Just Because its Beautiful.

 

And that’s why.

I will go on a liquid diet to save a few grand to go there.

I mean, just check out the stars above. They’re moving. And you can see the clouds stream past too.

Neat, huh.

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I took the night bus from Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh on the way back.

I didn’t feel particularly excited, because just across the aisle were the champions of PDA. Ahem. So I forlornly looked out of the window and sighed internally as the bus began to pull out of the driveway and head towards the mountain highway.

And then I grinned so widely,

Because right outside my window was the most amazing sight ever.

The dark night sky was completely lit with stars.

Completely.

I’m not referring to the lovely fallen she-star in the book Stardust by Neil Gaimen.

I’m referring to the hot balls of tightly wounded gases far far away.

And I was so glad, so so glad that you couldn’t have possibly imagined. And so I stared outside for a good two hours before grudgingly falling asleep, then waking up again to stare some more.

It was almost, almost as amazing as that night in Dale. Because in Dale, I was standing outside breathing in the crisp cold air. While in Da Lat, I was cocooned in the bus.

And because I stared at the stars for two hours solid, I realised something.

First off, they don’t exactly twinkle per se. Have you truly gazed at a star and see it twinkle?

According to dictionary.com, twinkle means “to shine with a flickering gleam of light”.

When I gaze at a particular star and focus all my gazing powers on it, I don’t see it flicker. Its not that obvious to me, anyways. Or unless I need new glasses.

Anyways, what I realised, is that -

When you randomly sweep your eyes across the brillantly lit sky, some stars seem to “glow” or be shiner and brighter than the others. And when you focus on it, it seems to have lost that ultra bright shine that attracted you in the first place.

Try it.

Its like, when you’re not particularly focusing on that star, it draws your attention because it seems brighter and bigger and shinier at the corner of your eye. And then once you focus on it, it dims.

It ain’t as bright anymore.

Therefore, it seems to twinkle.

Get it get it get it?

Technically, it flickers! From bright, to not so bright. Then when you look away, it suddenly becomes bright again.

I know. Cheat your feelings right.

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Now of course we all know that the scientific explanation for seeing stars that twinkle, is mainly because of their distance from earth – they’re so far away, that light from them passes through many layers of gases and atmospheric stuff which eventually, to cut the tedious story short, causes the light to refract here and there which produces a “twinkling” effect. It doesn’t travel that straight no more, because its been battered with a heck lot of galactical matter.

Hm.

Whatever it is, stars will definitely twinkle for you if you try it my way. Heh.

And oh please. Forget about looking out for constellations if you do ever see the whole sky lit with those gorgeous pricks of silver light. You’ll just spoil the whole moment. Enjoy the sky in its full entirety.

Why waste your time searching for individual dots to connect them to an imaginary picture when you can connect the whole sky if you look at the big picture right in front of you?

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I have nothing to compensate for this wordy post, but a belated picture of -

Post high table dinner.

My hair isn’t like that now though.

I’ve cut it, and its now a cropped short bob sort of mop.

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Vietnam was lovely. And I say it from the bottom of my heart even though I got ripped off, nearly fell off a grassy cliff while mountain biking (which I suck at), and nearly got hit by a motorbike while jaywalking (could seriously feel the heat and swoosh of air from the passing of the bike).

Oh, and everyone jaywalks in vietnam. Seriously. You just look left, right, and head out into the road even though there are a million motorbikes cruising in all directions around you. Just walk calmly. And hope that the motorists are vigilant enough to avoid you.

It does take some guts.

The food is pretty delicious too. Pho was superb. Even though we supposedly ate not-so-good versions. Tasted awesome to me.

Oh, and don’t get me started on the Vietnamese Ca Phe (Coffee).

Freakin’ strong. That is sure some coffee with depth and substantial flavour. Ommpff.

It was a rather nice anyhow-whack, random sort of backpacking experience. :)

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Goodnight.

Did I mention?

1. That I saw approx 6 hong kong celebs here (in real life) so far.

Some dress really ordinarily – so ordinary that you’d have just walked past them w/o realising their true identity.

Woot.

2. That I was on the HK news on say, perhaps tuesday night. Some cameraman from some TV station or news agency came into my journalism tutorial class and shot some footage of uh, tutorial. Because my tutor has connections with the media peeps.

