Lecture Day

*blogged from the servers of SIM*

Its wet out. Terrible weather considering its super glaring in the morning. Had been stuck in aircon lecture hall for 6 hrs since 10, shivering in my 3 quarts & not-so-warm Nike jacket. Socius was darn heavy. Taylor was wearing a skin tight WHITE tee. OMG that looks gross esp with his belly. Some fella fell off the chair while he was dozing off. Embarassment to the max.

Battery reads 51%. Thats 1 hr 36 min IF I DUN DO ANY INTENSIVE STUFF. 2 hrs break b4 my next lecture from 7-10. POA. Drop dead boring subject with a Honkie lecturer. Someone from tables away is speaking in a foreign accent LOUDLY. SHUDDUP!!

49% now. 1 hr 40 min to next lecture. Gonna do some intensive stuff on my lappy.

3 more days to go for my 9 days intensive lecture... Super tired..

PSP-ed

Yes I bought it.

A beautifully white (I insisted on white) V2.5 (Ya cannot play downloaded games.. haiz..) PSP gigapack. 2 adopted days old.

Finally?? HMmmm.. I'm not really a hand-held game person. I'm horrid with the joystick. Nvr wanted to buy it if not for the have-so-many-functions-in-a-small-console factor.

Y do I wanna get it?? ErRmm.. Who was the one who said 3hrs on budget airline will bore till the max. I can watch animes (yay!) on the go. (No need to lug lappy) No worries for long distance travellings. Can surf net somemore!! (No need to replace my lost Wifi pda card.)

The graphics are great, DVD quality, sound so-so, processing speed not-very-fast, and I'm still not used to the controls! Playing NBA on psp is superly hard. Got trashed 30 pts on superstar mode while I keep pressing the wrong buttons/wrong joystick direction. Very hard for a PC game person. NFS Most Wanted is quite cool jus that I keep getting busted.

I've been wanting to apply for a VISA (jus for use overseas). Researched the brochures and I'm now undecided. UOB? DBS? Womens? Ladies? (Both oso Masters) UOB-Singtel? If only I'm earning 50k per annum, I wun be pondering so much. Black card for me! For now, I still dunno wat I wanna apply for. UOB Masters, Sistic got discounts. DBS Ladies Masters, a lot of shop discounts. UOB-Singtel, hp bill discount. ARGHHH...

Suggestions anyone?? I only barely hit the minimum salary requirement.

Had done my E-filing yest at Revenue House since I was there for meeting. I got stuck at the donations & course fees part & gave up trying to do it myself. Since I also had my IR8A form with me (had wanted to apply for credit card lah), might as well get the pros to do the filing for me. Its done, I can now forget abt it until next yr.

Bought Memoirs of Geisha to read. Only finished 1 chapter.

So with so many distractions. Up till now, I only extracted notes for Sociology lecture 7. -.-"

Munich Black

慕尼黑

Yes I know its MUNICH. But whats with the 黑??

Anyway its kinda hard to recollect my overwhelming thoughts that were swimming in my brain juices when I walked outta cinema yest night. Came home, bro screwed up the internet connection, received signal only at 1am. This whole working day was spent rushing my statements for submission, super tired.

Try lah hor.. (Munich spoilers and long-winded post alert!)

1stly, Munich is a SUPER-HARD-TO-UNDERSTAND-AND-COMPLEX 160min movie. My knowledge of Munich b4 the hype on the movie was only limited to that its a place on earth, got football team, no more. N Olympics is an event that takes place every 4 yearly with bidding countries aiming to host it for the tourism income it generates.

Since its a NC-18 film, although I personally think it should be RA-ed, there's a lot of blood spewing, and nude scenes. A bit too much. Even Saving Private Ryan aint so bad. The blood were literally SHOOTING out of the puncture points like fountain! Shit! And the 1st thing that comes into my mind is chocolate fondue. Mwehehhehee.. Dunno y.

