September 1st, 2010 by Karmun

So the new semester has started and truth be told, I don’t think I’ve ever been this psyched about going back to school. Sure, the idea of assignments and quizzes and the always painful thought of exams kinda suck, but right now all I can think about are the new projects to take on and the new people to do all those new things with! =D That, and new stationary (plus maybe a new lipgloss or two, heh) along with some cool stickers to vamp up old ones with sure don’t hurt.

I love stickers, especially if they remind me of bands I’ve stumbled across by pure luck and chance and went on to be completely mesmerized by them. Which is a big part of why I collect those given out during gigs and performances like mad. Their sentimental value makes them all the more lovely =) Imagine being completely bored out of your mind in class from all the note-taking only to suddenly catch glimpse of one familiar smirking smiley or a hangman doodle with crosses as its eyes and going, “Hey, remember that time when…?” Good times – they’re meant to be relived and shared over and over again =)

It’s hard trying to realign my biological clock which has gone completely berserk over the two month holiday, but I’m getting there. And what better way to get back on track than to indulge in some icecream!

I love Baskin Robbins, but I think they’ve got way too many flavours and colours  for their own good that it’s taken the fun out of icecream. Whatever happened to the old-fashioned vanilla sundae with just a humble topping of shaved chocolate and maybe a cherry to crown it all off? Commercialism can kiss my ass.

Everything’s still fine and dandy thus far and I’m really happy with how I did last semester. So for now, I’m not gonna ask for much and just try my best to upkeep my previous performance. The race starts now and I intend to not fall behind! Wish me luck! Till December when Bangkok (or Redang – it’s still undecided) beckons my sweet sweet name =)

Crunch time!

August 30th, 2010 by Karmun

Singapore – four days in a new city which ironically saw me seeing close to nothing of the light of day, nor even much of the city. But to make up for it were four long nights of no sleep, fun of epic proportions, and one dusty dawn where I literally woke up in the morning feeling like P.Diddy and brushed my teeth with a bottle of Jack – smudged eyeliner, crazy hair, blood-shot eyes, and residual glitter from a good night of partying included. Ke$ha would’ve been proud of me. What can I say – Singaporeans know how to party, and they know how to party good. But those were naught but the mere cherry on top of the giant chocolate fudge sundae with extra chocolate chips and syrup, that was spending time with my best friend of 8 years. Oh, how I’ve missed her and our long conversations about nothing and everything that lasts well into the night and would go on unadhered had the sun doesn’t rise.  Seeing her again after close to two and a half months was totally worth the four hours and bumpy bus ride, which though was tedious, was also made as comfortable as relatively possible by a secret playlist I never knew the Ninja Rabbit had in his i-Touch and his sweater. If all else fails, Gabriel Iglesias never fails to at least keep your mind off whatever discomfort!

There are five levels of fatness; he’s only at number four – fluffy xD

You know I’m awesome at planning my time when I arrived just as Yuh Ting finished her last class of the day with enough time to come over and get me. After dropping my things off at her place, we were just in time for lunch! Where I stayed in itself was a good laugh – at least to me. I got to pretend to be a student at NUS (the National University of Singapore for those of you who may have been living under a rock) for four days! =D I will from now onwards always have a soft spot for Eusoff Hall and its gorgeous ceramic tiled bathrooms hahaha.

What followed after was that which is only expected of us as girls – shopping! =D

We all know how Singapore can be super strict with its imposed rules. Well, if there’s one thing I like better than shopping, it’s breaking the law tehehehehe. Can’t remember how many Singaporean rules I broke on purpose that day, but the fact that they’re so uptight made my breaking them all the more fun hahaha! No resting and no sitting? Guess what! =P

Yes, it felt goooooooooooooooood =P

I swear it only dawned on me as I’m posting this that that malay girl in the tudung should be fasting.

