a new career, a new life

a whole new chapter

::i took this picture while chilling along Crown St on a hot sunny day with lipei. my iphone went haywire and corrupted this pic. but i love the accidental effect::
the first week has gone by.
it's definitely a whole new experience.
i learnt so much more in just a short span of four days as compared to 3 years in uni.
working for a design studio certainly isn't a joke.
it's insanely hectic, from the moment i step into the studio at 0830 all
the way to 1830 in the evening, there's just no stopping!!!
work keeps coming in one after another.
many of us don't even have the time to go out and have lunch.
seriously, it's that bad...
some would bring in their own lunch from home and eat it while working on the projects at hand.
for me, i skip lunch altogether and wait till i knock off from work before treating myself to a well deserved feast.

so yeah, the company i'm working in is pretty small;
about 14 people.
we also have offices in brisbane and perth, but the numbers just account to a handful.
when it comes to designers, there's only 3 of us.
there's S, M and me.
and well, of cos our CD, who's basically in charge of all the design work and would sometimes get her hands dirty by doing some design work too.
so, as you can imagine, with only 3 designers, you can image how busy it can get. M mentioned that the company should take in another designer.
i totally agree with him.

usually after work, i would be so drained and exhausted...
by 1030pm, i'll be struggling to keep my eyes open.
coming from someone who sleeps at 6am in the morning and wakes up at 6pm in the evening,
it's a major big change.
yesh people, i'm finally a working adult!
(omg, saying that just feels so foreign to me)

there's still a lot for me to learn.
so far, i think i did ok.
they were nice enough to teach me a lot from scratch.
from creating print ready artwork to dealing with colours and creating mock ups.
it's awesome that they are so patient with me, but i feel like an idiot.
i mean, i feel like i have not lived up to their expectations yet.
i sometimes ask very retarded questions like,
"how to convert the black and white image to spot colours?"
or "how did you do the masking thing again?"
or "the indesign artwork is freaking 707MB, and the client wants it in eps, what do i do?"
and i keep forgetting what jobs i've worked on.
someone would come up to me and ask me about a job i've done, and i'll be like... "erm... which job title again?"
in my defense though, i am working on multiple projects at the same time.
and because i work on half finished projects, it's really difficult to remember all the job titles. i'm trying but it's not easy....
Ben says it's all part of learning and that i shouldn't worry too much.
it has only been my first week, and he says that there are people who have been in the company for a year and still make silly mistakes.
simply put, we are still humans.
i agree... but that doesn't stop me from doing my best and proving that they have selected the right person to do the job...
time will tell.
after all, like every new job, i'm on a 3 months probation.
we'll see if they'll keep me after that.

and just to clear the air,
working in australia is not as slack as most people presume.
people here believe in quality, not quantity.
translation:
it doesn't matter how many hours you put it.
what's important is whether at the end of the day, you have completed
what you have been tasked to do.
productivity is the key word.
and Australians are productive.


::pic of me after a day of shop-whoring. the day was warm so i get to wear shorts!::
after surviving the first week,
it's time to treat myself to a little something something.
(fine... "little" is an understatement.)
decided to do some shopping in the city.

i think i have gone way past the words "retail therapy"....
as what ben would describe my current situation,
"you're SHOP-WHORING!!!!"
....................
fine...... i admit....
i AM shop-whoring...
but i really NEED the nice awesome half leather black havarsack...
and the Insight T-shirt...
and the Peter Alexander poka dot pyjamas shorts...
and the T-shirt from Lee...
and the album from MGMT...
and the Ben Sherman polo T... and T-shirt....
and not forgetting my precious Lady Godiva....

i blame it on stress...

on a different note,
the economy sure isn't doing well at all.
it came as a surprise to me that singapore has being hit by the recession,
and that the Aussie dollar has dipped tremendously...
almost on par with the SG dollar.
times are bad.
i pray that no one close to me loses their job,
because it's difficult to sustain oneself during a recession without one.
and i pray that something good would come out of this.

the American elections is next month.
anyone keeping track of it?
i sure am, since it started.
i believe that it'll affect everyone through a chain of events...
you could say "a chain reaction" of that sort.
and i believe we need a change.
a change that would help us get out of our current slump...
i'll say no more. not gona talk politics here.

here are just a couple of pics.
no time to filter the large library of pics i have...