The movie depicts the kidnapping and massacre of the Israeli athletes by Black September, a Palestinian group. Later on, Israeli Avner (Eric Bana) was requested by Prime Minister Golda Meir to go undercover and sets out to eliminate those involved in Munich 1972. In between Avner's targets, there were news reports of bombings and terrorist attacks carried out in Israel. Avner's hit squad then joined forces with men provided by Louie to delete targets in Beirut, which turned out to be a messy gun-fight, involving fatality of several civilians. Avner's squad became the targets of other mercenaries. One-by-one, his team was reduced. Avner tracked the location of one of the murderers of his team mate and proceeded to exterminate her. Even so, his team continued to be targetted.

With all the Mossad, CIA, FBI flying around, I feel like playing Covert Action once again! But sadly, it was a 3 1/2 inch floppy game and already mouldy after existing for more than 10 yrs.

From fumbling with their guns at the 1st target, to devising bombs in telephones, TV sets and under the mattress. From hunting to being the hunted. From going thru the list one-by-one, to eliminating little figures or replacements not targetted in the mission. Slowly they begin to question their beliefs. Are they killing to revenge the athletes? To prove that the terrorists are wrong? To prove that Israelis are capable of fighting back? Or to satisfy Mossad's hunger for power? To accomplish Mossad's ulterior motive of eliminating their targets under the shield of revenging the athletes' massacre?

I love the guns disguised as bicyle pumps that they used to shoot the female mercenary. So cool! But disadvantage is that the user has to unscrew the knob and takes a bit of time to reload. But still.. DAMN COOL!~

In the telephone bombing assassination, Avner barely managed to stop the detonation of the hidden bomb in the face of the innocent daughter of the target. Although they succeeded in severely injuring the target without injuring the innocent, it wasnt a clean kill as they had planned. The target only succumbed to his multiple injuries hrs later in the hospital.

The next bomb killing was so powerful it almost killed Avner and the couple on both sides of the target's room. At least they're sure they got the target completely.

From then on, it became an alert siren going off in the major agencies. CIA, FBI were beginning to hunt down Avner & gang while increasing the security of their undercover informants, who in turn, are the targets on the list. Avner can now trust no one, not even the source of his leads.

The psychological fear of knowing that u've been targetted is very much represented by Avner and Robert. Both were so paranoid that they dismantled every place that they had previously used to hide bombs for their targets and every single object that could be used to stuff a bomb. Avner was so fearful that he slept on the closet floor, and turns up looking like a zombie. Its like seeing the sniper laser aiming your body but u cant identify the source.

As the movie progresses, Avner's squad derailed from their main mission. They eradicate a replacement, which was not on their list, for one of the targets they killed earlier and a Dutch mercenary, who murdered one of his team mates. Now, they're not sure if their mission will really benefit the country they believe they're risking their lives for, since replacements will appear to take over the tasks of the eliminated.

In their last assassination plot, Avner is left with only one team mate to kill the mastermind of the Munich massacre, knowing that the extermination of this man would mean freedom for his team. It was foiled by a watcher patrolling the grounds and stumbling onto their hiding place after which they ran frantically, chased by raining bullets.

Even after he got back with his family, Avner was still haunted by scenes of the massacre and the terror of being hunted. He feared for his family but angered and burdened by the massacre playback in his mind.

For the helicopter bullet war, let me, this naive psychologist, do a bit of analyzing. (I did a Yahoo search on the actual event.)

The terrorists initially demanded a release of imprisoned Palestinian criminals, which the Prime Minister refused, then changing their ransom to a getaway chopper. In the event, the military placed snipers around the chopper, which was unmanned after the crew decided to vote out of the mission, citing under-equipped and under-prepared as reasons. The terrorists packed the athletes in the chopper, the leader got out to locate the missing crew or negotiate. The snipers opened fire, the terrorists shot their machine guns blindly, sweeping the whole area.