So, check it – I appeared on HK TV NEWS! HAhahaha. Alright, together with the rest of my tutorial class.

I hope my hair was alright that day. Hmm.

3. That I met someone who claimed to be working for TVB. Some famous reporter, apparently. Maybe I should believe him, eh. Since there’s a namecard and all. Hmm. Maybe he can take us into the TVB station and we can meet some stars! Lol.

4. That I love wearing dress shirts and pants. :)

5. That I am going to Vietnam tomorrow and I feel totally unprepared because I have no idea where we’re going to stay, and how we’re going to get to places, and also because, as I’m leaving a few days earlier than the rest, I’m hoping that someone will please travel back with me to ho chi minh. I don’t want to find my own transportation and travel like 7-8 hours alone. :( And what’s more, taking such an inconveniently timed flight at like, 6 am in the morning. Which means I have to be at the airport at like 4am. Which means I might as well stay overnight at the airport alone. AAHHHH.

If I don’t hit in an entry by the 27th of this month, something’s wrong.

Gulp.

6. That I have predicted and will be fulfilling my own prophecy of spending a very lonesome twentyninth, after all.

7. That, I wish to say - happy twentieth! :) – a day in advance.

8. That I still haven’t formulated an essay topic in time for tomorrow’s tutorial. Shucks.

9. That I miss nasi lemak so bad.

10. That I should say goodnight and bye now.

Laters, yo.

Check it.

The other night after some climbing, I learnt how to shoot some basketball.

Pardon the bad grammatical phrasing.

Anyways, I got sooo good at it, I elevated to the level of Michael Jordan in no time.

Slam dunk and such, know what I mean.

And.. Jump!

Wahlau. Pro not!

.

P.S. Of course I shave, you dolts.

P.P.S. I just ate some good pasta (cooked by Hong, surprise surprise) for dunch (lunch/dinner) today, and I feel so full and satisfied and happy after that. :)

P.P.P.S. Vietnam in less than four days’ time.

P.P.P.P.S. I need a brainwave for thinking up a topic. Argh.

Just Because.

Alarming message of the day.

Justin Timberlake, is, hot.

Boy. That dude can sing, and dance niftily.

Neat. ;)

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Damn, and I realise that only now?

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Pardon the fangirl squees, won’t you.

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Now here’s something more informing to our deformed brains.

By virtue of hanging out with people from the other side of the world, you’re bound to catch some of their lingo. And learn some, too.

The most fascinating one would be - Fob.

Which actually stands for – Fresh Out of the Boat.

Kinda similar to cheena.

Its used by westerners on asians, as a response to something that the asian(generally, the chinese) says/does.

“That’s so fobby!”

Like maybe the way they (the chinese) dress, the act-cute/kawaii/cheesy sort of actions/poses, or general random things that are not typical of western peeps.

Almost everything here is considered fobby to them lah.

Snort.

Its just a centimetre short of degrading, to me.

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Another thing you learn, is that they like to punctuate their responses with, oh really?

Really.

And that was the most obvious thing that I noticed here.

For example, I’d say something like.

“I went to the bank this morning, and there was such a long queue!”

“Oh really? …”  Etc etc etc.

A large chunk of responses would begin with an O Really?

Aye.

Probably buys them some time to think up and to better formulate their reply, eh.

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Next.

They don’t exactly use the word “queue”.

They use, “wait in line”. Or, “there’s a long queue line.”

“… Queue??? Haha, that’s soooo fobby!”

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Let’s see.

They don’t call packet drinks; packet drinks.

They’re called -hold your breath, here it comes- 

juice boxes.

And what’s bak kwa (you know, that delicious thing that bee chiang hiang is so famous for) to them?

Not bbq pork, but:

pork jerky.

And of course, the common one: not lifts, but elevator.

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Oh, and by the way.

Damien Rice’s latest soon-to-be-released single, is frickin’ awesome.  :)

Its called 9 Crimes, feat. Lisa Hannigan (spelling’s wrong, I know) and its a piano ballad with some violin threading through, mixed with a couple of orchestral sprinkles.

Nice.

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Goodnight, yo.

I Am David.

I just sobbed my eyes out,

Because I just watched I Am David.

Damn wuss. Read can cry. Watch also can cry.

Wahlaueh.

Its a damn good story/show.