::more pics of the sea outside my place... love it during sunset::


::nothing beats an ice cold bottle of coke on a hot day. lipei and i chilling along Crown St::


::lipei having her favourite date and pumpkin scone while waiting for the train::


::ben and his gentleman hat. looks good it in eh::


::ohh... my precious Godiva Chocs.... how can you resist them... a luxury indeed::

so yeah, i hope everyone's doing great back in singapore.
i seriously cant wait to go back for a holiday....

that's all for now.
XOXO,
D

i made it!

OMG!

::pic of me on the steps that lead to my apartment::
the pounding of my heart...
the gasping for breath...
pupils dilating...
sweaty palms...
nauseous on the verge of a black out...
all these while trying to act calm and compose...
taking a deep breath once again,
i attempted a simple yet almost impossible act; a reply...
"yes, i would like to take up the job offer."
"great, we would like you to start asap, so come down on Tuesday to sign the contract etc...", the creative director said.
"sure." i replied, with a big smile on my face.
and with that, i finally landed my first job, ever!

1 application,
2 interviews,
3 days trial,
a young lady to compete with...
and God knows how many applicants later...
i got the job!!!!!

omg!!!
i got the job!!!!!
it sure feels like american idol...
selections, perform, judge, winner.
let's not forget all the waiting in between.

the path that led me here was long and winding and emotionally draining.
it was everything BUT easy!!!
and i can safely say that it's definitely harder to obtain than most jobs out there.
i really had to earn it, prove myself, and rise above the rest to obtain that 1 position.

finally, a sign of relief.
i was so close to declaring myself bankrupt...
finally i dun have to rely on my parent's fund anymore. :)

i'm hoping that my future entries wouldn't be centering over one topic: work.
i'll make sure that i wont be a slave to my work.
got to make sure that i dun think about work when i knock off.
and got to make sure that i have loads of fun during the weekends.
i'll try, but no guarantee. :P

ok enough of me!! (then again, it's my blog...)
took some pics so decided to upload them here.
there are still tons of pics to filter and upload.
so be patient while i get to them...


::lipei and i went to this cafe called Pablos Vice at Crown street. i love this cafe cos firstly, the food is delicious, secondly, it's relatively cheap, and thirdly, it has this awesome vibe. i love just sitting along the pavement, sipping coffee and eating my breakfast while we watch the world go by. it's the aussie version of a road side kopitiam. :) love it! ::


::took this pic of lipei while we were having lunch at Lavender Bay. i love this area because they have great restaurants, a very cute bookstore and a stone throw away from the view of the opera house. gota love lipei's beehive!::


::took this pic of ben at Newtown. luv luv luv Newtown. it reminds me of Brunswick st in Melbourne; very bohemian, grungy, artistic. the very definition of non-commercialization. love the shops here and every saturday, there's a small art flea market::


::this is another pic i took while walking around Newtown. there's a canvas painting leaning against a painted wall. and you'll see many of such art work as you walk along King St, Newtown::


::pic of pedro and lipei. the three of us were chilling at pedro's apartment after having cakes and coffee at the nearby Kirribilli Cafe::


::my next door neighbour's cat. he's called tyson and he has a sister. very adorable cats. they like to come to our apartment every chance they get::

wana thank everyone for their well wishes!
i appreciate it a lot!!

also wana tell fauz, ping and angeline that i wana go "Mustafa-ing"!!! :P
and i miss playing monster hunter with you guys!
yesh... i miss singapore a lot.

that's all for now!
XOXO,
D

trial and error?

the wait is killing me

::i drew a bean spout on this sketching thingy. i don't quite know the name it but i used to draw on them all the time when i was a little kid. even till now, i just love doodling on it. draw something, erase it, then start all over again. wish life was like that eh?::
so how did i fare for my 3 days trial?
it was extremely busy and exhausting.
for the 3 days, i was thrown into the mosh pit and was expected to swim/crawl/dig my way out of it.
seriously, they gave me tons of projects to complete and what made it worse was the fact that i had to pick up from where they left off.
it's tough when it comes to design because everyone designs and work different.
a simple text paragraph could be done in a couple of ways.
every time they hand me a new assignment, i would spend the first 15 minutes trying to figure where all the links, pictures, text and files are before i can make the necessary amendments.
and because the company is so establish, i'm dealing with thousands of files and it's just insane trying to find 1 particular file that i dun even know exist in the first place.
yes, simply put, it's like finding a needle in a stack of hay.