As to why they bomb the hostaged athletes, maybe they already know they'll die no matter what. They're isolated and surrounded, 2 choppers in an open landing pad, makes them sitting ducks for easy targets. If they were killed and the Israeli athletes were released unharmed, it would be a win for Germany/Israel. In the movie, they actually hesitated a min to kill the athletes (the part where the terrorists looked at the athletes' horrified faces in the chopper). So since they're going to die, they might as well take some accompaniment and also make their voices heard, that Palestine is capable of doing what they said they'll do.

There was actually only 8 terrorists, but there's more than 8 in the film, perhaps to align with the number of athletes. 5 terrorists were dead at the gunfire battle in the helipad, 3 got away. The mastermind aka Salameh, was killed by a car bomb in 1979.

The role of the assassins brings about different interpretation for the different people the value of the mission is for. Back in Palestine, the assassins were worshipped as heroes. In Israeli, they're terrorists. But they're still the same people, even though there's actually tamer ways to make ur voices heard.

There's another controversy. In the actual event, the 1972 Olympics was told to proceed with only one day suspension for the massacre on September 5. Avery Brundage, the then IOC president, had ordered the continuation of the games, in midst of the grief event. This led to the angst of many, who were unsatisfied that Avery had decided to continue the games, in full glory and cheers, even after 17 deaths.

The moral of the movie is the same as what Gundam Seed (or maybe all Gundam series) is trying to portray: There's no end to revenge. It only increases the loss.

Its true. 冤冤相报何时了

Personal DNA

Reserved Architect

You are a Reserved Architect

Architect

Your preference for concrete, visually pleasing things, combined with your confidence and your respect for order make you an ARCHITECT.
???

You are logical and detail-oriented, which allows you to get things done efficiently.
I dun think I'm efficient.. I procrastinate a lot a lot..

You are quite sure of yourself, so that you tend to know the best ways of doing things.
I read a lot = knowledge..

Your eye for aesthetic beauty and style indicates that you know a lot about design.
I became an art student by failing maths..

Having a routine and sticking to it is important to you; you find comfort in tradition and familiarity.
Agree..

Self-reliance is something in which you take great pride. you are confident and down to earth.
Y rely on others for things u can do urself??

You have a basic faith in yourself in many areas of your life, allowing you to be self-assured when facing challenges.
船到桥头自然直...

You are balanced in your approach to problem-solving, not letting your emotions hold you up.
Maybe..

You prefer to have time to plan for things, feeling better with a schedule than with keeping plans up in the air until the last minute.
I HATE changes in schedules at the last min..

You have a strong sense of style and value your personal presentation - friends may even seek your style advice from time to time.
I dun think they do.. They jus pray for me to be more gu niang..

You tend to believe that things happen for a reason, and that not everything is under our control.
Cause and Effect..

If you want to be different:

Try moving beyond the things that you find comfortable. open yourself up to a broader range of experiences.
I'm enclosed~

Question how much you know about things by imagining different possibilities.
Lazy lahh.. Think too much unneccessary stuff later hair go white..


Reserved

You are RESERVED. you aren't someone who always needs to have others around, and you find you can handle most situations on your own.
People complicate things & ends up with me clearing the shit

You can be very happy spending time alone, and enjoy your own thoughts and ideas.
I'm actually planning to travel alone end of this yr.. Hmm..

You find it difficult to understand why some people get so emotional and tell everyone else their problems.
Ok lah. I believe in getting the problem out of ur mind but dun expect me to do a good reply. I'm horrid at doing that kinda stuff.

You believe that if you want to get something done, it is best to do it yourself.
Sounds familiar..

In your experience, other people are not always completely dependable, so you generally rely on yourself and only a few close others.
*nod nod nod*

Despite your independence, you are not a closed-minded person who makes hasty judgments about others. You know that it isn't always easy to walk in other people's shoes.
Their shoes are too small for my big feet.

