping but unless they have left the country for a long period of time; they hardly speak in English. Even for the most simplest of reasons. The guy went off to play against another of my friend and the girl remained instead of getting her supposed books. I'm friendly so I approached her for a conversation. The lounge was located opposite the Student Dormitory which also provided me with something to start the talk:

Usha: You stay at the Dorms?
Mystery Girl: Only me.
Usha: Oh Ok. What programme do you do here?
Mystery Girl: PhD in Medicine
Usha: Oh..8 years huh. (she nodded in acceptance) So, you are from...(I like to leave questions unfinished :-)
Mystery Girl: Japan
Usha: [Oh Wow! You speak such good English!] Nice..Where is he from? (pointing to the boyfriend).
Mystery Girl: He's from Kyrgyzstan.
Jan: What is that?
Usha: You've never heard of that place, have you?
Jan: No..hehe
Usha: Interesting.. What language does he speak?
Mystery Girl: Russian.
Usha: Oh wow! (I have a thing for Russian, the language. It sounds hoarse, serious even if the content involved is far from dangerous. I bet Hello Kitty in Russian sounds like a death threat.)

I have met the first Kyrgyzstan resident. When you have a mother whose past time is poring over world maps you are bound to have heard of even the most remote-st of places on Earth. I am not saying K-stan is remote but it rarely appears in the news. Thanks to my being a little ignorant, I assumed K-stan to be near Mongolia with the Kazakhstan, and other non-middle east but ending-with-stan states. As it turns out, and the Kyrgyz himself explained, it was bordered with China so technically in Asia. But it does border with other non-middle east but ending-with-stan states like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Thanks to my mom again, I was not entirely wrong. Ha!

Back to Mystery girl's Kyrgyz boyfriend, he was far from the image of a Kyrgyz I had in my head. Mine resembled that of the Xinjiang natives of China. Slightly tanned with middle-eastern features. Even the Kazakstani girl I met back in 2008 resembled a little of my mental image. This guy, I think, is an exception. I couldn't enquire more as they took off after a game and...I forgot to ask for his name. I should have. The chance for me to attempt enunciating a Kyrgyz name was gone.

And I'm bad at remembering faces. :s

Lights On...Action!

                                           Image courtesy of Pedro Moura Pinheiro

The World is my stage

the Sun and Moon - the Lights.

The scene transforms every second,

and the Sky echoes my voice.

My Baby

Her name is Bette. Ain't she cute? 

Metamorphosis

I need to get back to studying. Not that I enjoy stuffing my cerebral cortex with information. But as much as I wanna enjoy my break from school, part of me also wants to retain the knowledge I worked my ass off on, couple of weeks ago.

I'm transforming into a stereotypical med student. Sighs.

'Treasure'

That, which is missing

is nowhere near discovery.

That which I might have found,

proves no recovery.

In conversation

Over lunch the other day:

Sam: What is it that we can do if we have only a month to live?

Jan and Me: Rob a Bank!

Sam: Awesome!

We as medical students have officially lost our minds. Please do not look for us if a bank does get robbed in Shanghai.

Brain Meltdown

Sternothyroid
Sternohyoid
Omohyoid
Thyrohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Platysma
Superficial Fascia
Parietal Synovial Sheath
Visceral Synovial Sheath
Mesotendon
Tendon of Flexor
Synovial Bursa
Coracoid Process
Glenoid Cavity
Acromion
Supraglenoid Tubercle
Subscapular Fossa
Trochlear Notch
.....And a whole lot more to be committed to memory.
The brain has melted and is oozing out my ears. Not a very interesting sight.
Amidst this mess I was listening to Sting. And so to share with you guys Sting - Russians. 

I Return...

The Great Firewall of China was impenetrable till recently as DIT has released an updated version of Freegate. So, here I am on my rounds again :D

I Am currently getting set for a 19 hour train ride to one of the Special Administrative Regions of People's Republic of China; Hong Kong. I hope to update this blog on a daily basis (least for the next week) to give you an experience of Hong Kong the way I see it. :)