on the first day, it was pretty overwhelming.
the second day was way better.
the third day was effing crazy!!!
i had to deal with multiple projects simultaneously.
had to do the html for edms, landing pages and websites for some major big client.
a very major big international computer company i might add.
therefore, i had to make sure i do not make any single mistakes.

overall, despite the busy schedule, i did have some fun because this is all so new to me and i'm constantly learning from them.
what i like about working for them is that they don't bother you at all and let you do what is needed to be done.
everyone is expected to take their own initiative and even if there is a deadline to be met, no one is there to hurry you. they have this sense of trust that you will complete it in time.

as i have mentioned before, i do really want to work with them.
i have done my best during the 3 days trial.
i feel i have done well. (they said i was good)
i have the passion and motivation needed to excel.
i know i have what it takes to be a great designer.
i just wish they would consider me to be a part of their team.

they were supposed to get back to me last friday.
but they didn't.
then on tuesday, i received an email from the creative director.
in the email, she thanked me for the three days and informed me that there is another young lady on trial this week. they will let me know of my placement at the end of the week.

i'm disappointed....
and furious.
i dun understand why i have to be put into such a situation.
this job application... it's taking forever!!!
2 interviews and a trial... now i have to compete with a 'young lady'...
what more do they want? (my guess is 3 months probation if i get it)
this is ridiculous...
i hate the waiting!
it's been almost a month and i'm still waiting for a yes/no from them...
argh...

and just to clear things up,
i have been applying for other jobs too.
i have been sending out my resumes for the last 2 weeks...
but it's also taking them forever to get back to me.
argh...

i'm not giving up yet.
no i'm not.
but time is not on my side.
i have up to next january to get a job,
if not there'll be a high chance i might hafta fly back to singapore for good.

sigh...
i guess this "rich-spoilt-brat-who-gets-whatever-he-wants" is learning a thing or two about the harsh reality of life eh?
i do know what 'harsh life' is.
firstly, i was in the INFANTRY!!!
so i know what a 'shit life' is. i went through it for 2 and a half years.
(i have no respect for all the sissy clerks)

and yes, my parents may be loaded with cash,
but i'm not. and it's funny how people cant see the difference.
i would have gone into details as to how i survived with only $12.87 in my savings account,
but i choose not to, because i find it unnecessary, and i need no pity from anyone.

my point is, people shouldnt judge me.

i really am trying my best and not giving up.

just emotionally drained that's all...
but i'm feeling better just ranting it out...
whoever is reading this, thanks for tolerating my whining. :)

that's all for now...
XOXO
D

sun, sand and another interview

the sun is up

::took this picture while sun tanning with lipei at Bondi Beach::
the sun is up.
literally and figuratively.

after a disastrous interview last week,
i pretty much lost hope in the design studio i applied for.
i would be lying if i said i didn't feel a tad upset.
(i was devastated to be exact)
but yesterday, i received a miraculous email from the creative director!
she emailed me asking if i could drop by the studio for a second interview with the Managing Director.
i flipped, literally.
i was thrilled!
i was extremely grateful to God that he had answered my prayers and granted me a second chance.
never in this world would i ever have guessed i'd be given another chance to prove myself again.
i needed the comeback badly; i needed to redeem myself.

dressed in my finest suit, i went for the interview earlier today.
the MD was very approachable, as with the rest of the staff.
i went through my portfolio with him, and at the end of it,
he said that he liked my thought process and though i still had a lot to improve upon, he seemed interested in me.
after he left, the CD continued to talk to me.
she said that she'll put me on a 3 days trial next week, and i will be paid at freelance rates. if everything goes well, i should be able to be a permanent staff.
i was extremely happy!
i am one step closer to my goal.

from what i know, design studios don't normally issue trials to potential candidates.
they either hire them, or they don't.
so i'm not sure if it's a good or a bad thing.
but what i do know is that, i've been given another chance to prove myself,
and i pray really hard i'll be able to leave them a good impression next week during my trial.
they are after all a very established company that is expanding and doing really well in the design field.
it would be such an honor to work with them.
and in a Devil-Wears-Prada kinda fashion, if i stick it out with them for the next 2 years, i'll be able to get any design job i want in the future.
simply put, a million designers would kill for this job.
so i pray real hard i don't fuck it up next week...

i have another interview this coming friday.
it's a fashion based design firm, so that'll be really exciting!
so if eff it up on my trial, at least i have a back-up plan to fall on.