Singapore during the day is very much like KL on every other day, except for the fact that it’s a lot safer (it’s safe to leave your wallets and purses unsupervised at the table when you go out for food, leave to make your order, and be assured it’ll still be there when you get back) and exponentially cleaner (their public toilets are so clean you can take a nap in there right on the floor, no kidding). But at night, it’s a completely different story. I love it how all the clubs there are smoke-free, so you leave smelling just as how you did when you arrive, perhaps just a little sweatier and your pheromones just a little stronger, heh. My favourite bit, is without a doubt how they took after the West by having enough sense to provide a baggage counter where you can deposit your stuff so you can have your fun without the need to lug your bags and what-not around.

But underlying all that, it’s still who you’re partying with that makes the difference. You can bet your sorry asses that I had a blast as I always do when I’m around my best friend in the whole wide world =))) And as if the heavens and the universe knew the result of our chemistry, reasons and cause for celebration were lined up back to back  in all my three nights in Singapore. First, Dewi turned 21 and we celebrated it the best way Singaporeans know how to – by bringing the party to the Butter Factory. With it being ladies’ night which hence entitles us to a free-flow of the house pour, we made sure she had a 21st worth remembering ;]

Happy 21st! =)

The night following that, it was Edward’s 20th, which we officially solemnized at Club Rebel off Clarke Quay.

The last night was completely winged. Unplanned, unexpected and unprecedented, I found myself crashing one of the university’s frat parties, this one very sexily called Hedon with Seven Sins as the theme. I know it doesn’t sound like it, but sneaking in to a frat party by pretending to be a student and giving a fake Uni ID is ten times more exhilirating than simply sneaking into any random club.

It a nutshell, Singapore completely slayed me. Eventhough I was getting way less than the recommended hours of sleep, eventhough I probably did enough damage to my liver that the effects are now irreversible, and eventhough I missed my Ninja Rabbit so badly it hurt, it was the fitting end to my summer of 2010. I wouldn’t have done it any other way; it was the last lap for me to run full sprint with the fun and not giving a care in the world before uni starts, well… now =(

At the risk of sounding cliched, all things must come to an end, but lucky for me, the good things are only getting started. September is gonna be another rocking month, I just know it; I can feel it in my bones. It’s Fall! Time for kinder weather, movies at the cinema and Halloween!!! Can you blame me for being so high from life? After all, I did come home to this.

And seeing him is all I need to know that everything’s going to be great =)

Bring it on, September!

August 26th, 2010 by Karmun

August 23rd, 2010 by Karmun

Anyone who knows me would tell you that I’m the last person in the world who may have even the smallest sliver of faith in long distance relationships. They just don’t work. Out of sight, out of mind, that’s what I firmly believe in. Already it’s so hard for couples to stay together and not claw each other’s eyes out when they’re seeing one another on daily basis; put an ocean or two between them, or a few hundred miles – you can only imagine what that wide expanse of time and space between two people are going to do to them. I’m not being skeptical, only realistic. I’ve seen first-hand what waiting endlessly on the other party to call night after night, or logging onto MSN Messenger or Skype every chance you get, hoping maybe, just maybe, you might be lucky enough to squeeze that short ten minutes amidst your respective hectic schedules to ask how the other person’s day had been, only to be severely disappointed when he or she is no where to be found in cyberspace, can do to you. It’s sad, it’s tragic. It’s nothing short of heart-breaking.

But that’s the wonder about love – at least true love, that which knows no conditon nor boundary. I’m not talking about your high school sweetheart whom you promised to stay together with after graduation and swore to wait for through college, uni and what-have-you, only to realize you weren’t meant for one another after all two weeks into your freshmen year. I’m talking about genuine, sincere love which we only read about in books, or witness on television circa the 1950′s when young girls waited at home for their man out at war fighting enemies of flesh, ghost and bullets, and could do nothing but pray for the yellow telegram to never arrive. Because when it did, it meant the end of everything they have ever come to know.