At times other people's feelings are puzzling to you, and you wish that people were more rational.
*nod nod nod nod nod*

Your vision of the world is complex. your values are not set in stone. Instead, you are able to change your beliefs as you learn new information.
Possible..

If you want to be different:

Even though it is tiring, making an extra effort to spend time with others even when you feel like being alone can have powerful positive effects on your relationships.
Orr...

Practice talking about yourself to people you haven't previously trusted. You will forge friendships where you wouldn't have thought possible, and with practice, sharing your thoughts and feelings will get easier and easier.
Its already hard for me to talk abt myself to ppl I trusted.. How bad is that?

Assess me here!

Sarawak

I'm finally back.

Yesterday that is..

Was so tired after touchdown at 5+pm and the panic over my baggy that got stuck in KL transit. Apparently my underwears attempted to go on a tour without me but they were caught by the airline people b4 they could board any other flights out.

But WHY m I on MH flight when my underwears came back in SQ!?!

Not fair not fair.

I made a call to the Lost & Found at 7pm, waited until 8 which they said they'll check the SQ flight arriving. Fell asleep at 9 after 3ep of Naruto. Concussed till 12am when my mum was practically dragging me out of dreamland. The airline people had delivered my baggy back and knocked the door at 12.07am!!

Hello.. Its kinda scary to have people knocking at ur door at 12 midnight. And the panicky mum that I had was still thinking what happened, maybe police or something. Ahahhaha.

Anyway, they din asked me to verify the contents of the bag. Maybe I'm the only one with misplaced bag. I noe.. its kinda inconspicuous. I'll paste my name big big next time. Its only a convertible bag/pouch. Not my Mambo backpack.

Slipped back into coma again, nvr wanting to wake up for work, but still have to drag my butt from my bed and crawled to start working on my statements. 4 days for that. Hopefully its not that complicated for last mth.

Abt the trip, hmm.. kinda fun but VERY TIRING. 4 nights away from my cosy bed. 5 days away from internet/communication (Not really, jus that gotta pay overseas charge).

Its my 1st time taking plane. Was OK. Jus that the plane is damn cramped. A 737 or something. Flight food was only edible standard. 2 times I forgot to take the camera outta the bag for pictures. Nvm, shall do it when I'm off to TW next mth.


Saw this ManU plane when I touched down at Kuching

Transport from airport to Crowne Plaza hotel takes roughly 20min. Hotel room was quite big, definitely bigger than my room. King size bed which I only utilized the right side. Lighting was a bit dim, even after switching all the lights on.

I still like my own room at home.


View from my hotel room 907

Went jalan-ing at the bazaar/wet market/sunday market, watever they call it. Its like the wet markets in SG. Floors were wet, stalls mostly selling veggies, all over.


The bazaar


The horrendous parking lot traffic


And of cos, the "Free" shop. (100% discount IS free what..)

Sunday was spent adventurously. The advance party, us, went cave climbing while our chairman stayed back at the hotel to get a nice in-room massage and welcome the folks.


Outside of Fairy Cave


Entrance


Inside the cave


Look at the minute stairs

Had a ranger to bring us ard, but half the time, he's speaking in Malay, which only the Malay folks understand and din bother to translate, or translate incorrectly. 3/4 of the time, they went so fast I got fed up, bcos I've got night blindness, its pitch dark in the cave, there's only one light behind for 4 person, the 2 ppl + ranger was already 5-10m away with 2 lights. Many a times I'll jus stand still, when I cant see the floor in front of me, bcos I dun wanna step on wat I'm not supposed to step on, or take a wrong step and fall/slide all the way to darkness. Irritating! Should have gotten my own torchlight but the ranger says dun need. *Growl*

*Note: We took the unbeaten route in Fairy Cave. Mostly no stairs and in pitch darkness. We spent nearly 3 and a half hrs inside the cave. 700++ feet above sea level we climbed.

Luckily the scenery makes up for all the unpleasantness inside the cave.