::the one and only Bondi Beach. such a pretty sight. took this pic when we just got off the bus::
and yesh! today, the sun was shinning brightly and the weather was absolutely perfect!
26 degrees!!!!
omg, i long for summer badly, so this was a preview of what the weather could be at the end of the year.
to celebrate the fabulous weather and the interview,
lipei and i headed to the one and only Bondi Beach!!!!!!!!!!!
we had so much fun!!!
i think i'll let the pictures do the talking.


::lipei and i enjoying the sun. it felt more like summer rather than spring, which is great!!!::


::erm... me and my new shades::


::i took this picture when a group of guys walked past us. i like this pic a lot::


::lipei and i made a sand turtle. she forced me....::


::just look at what lipei is doing...::


::i played no part in this! it was all lipei's doing! so embarrassing...::


::after spending 3 hours under the sun, we washed up and then had FRIED MARS BAR! yeah you heard it right, fried chocolate mars bar! it's awesomely awesome! i'm still puzzled why lipei doesn't know how to use a fork...::


wana thank everyone again for their kind words.
it made me feel better.
well, that's all for now.
XOXO
D

my first interview

interview with the Creative Director

::feel so defeated...::
so yeah, i had my first interview today.
my first interview EVER.
and well, i believe it's the first of many more to come.
i'm a little disappointed though.
on one hand, i'm glad that they selected me for an interview.
i'm glad that they said they liked my work.
however, on the other hand, i felt i could have done much better for the interview.
argh!
i felt i was caught off guard.
i wasn't nervous to begin with.
i was calm and composed.
i was prepared to answer questions like:
"what are your strengths and weaknesses?"
"what do you NOT like about graphic design?"
"why do you want to work for our studio?"
"give me an example of a problem and how you resolved it."
"what do you do when you have a problem with a team member?"
"what improvements have you made to a particular project?"
but ultimately, she was very casual, and just asked me to show my portfolio and explain my work. it's supposed to be the easiest interview ever! but i feel i sort of messed it up somehow.
argh!
i was tongue tied... my words didn't flow as it should...
i couldn't explained in detail, and kept repeating myself...
argh!
what made me upset is that i'm good at this!
i'm good at explaining my work.
i'm good at presenting!
it's one of my forté, for crying out loud!
arghh!
but i couldnt deliver...
and i'm disappointed with myself...
the creative director did say she liked my work.
but there's more to it than that.
chemistry is really important, and i felt i didn't make enough of an impression.
argh...

i even wore my suit and new Calvin Klein shoes...
i guess the almighty power of fabric couldn't save me either.

i was told not too worry so much.
after all, i do know it's only my first interview.
and normal human beings don't usually get it on their first try..
but i really love the design studio.
they are such an awesome bunch of people.
the studio is too pretty to work in! (i'll be distracted by the furniture and that's a good thing!)
and they are such a well established company with many important clients under their belt.
it would be such an honor to work with them...
argh!

i'm still sending out my resume and portfolio to other potential employers.
a couple of them are fashion based, which is pretty awesome.
i'll try to be as optimistic as i can.
just keep hoping,
just keep pushing myself,
and see where that takes me.

keeping my fingers crossed and twisted.

wana thank those who have wished me luck prior to the interview.
and of cos, the comforting after that. :)

to my precious Zoe

Happy Birthday Zoe!