Watching someone portray all the emotions that you read and imagined about, is even better. And because you read the story before, you’re even more attached to the storyline of the movie. And the acting. You scruntinize each scene. The accuracy of the script. You grunt in satisfaction and pump your fists in the air (in your head) when you recognize chunks of script lifted from the novel. And then you feel so emotionally attached to the actors that you feel the urgency and their pain and their happiness and relief.

And that’s when you start to sniff.

Sigh.

Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water.

Lantau Island tomorrow! :)

Three Cheers for Climbin’ Out of That Rut! :)

Congrats :)

Damn happy for you lah.

Grin.

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In other news -

I have pictures to share.

Check out the crowd at the mid-autumn carnival place.

Random Picture of the day -

Ruth’s face looks so damn uh, excited.

And that’s my awesome arse her palm hit.

Next.

That’s Ben fooling around. He decided to beg in the MTR.
And that’s his sad beggar face look.

Snort.

Raw food, anyone?

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Damn I just realised that we missed the real shit of the Mid-Autumn Festival. And that is to go to Victoria Park (Damnit, I went to the CARNIVAL next to Victoria Park instead, argghh), sit down on the grass together with a million other people, and then light some candles, eat mooncake, drink beer, and of course, shang yue. Or, in English, appreciate the moon.

D-arn.

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A very simple way to tell if one has been in HK long enough – the depleting memory of my hard drive. Too many photos, eats up available space. Sigh. I thought my laptop was going to crash because I kept getting prompted to clean up my hard drive(s). Scary can.

I saw this wonderful book about sociology theories. Its like, SGD$60. Should I get it? Hm. It just looks so delicious, know what I mean cher? Its those kinda book that you’d wanna buy and keep it for ever.

And maybe because although I’m taking three sociology courses that doesn’t feel like sociology courses – I feel even more thirsty for sociology garbage. The [culture & society] soci course that I’m taking, feels more like a hardcore psychology course. Sigh. I hate studying about cognitive schemas. Good grief.

Food ain’t that cheap here.

And I don’t really like the local fashion. Opps.

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Night market at Sham Shui Po later!  :)
Damn, transport sure isn’t cheap.

I shall starve and drink milo so that I’ve enough $$$ to travel every two or three weeks. :)

Shit, I’ve to really catch up on my readings, especially geog. Boohoo.

Laters gators.

The Cardigans – Feathers and Down

I love that song. So much. So, so much.

Its reflective, sad, hopeful, and uplifting all at once.

——

So you trying to do what they did
Your friends that turn to liquid
And got lost in the sea
And now you’re drowning me
With your talk of four leaf clovers
You turn to rocks and omen
To beat the ambient harm
But it’s bruising your karma

Oh I wish my arms were wider
I wish that I could hide you
So you can rest and repair
Without the blanket of sorrow
The thick and the grey
Your blanket of woe
So heavy and stained
And it only weighs you down

So you thought that getting sober
Would mean your life was over
I don’t think it’s that bad
I don’t think it’s that sad
Just you sleep a little baby
Leave the world alone and later
If you wake up alive
That old blanket of sorrow
Could be feathers and down
Your blanket of woe
Would leave you alone

And I can love you till you drown
Come to me let’s drown
Come baby let’s drown
In feathers and down

——–

It makes me want to run to the library to pick up a book on Marx’s philosophy. Lol. I’d really want to borrow that book that talks about why there is no such thing as a Marxist Philosophy, but yet. Revolutions, uprisings and stuff supposedly centre around it. Pity it’s an RBR book. 2 hours loan max. Maybe I’ll go check it out later.

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I’m playing that on loop for now.

And to hui, here’s a million ♥ for you. *hugs* I haven’t spoken to you for eons on msn.. hit the “appear online” option more often won’t you! :)

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Its about two more weeks to south vietnam and possibly cambodia. I feel a little apprehensive about arrangements because we’re simply going to buy air tickets and “rough it out”. And also, because of the people I’m going with. Hm. I’m excited nonetheless. And then, north vietnam in november.

And some exchange friends in hku are in Singapore right now for a nice short weekend trip. Home. Sigh. Many more will be heading there during reading week. Aww.

And oh, I also have to hurry up and think of a damned topic to write for my [culture & society] essay. Actually it doesn’t matter what I write, my tutor hates me so I’ll get a shitass grade anyways. Sigh.