Wind Cave


River outside Wind Cave

Wind Cave was not as tough, but its even darker than Fairy Cave. Even though there's pathed route for visitors, we have to look out for snakes as warned by the ranger. Nothing much to see inside, only bats and bird's nest. Pitch darkness, cant take pics.

Got to this beautiful, breath-taking, now on my lappy wallpaper lake. Took tonnes of photos of its serenity and calmness. All these on Lumix DMC-LC50. Not bad for a 3.2mp camera. Jus some problems with the exposure parts on the forest.


Looks kinda like China


Can I have a house with this kinda view?


How peaceful it looks under the clouds..

Monday was the start of the agenda that we went Sarawak for. Full day meeting, I was responsible for clicking the powerpoints. "Thankfully" for that responsibility, I din nod off that much, only during one presentation where the presenter went off-track and I din have to click that much.


View from meeting room suite


Area ard Crowne Plaza

The whole bunch of us went Cultural Village after our morning meeting on Tuesday for teambuilding. Its a cool place. Dun ever miss it if u're in Sarawak!

Its a bit outta place though. An hour's journey from the hotel. I was so tired I slept in the bus. A very educational tour, not to mention the breath-taking sights yet again. The serenity lake, the long houses, the mountain background.


Cultural Village


Green, Green, Loads of Greens


Got that bamboo-like plant in the pic to create the China/Japan feel

Went ard the village in teams for "Treasure Hunt", trying to get answers for the questions. As the village is not very big, we're literally moving in one BIG group instead. Nevertheless, loads of fun, colluding with other teams, split and merge with members of other teams, climbing the steep stairs, trying out blowpipes, etc etc. We finished our questions with time to spare and proceeded to finish looking through the whole village and the different tribes. Din really get to visit the Chinese and Malay community thou as its time for the games.

Played basketball, coconut bowling, bottle fishing, blow pipe shooting and darts. The basket for the basketball is lower than the normal height. And being out of touch for like 2 yrs, I only managed 1 outta 5 tries, penalty-styled. The rest of my group oso got 1 each except for my big boss, who had none in, for a national bball player. Heehee. So 3 pts for that. And only after the games I found out, my boss, who aint any bball player, scored 4 outta 5. WAH KAOOOOOO He one person win my whole team.

Had a spare of abt 7 pins for the coconut bowling, and no hits for the next attempt. The nail flew outta the bottle in bottle fishing TWICE (its already hard enuff to get the nail in the bottle with the wind blowing). Out of range for blowpipe and darts. Ahhaahaha. Conclusion, the last team that arrived at the games station won the whole telematch.

Proceeded for cultural show. They had a blowpipe performance and were looking for victims. I think I was victimized cos the fella was shining his mirror at me. I continued shooting him with my camera while he went to attack another poor lady. Maybe he thought a weaker lady would be more entertaining than choosing this bochup girl. Ahahahha.

Went shopping after that, I bought quite a few bracelets. Crystals lah, Tiger Eyes lah. I haven demagnetized them yet thou. Total shopped items: Extendable Back Scratcher, keychains for souvenirs, loads of pepper, one box of bird's nest, bracelets, earrings blah blah blah.

Yest was the last day at Sarawak. Finally got to pray at Dua Peh Gong (forgot the name of the temple) after planning to do it on Sunday. Its a simple affair, 8 joss-sticks (the one near my house had 24 joss-sticks and 9 deities lor). Made a bit of contribution and prayed for my safety. Aint a good yr for me (Note: my touring underwear is one of the eg.).

Took the flight at 1+, transit at KL for abt an hr, then back SG. At least the KL-SG plane is bigger, smoother taking off and landing.

That's abt it. And I definitely dun like answering questions like How's ur trip? I got that question more than 3 times today. How m I supposed to describe the scary cave with natural stone sculptures that look human-like?? Hmm..

Yeah. Off to concussion again. Nvr enuff sleep for me.