::not her most recent picture. zoe's just so cute!!!::
i have never liked kids.
i find them noisy, annoying and extremely needy.
and well... kids don't seem to like me very much either.
there's just no chemistry between us whatsoever.
i guess... the feeling's mutual.

but i love my niece, Zoe, very very much.
and for the first time, i can finally understand why couples would want a child(children) of their own.
Zoe is probably the closest i'll ever have to having my own child.
i think about her all the time.
i think about whether if she's walking now, whether if she's speaking now, whether if her teeth have started growing out and so on.
sometimes when i'm out shopping, i find myself unconsciously wandering and pacing around the kids department, browsing through all the adorable outfits for her and wondering which one would go well for what occasion.

i have a picture of her clearly displayed on my table.
looking at it everyday makes me wana hold her tight and kiss her on the cheeks.
it constantly reminds me of her infectious laughter, which never fails to lift up my spirit. or her big bright smile that says everything is gona be alright.
my brother recently sent me an updated picture of her.
she's grown so much in just 2 months...
i cant believe she has started calling my bro and charlotte "papa" and "mama"!
she's still as adorable as ever and smiling as always.

it kills me that i cant be there on her 1st birthday party.
i really wish i could jump on a plane right this minute and see her.
i just pray that i'll not miss anymore of such occasions.
because i want to be an uncle who will be there for her.




::i drew her a birthday card. this illustration was the outer cover that wraps the birthday card. i spent the whole morning drawing 12 different kinds of cupcakes to make this wallpaper. thank God i love cupcakes, or i'll go crazy drawing each one of them::

anyway,

Happy 1st Birthday my precious Zoe!!!!!!
have a fantastic and joyous birthday!!!!
uncle dylan will be back as soon as i can to see ya.

*Zoe turns 1 on the 7th of September. Celebrations would be held on the 6th.*


i cant really upload the picture of the main card becos i drew a character from my "upcoming" children's book, and didnt wana have any copyright issues. i might be able to post it in the future. for now i've just shown it to fauz, lipei, ben and of cos my brother. they love it to bits. so that's good enough. :)

fashion entry

i heart fashion

::tickets to the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival::
let me start by quoting a paragraph from my favorite poetry.

"...where a strong wave of tailoring comes down the catwalk,
all formal, and all in muted greys and creams.
it's one of the strongest indicators of the season that the loud
colour of last summer has died back and given way to much
more considered tones.
But these suits aren't lazy.
The cuts are slick, the linings minimal." - by GQ Style.

this is what i call poetry! just beautiful!

so what is fashion?
and what does fashion mean to you?
when you say you love fashion, do you mean
you love clothes in general? the design? the designer? the tailoring?
the brand? or the history behind it?

let me tell you my definition of fashion.
Fashion is not about utility.
An accessory is merely a piece of iconography,
used to express individual identity.
but i dun stop at there.
when i carry, say, a Gucci wallet,
i'm aware that The House of Gucci was founded by
a guy named Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921.
in the 1990s the company was having financial difficulties,
closed to bankruptcy.
in 1994, Tom Ford was appointed as creative director.
Domenico De Sole was CEO at that time.
in 1999 Gucci forged a strategic alliance with French group PPR,
and at the same time, acquired Yve Saint Laurent.
2001, Ford's lean sleek look with lashings of sex appeal Spring Collection
became a signature style for Gucci.
in 2004, Ford and de Sole left Gucci due to disagreements with PPR bosses.
Frida Giannini is currently the creative director.
(and yes, i remember facts like that by heart)

Tom Ford has since launched his own eyewear (in 2005), fragrance (in 2006)
and men's wear(in 2007).
i love his perfume!!! in my opinion, Black Orchid by Ford is one of the best female perfumes around. i am personally using the man's fragrance by Tom Ford and its
absolutely beautiful!

what about Calvin Klein? i absolutely love Calvin Klein!
but does anyone know who the designer/designers is/are?
no.. not 'Calvin Klein'.... duh.
Fransico Costa is currently the creative director for the women's wear.
Kevin Carrigan is the creative director of CK Calvin Klein.
and finally, Italo Zucchelli is the head designer for the menswear. (if i'm not wrong!)

what about say... i dunno... local aussie fashion line Alphaville a.k.a. Alpha60?
as you guys should already know by now, i love love love the clothes from them.
they are Melbourne based who recently just opened their first sydney store in Sydney. brother and sister team, Georgie and Alex Cleary started their Alpha 60 label in 2002.
their range focuses on surreal graphics and sophisticatedly quirky shapes. Georgie makes the prints all by herself.
in 2006, their works were exhibited at the National Design Centre at Federation Square and even designed the uniforms for Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant in Melbourne.
they are impressive eh?