True love like that, it never fails to surprise even the most skeptical once in a while. Yes, even the likes of hardcore pessimists like me. They spring at you out of no where, especially during times when you least expect to see that single ray of hope in times of painful turmoil. It serves to ensure you – whether you like it or not – that there is still hope for man yet. And for so long as there is hope, there is chance, and there is the possibility for a better turn of events. I guess we all need that once in a while, even those of us who do not believe in miracles. We wish every day for a lucky break, a little bit of good luck. We wish, even though our rationales tell us to live on blind faith and empty hope brings us no where. We wish anyway, because sometimes, wishes do come true.

Tonight was one of those night when I had the tables turned on me.

For all my grip of steel and vice on the impossibility of long distance relationships, I saw with my own two eyes how it may just be possible. These two I finally managed to capture for dinner with the Ninja Rabbit and I blew out the window all my disbelief in LDRs.

Four and half years and still going strong. Having met online, they were parted from the very beginning upon finding out that they lived in different parts of the country. And with graduation and the prospect of tertiary education, that 350 odd kilometres suddenly seem like nothing when UK decided to come into the picture sans invitation and play a hand.

Yet they made it. As much and as surely as I may not have survived the many miles and different timezones, they stayed steady and strong, living everyday but for that four short weeks when they would be together out of a whole year when he returned for the summer.

Now that’s what I call Love.

And you can bet there was a lot of it, before, during and after dinner. Of course we pulled out all the stops and went to the one place I absolutely worship when it comes to Red Velvet Cakes =D

Inside joke of the night: We are all now official members of exclusive “Red Velvet Club” LOL. Yes, we’re aware of how kinky it sounds – like some secret organization that deals with underground prostitution of a higher class or something xD

Behold, the single yummiest buttermilk cake tainted a devilish red layered on tiers of the most sinful cream and strawberry essence. It’s not called Devil’s Food for nothing!

Coming from a dessert enthusiast like me who jumps at the mere sight of all things sweet, sugary and creamy, you know it’s good.

The night fell too short and dinner felt like a flash. But if they can make it through a whole year to see one another, I most certainly can wait the three months till I see the girl who used to be my basketball team member again, heh.

Now… Singapore awaits! Time to ransack the room for the i-Touch which I’ll be needing and update the playlist for my five hour bus ride! Yes, such is how the Ninja Rabbit treats his gadgets, le sigh. While at it, I’m gonna keep my fingers crossed and maybe get Plants vs Zombies successfully downloaded into it =D

Happy Monday! =)

August 18th, 2010 by Karmun

It’s only been 3 mere days since I turned the big two-oh, and already I’m feeling the strain of being an adult. In between rushing from college to various different banks today, all to bank  in one miserable cheque, and queueing up at the Immigration Department to get my passport and travelling documents done and settled, it was close to a miracle that I even made it to book my tickets to Singapore. Yes, you read right baby, I’m headed down south to meet up with my best girl for 4 days of fun and solid partying. We’re gonna celebrate my birthday good and well for a second time round! And we all know how I love second helpings of all things good, tehehehe.

So how did my birthday go? Quite the contrary to how I celebrated it last year at the MTV World Stage screaming at the top of my lungs while pressed between close to 20, 000 others to the lyrics of Gives You Hell with the All-American Rejects themselves prancing onstage in the flesh, this year saw me smiling the night away through a quiet dinner with the Ninja Rabbit and a small close-knit cake cutting reception later at home with only those who truly mattered. Family. They’re the best that’s ever and always will happen to me. As I type this, you can’t remotely begin to imagine just how much I miss them despite having only left them less than 48 hours ago. Which is a big part of why this year’s birthday, despite paling tremendously in comparison to the hurrah of last year’s, is still one of the best I’ve had yet. And the best part? It’s definitely knowing that from experience, birthdays – at least those of mine – just keep getting better and better.