Then again, I think she isn’t a very competent tutor. Snort. After tutorial, the class was totally bitching about her in the lift. Lol. Hilarious. And oh cher, I wish you were with me in that soci class. There’s this other super intellectual fella who digs sociology as much as you and I do. :) Then we discuss about sociology stuff, great sociologists, and he likes Weber – like you! Haha. His middle name must be Cher. Lol. To take the place of you when you’re not with me! Haha how lesbian-y. He hasn’t heard of Harriet Martineau though. Grunt. Androcentricsm alert! Hohoho.

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Mid-Autumn Festival is kinda big here in HK. There was a huge carnival, and a hardcore dragon dance thing. Which was like, insanely crowded. The “dragon” was made up of like a million lit incense jossticks. It was glowing and smokey and I thought it was simply awesome. It burnt some people though. Oww. But it was a cool idea.

When I’m feeling a little less lazy, I’ll post some pictures up. :)

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I better get some work done now. Yawn.

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I like it here. :)

Cheers to everyone in the midst of school work and stuff. Hang in there alright, dudes! :)

Next Stop: Vietnam.

Hi there. I just got back from The Land of Chicken Rice.

Hainan’s famous national dish, was a disappointment for me though.

The rice was completely soaked in oil. There was no dark sauce, no chilli, no garlic, and no ginger. It was the worst rice I tasted. The amount of grease, is baffling.

The chicken was really good though. Really tasty. :)

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I went to hainan, right.

And there were so many signs that I thought to be absolutely hilarious.

Like these -

That was seen in this resort right smack in the midst or near some Seven Sisters Mountains. Its those kind of resort-in-the-rainforest, where your balcony view is just. Green. Forests, forests, mountains. Damn nice lah.

Look carefully at the words!!

“Discontinue” vs “Reclaim”.

 Like. “Waste” vs “Recycle”.

HAHAHAHAHA.

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Let’s try to categorize the photos shall we.

Let’s do scenery first.

View from my resort balcony.

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It was Hong’s birthday during Day 2 of our trip.

Jess and I did the best we could. We gave her an improvised cake.

And then, the tour guide somehow found out that it was her birthday! And he surprised us all when he wheeled out a more real-looking cake, during lunch. :)

Sweet. :)

And that night, we made her drink the strongest coconut alcohol we could find.

It was “so nasty!!!” according to her.

 

Hot tub! The 6 of us managed to fit in rather comfortably in the hot hot hot tub. Grin. The water is supposedly natural hot spring water direct from the mountains. Hm.

The coconut alcohol! Grin. Kristie’s pouring it into the glass.

There was this round of indian poker that I lost and I had to drink a really nasty amount of it. It was really, really, really nasssssty. Ugh. 52% Alcohol can. Wahlau. But I diluted it with some tea. But my cheeks were still burning and my throat felt parched.

It was absolutely disgusting. Nassssty. :(

And we swam at the nice rainforest resort place too. Had to make full use of our few hours there, you know. Stayed for only 1 night!

Oh and did I mention that we did some synchronized swimming too? In the dark of the night, right after a bout of rain and dinner, while it was still drizzling – we jumped into the freeeeeeeeeeezing cold water and fooled around. :)

Twas really funny. Heh. We were all imitating those nifty synchronized swimming movements, led by our birthday leader Hong.

“Everyone, in a circle! Right hand in! Walk to the right! Twirl! In! Out! Flip backwards!”

Hilarious. Pity we didn’t take any videos nor photos of it. Oh wells.

Still. :))))

After some synchronized swimmin’.

I think we were just too high.

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We went to a desert too.

Yeah right.

It was some kinda beach with real strong winds and strong waves.

Hair ad.

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We went to some tea place to drink some hainan tea.

We decided to entertain ourselves.

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Me and my roomie!

Hong’s new glasses make us look like sisters. Eeeks.

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A pet mouse.

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This made me laugh so hard this morning, I nearly choked on my precious milo.

Okay I’m exaggerating.

Heh. Thanks dude. Hope you wrote down the right date though. Lol. :)

Takecare over there yeah. Hope you eat a decent meal soon!

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And I shall leave you all with this -

That, cracked me up so bad.

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Goodnight y’all.

More photos soon, of course.