my point is,
when i say i love fashion, i say it with conviction.
i say it with backing reasons.
i say it because i truly, truly love it.
that goes with labels that i particularly love.
i wear it because i love the garment.
i wear it because i know the brand.
i wear it because i know the people behind the designs.
the excellent tailoring, the fabric used, the design and style, what goes behind making them... all these factors dictate what i purchase and what i put on.
i dun carry a Louis Vuitton bag or wallet just because i want to achieve a bigger-than-life status. i carry it because i know Marc Jacobs is exceptional at what he does and has done for LV. i love his vision and love the fact that he has collaborated with Takashi Murakami and Stephen Sprouse to produce a collection that infuses fashion with art and design. and i love the fact that LV makes fabulous bags.
and it doesnt have to be branded labels that i'll fall for.
i even love local aussie designers.
James Cameron, Hem and Haw, Trimapee, Ksubi just to name a few.
i also love the fact that fashion defines who we are and it allows us, as i have mentioned, to express our own individual identity.

that's why i hate it when people say they love fashion "just because. period."
i hate it when some poser gay boy wears what he wears because all his friends are wearing them.
i hate it when people wear something just because it's "in" right now.
for example, when i was back in singapore, i've seen countless people wearing scarfs.... seriously.... it's freaking hot in singapore, you dun wear a scarf! (a thin scarf may be fine, but borderline)
even in fashion, i believe in practicality.
i too hate it when people buy fake goods... they have absolutely no respect for the designers.

Ultimately, what i'm trying to put across is,
when i say i love fashion, please do not stereotype me like everyone else.
never put me into the "great, another gay boy who loves fashion" category.
because when i say i love fashion, i mean it with all my heart.
(just so you know, all the facts regarding the fashion labels are written by memory.
feel free to test me in person.)


::Rosemount Sydney Fashon FEstival Banne::
lipei and i recently attended the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival which lasted from the 13th to 17 august.
the event was fabulous! featuring local aussie labels like Sass & Bide, Wayne Cooper, Alex Perry, One Teaspoon, James Cameron, Silence is Golden, Jayson Brunsdon...
just to name a few out of a long list of labels.
we wanted to go for the friday show to view Sass & Bide's collection. but sadly, it was sold out. my next option was to go for the saturday show because they have James Cameron, Trimapee, Romance was Born and Bowie. it'll be great to see a mix of menswear and womenswear on the runway.
i enjoyed the show very much, and James Cameron's collection, in my opinion, lived up to his name. love love love it!
if there was anything to complain about, it's the models.
lipei and i were disappointed with them because they looked tired and uninterested.
it's as though they wanted to rush through the whole show and get out of there asap.

these are some pics i took during the show.



::oohhh... gotta love the LED lights!::

>
::the runway inside the tent. the whole tent was pitched on Martins Place. very Bryan Park-ish::

first up, Frisoni Finetti.





i didnt get to take much pics in the beginning of the show because i was trying to figure out how to use my digital camera.
it's a pretty old camera therefore many of the pics came out really badly at the start of the show.
had to make a lot of adjustments to the exposure. (it's time to get a new camera!)
finally managed to get it right. therefore, the pics look much better at the end. :)

next up is by Illionaire.





too bad i was having probs with my camera.
the clothes on display were just gorgeous.

third in line is Therese Rawsthorne.











i must say, the clothes by Therese Rawstonrne are exceptionally beautiful.

Trimapee is next, a label that i personally like.









the clothes from Trimapee are quirky, which is what i like about them.
in general i tend to like their coats and jackets. but their shirts are pretty awesome as well.
i didnt get to snap many of the menswear as i was still meddling with my camera.
but dun worry, i was still able to enjoy the show. :)

next is my favourite label, James Cameron. (the pics get better)















the collection didnt disappoint. i fell in love with everything on the runway.
bright colours and well tailored. it was enjoyable just watching it.

finally we have Romance Was Born.

















at the beginning of the show, i was very excited to see what Romance Was Born has to offer.
they are often very unpredictable, and that's what i love about them.
during last year's Motorola Melbourne Spring Fashion Week,
they came out with this wedding theme. extremely hilarious and a great way to end the show.
this time round, it was a nomad kind of a theme.
exception clothes, gorgeousl prints and i love the whole wackyness of it.
the bull mask... you gotta love it. haaa!