It was a dinner unlike any I’ve ever seen. The Ninja Rabbit opted for steak and one very high in alcohol Harvey Wallbanger, whereas I was in the mood for a good old cheeseburger and Raspberry milkshake. Sophistication pitted against the epitome of childishness – I rest my case.

I find it quite hard to believe that I’ve lived two whole decades. I still feel very much like a child inside – if birthdays didn’t exist and there were no such thing as calenders, I’d say I was 12 and still have heap loads to pampered with, heh. Bring me toys and ice cream and ferris wheels and cotton candy and chocolate milk and bubbles you blow from a stick any day, please!

Oh and my cake!! We mustn’t forget my cake! Though not my favourite (*coughs* Peacan Butterscotch *coughs*), the Blackforest Cheese from Secret Recipe still packed quite a punch so I’m definitely not complaining! Sides, since when has there ever been a cake I don’t like? xD

LOL Bob wants to be in the picture too hahahaha! Yes, Daddy named his fish Bob. So everyone, meet Bob. Bob the Third. Because the two before him died and for some reason, Daddy names all his fish Bob HAHAHAHA. Also, for those of you with sharper eyes, the third candle was the Ninja Rabbit’s insistence as a small token for good luck or something; some Eurasian tradition thingy that he was brought up to believe so hey, who am I to say no to some good luck and fortune =)

It may not seem like much but I certainly enjoyed this birthday most thoroughly. It’s been the most meaningful by far, and the one which I’m surrounded by the most love. And that, as we all know, is what matters most when it comes to special days like these. Having those closest to you sing you your birthday song somehow makes you feel so much more special than having a whole group of drunken peeps slur the words in a half-attempt desecration of the song. Not that I have anything against getting blissfully drunk and partying your mind out as a toast to anniversary of your birth – I’ll just be saving all that, the loud partying and mindless drinking, for Singapore ;] Butter Factory, here I come!

August 15th, 2010 by Karmun

While waking up on a Sunday with a slight hangover and the lingering bittersweet taste of beer at the back of your throat  may not be the most ideal way to start the day, it’s not necessarily the worst, either. But waking up ravenous with nothing to eat is a sure fire way to get one all cranky and, in the case of the Ninja Rabbit, completely spriteless and just a tad bit lifeless, hahaha.

But last night was a hell of a night, by the end of which we hadn’t even the energy to make a quick stop for drive-through McDonald’s despite our tummies crying out in agony. You know a house-party thrown by our very own Snoop Dog of the Island is gonna be one that’s off the hook! Think party at his beach house with free beer and food! Uh-huh.

Prasham @ Snoop Dogg, our favourite deejay and his gear.

Photobombed by the two Jailbirds with whom the Ninja Rabbit and I partied with last night – my little brother Benny and his girlfriend, Juin.

We had thought we were late, but the party was only just getting started when we arrived at close to 11.30. Yay for us for it meant there’d still be beer, hahaha! There had been increasing concerns during the drive there that it’d have run out by the time we made our appearance xD Which it did merely two hours after we stepped through the front door :O

Everyone turned up, some I’ve seen around a few times and some I’ve partied with countless times. My best girls and boys were there too much to my pleasant surprise. It’s awesome having everyone back from the many different parts of the world they’ve been scattered over for the summer holidays =)

Even Mark, our favourite fashion designer extraordinaire is back from his tuor of Europe – someone’s a superstar now, yo! =)))

Freaking Heineken beer commercial, or what! HAHAHA.

For a rough idea of just how many turned up, even the Ninja Rabbit who’s all the way from KL ran into his peeps! Yes, the last two people I’d have expected to meet there are Ching Yu and Han Sern lol.

Snoop did a great job in mixing the raddest music which beat pulsated through the house and left the walls thumping to the music all night. I wouldn’t wanna be any of his neighbours within a 1-mile radius xD

Maddy, I love you!!! <3

After what seemed like forever on the dancefloor, everyone broke up into little groups of their own for their respective rest and rehydration ;]

And which party would be complete without a good round (or two) of drinking games to get everyone going? ;]

I don’t know what happened after a while but I was feeling like I needed sleep more than anything in the world; I was yawning till I teared and nothing seemed to matter unless I find myself somewhere to close my eyes and take maybe just five minutes off xD Luckily I wasn’t the only one – Juin too was singing along in my symphony of yawn heh – so we left to head home. And if I’m not the luckiest bitch in the world, I don’t know who is – I not only have my own driver to take me home, I didn’t have to even make the trip from the front door to the car either ;]

Definitely another Saturday night worthy of this long ass post!

Now… any ideas as to what I should do for my birthday? =(

August 12th, 2010 by Karmun

Childhood, according to John Boyne, is measured by the smells and sounds and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows. If that were so, then I’m glad I’m still basking in my long sunshiney afternoons, that which even when dusk fell, still reverberates with echoing squeals of delight and the soft pitter-patter of unsteady little feet scrambling to win this round’s game of Hide n’ Seek.

I was aghast when I came to discover that I recalled little or close to nothing of my primary school days. Much to my dismay, I had needed my girls with whom I went through that 6 most naive and ignorant years of my life to remind me of those days when Barbie schoolbags and Snoopy water tumblers played such a big part of our lives. The only silver lining to that horrible cloud of forgotten secrets and hopscotch during recess was that it reminded us all of how many years ago it been and how lucky we are to still be the friends we had promised to be back then. And the rainbow that came afterwards was certainly much sweeter than any of the countless icecream cones we had shared in our almost 13 years of friendship. Just like old times, it was over food that we bonded and it was over sweets and desserts that we reminisced.

Our tastebuds have changed since we were only four feet tall and the hardest thing in the world was keeping our pristine white school shoes clean, but we’re still creatures of indulgence, and our craving that afternoon so happened to be for Korean fare.

But of course, lunch alone does not stretch long enough for us to talk and speak all that is on our mind nor exchange enough news and er… vital information (heh). Being girls, there was only one thing else we could think of to do, which will allow us the freedom to talk our mouths off. Dessert! =D And at where else but the one place where the deco and menus themselves scream everything girly feminine and their incessant and never-ending need to chatter?

And we didn’t hold back. That afternoon, whatever diet plans went straight out the window and the word fat was made taboo. Which allowed for the the most sinful brownie cheesecake from Ritz, chocolate hazelnut shortbread, and fluffy cream puffs with authentic clotted cream that we washed down with one pot of delightfully refreshing rose tea, another pot complemented with milk and, for me, one ice blended cream mocha latte.

With our table groaning under the weight of all things sweet, creamy and chocolatey, we did what we did best – we talked. We talked our hearts out about things we did, and about things we were yet to embark on. We discussed travel tales and relationship woes. Close to five solid hours just flew by with us doing nothing more than simply talking. You cannot begin to imagine the memories that surfaced that late afternoon; as steadily did those good times fleet to mind and brought forth from our lips to be relived over and over again as did the inevitable night came to return modesty to the sky.

Someone even dropped by to leave Madeline his number (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) ;]

At night, it was time for another old friend whom I’ve not had the chance to merely speak to other than the very impersonal mean of MSN Messenger in what feels like 500 dinosaur years. It was exactly like old times when we talked about the most outrageous things ranging from the importance of being financially independent and paying taxes, to the likelihood of us being swept away by a tsunami tidal wave from sitting so close to the sea with our beers and what, from experience, are the best hangover cures ;] It was just lovely talking and catching up after what has been a good year and a little more.

UK has done you much, that I have to hand it to you ;]

Now, I can’t really be bothered to elaborate any further, nor do I feel like being in front of the computer anymore. My Ninja Rabbit will be hitting Penang soil in approximately two more hours! *hyperventilates* Pardon me while I jump the place down from excitement.

Enjoy the rest of your day! =)))

August 8th, 2010 by Karmun

Distance – it suddenly means so little when that someone means so much.