::lipei and i outside the tend::




::what i wore...::
so... what did i wear to the event?
(man, this sounds like last year's fashion show)
i wore:
White shirt by FCUK. $120
Yellow jumper by Saxony. $80
Cardigan by Alpha60. $169
Bow tie by Beat Poët. $99
Scarf by Gucci. $310
Black skinny jeans by Cheap Monday. $95
Socks by H&M. (not sure how much. from Ben who got it from New York)
Shoes by Converse. $79
Watch by Armani. $290
Long wallet by Calvin Klein. $179
Underwear... haa! by Calvin Klein. $45

as you can see, i wore a mix of formal and casual stuff,
which is usually my style.
if only you guys can see the Alpha60 cardigan up close.
it's extremely unique and quirky. i love it!

as for lipei, she wore a simple yet beautiful dress from Quick Brown Fox,
and a pair of pink high heels from... i cant remember where. haa!
she also inserted a flower at the side of her hair. pretty and cute. :)


this month's recommendations?
(yesh, i may do a monthly fashion entry)
i'll be highlighting a few labels that i personally love.
they've been around for a while, so some of you may already own
a couple of pieces from them. (give the others a chance!)


::tshirts by April 77 Records::
the first is April 77.
founded by Bric Partouche in 2002,
the brand has now split into 2 sub brands.
one is called April 77 Records which, in association with it's record label, is more towards the denim side. so you can expect lot's of skinny jeans and basic tshirts.
the other is called April 77, which is more towards the fashion and experimental side.
what i love about April 77 is that it does so well at fusing music with fashion.
the brand is heavily influenced by rock-and-roll, and this can be seen throughout their collection. i love how they would incorporate a guitar pick onto their jeans on even onto the polo shirts (autumn/winter 08). even the simple designs on the tshirts somehow just screams music. and what i like about April 77 Records is that, when you buy a piece of apparel from them, you can download a song from their website simply by typing in the password which is found on the clothe tag. (you gota scratch out the special numbers like a lucky draw coupon) awesome eh?
i do however feel that their cutting are suited for the skinny, slim and small build.
the skinnier the better. seriously!
finally! something that looks good on skinny guys! i personally have to wear medium though, cos their small size is really really small...
so check them out at www.april77.fr and www.april77records.com



::clothes by A.P.C.""
next is French label A.P.C. founded by Jean Touitou in 1988.
what i like about A.P.C. is that their clothes are extremely well tailored, ensuring that they fit appropriately to your body. the superior quality of fabrics used in their clothes ensure that it's money well spent. :) the brand focuses a lot on designs that are minimal and cleancut, thus making it accessible to most people. so if you're the kind who aren't all that adventurous when dressing up but still wana look stylish, then A.P.C. might be your answer.
if you're in sydney, you can get them at Incu and Our Spot.
check it out at www.apc.fr.
you'll be impressed.



::pic taken from Our Spot::
lastly, i'll introduce a local Sydney label called Rittenhouse.
understated and lacking in publicity, Rittenhouse makes it up for it's designs. it has one of the most wearable and original style in the local fashion industry. team Sally McDonald and Micah Hamdorf traverse the world in search of stocklists. the label consists from loose fitting, over sized tshirt dresses to beautifully crafted parkas and sculptural tops.
sold in Australia, LA, London and Japan, get it now at www.rittenhouse.com.au.

that's all for now. :)
just wana thank the few friends who have read my previous post and have comforted me i in more ways than one. u thank you for that. and i'll do better for sure.

let me end this entry with a quote by Christian Dior.
'"By being natural and sincere, one often can create revolutions without having sough them".

the devil in me

what has the future installed for me?

i simply cant comprehend the situation that i am in.
do i follow wat my heart tells me?
or be rational and let the mind do the thinking and decide?
the fire in me is slowly dying out.
i need a quick fix.
one that would put me right back on track,
because the devil in me is eating me up.
one little piece at a time.
if this persist, i'll not only lose my mind,
but i believe it will kill everything that i am,
and everything that i have,
and everything that i believe in.

i just wish everything was as easy as reading a manual and
following the directions accordingly.
i wish everything was foolproof,
wrapped entirely in bubble wrap,
and sealed with a quality stamp.
if there were any defects, simply send it back and get a full refund.
service should always be efficient.
never letting us wait till the cows come home.

the feelings i have now,
are filled with anger, disappointment and jealousy.
there is no room for anything else because
people do not TRY to understand me.
i've spoken, i've showed emotions.
but what do i get in return?
yes i'm nice. yes i'm happy. yes i'm talented. yes i get whatever fuck i want.
i've heard them all before.
a simple respond like that wont do.
tell me something i dont know.
tell me something i need to know.
tell me something useful.
better yet, show me.

all i can do for now is wait.
wait is all i can do for now...

i love...

my sydney life thus far

::pic of the Sydney Habour Bridge and Opera House. my current apartment is just 5 min away from where i took this pic. it's seriously very near the Habour brighe, and that's wat i like about Kirribilli. took this pic with the iphone::


::lipei and i taking a quick break at Hyde Park. i just love sitting on the grass watching the world go by. pic taken with the iphone::
almost 4 months have passed and sydney isn't as overwhelming as i thought it would be.
sure it's still Australia, but i personally feel it has a whole different culture as compared to melbourne.
i love melbourne.
i always will.
sydney... i'm slowly but surely appreciating it.
i do have to say,
i love my current apartment.
it's at Kirribilli and if you guys know where that is, you'll know it's a pretty area.
i love my walk-in wardrope! and the clothes in it. :)


::this is the pier that is just beside our apartment. i love the view. it was love at frst sight::
i love Crown street, Paddinton, Newtown, Bondi, Rhodes and Chatswood!
oh! and not forgetting the little pretty shop along Pitt Street called "Cupcakes on Pitt"!
i love cupcakes.
as the name implies, it sells extremely pretty and tasty cupcakes!
i love the sticky date and tiramitsu ones!
and to lipei and my surprise, they serve delicious soups too!
perfect for winter.
i love having hot soups on a cold winter day.


::lipei and i had tea and an apple crumble at "Coffee, tea or me". i love the tea cups. ::
lipei and i are still finding a perfect place to have fabulous coffees and cakes.
see, the thing is, sydney lacks the coffee culture melbourne is known for.
the cafes here serve pretty bad coffees and it's difficult to find
a nice cosy place like St Jeromes (Melbourne).
i love coffees. so it's important to find good coffees.
we did explore sydney quite a bit and Crown street is pretty cool.
"Kawa" is a great cafe where creative people gather and meet.
"Coffee, tea or me" has great fusion and herbal teas.
and Fifi-watever-the-rest-of-the-name-is looks great too.

what else is new?
hmmm...
i have a new imac, which i love.
a new purple psp, which i love just as much.
and a new iphone 3G...
seriously, the new iphone 3G is over hyped.
it's not flawless that's for sure.
there's quite a lot of things that you cant do with it.
and i'm still wondering why steve job would incoporate bluetooth into the iphone
when the only use for it is for a handsfree head set....
you cant even transfer data or pics with bluetooth.... i find that ridiculous...
and i hate the fact that you gota do everything through itunes...
and come on! i wana customise my ringtone!
you cant customised ringtones becos firstly, you need to purchase songs from itunes.
secondly, only America itunes store can customise ringtones becos of overseas copyright issues...
so for us in Australia we have to wait for the Australian itunes store to be updated.
and singapore... well... let's just say singapore doesnt even have a Singaporean itunes store to begin with...
i love apple.
but i dun love the iphone 3G.
i may like it... but i dun love it.


::pic of me at Crown Street::
anyway, life on the whole is still fabulous.
i have lipei with me so how bad can it be right? :)
i'm being a little more thrifty and trying to spend less on clothes.
it's difficult.
it's the closest i'll ever get to cold turkey.
i love clothes.
i love bags.
i love fashion.

i'm missing my family back home.
i love my mum.
i wish she could join me here in sydney so i can bring her around.
i love my niece too.
and i wish i could be there to see her take her first step.
i miss the times i had when i was back in singapore in may/june
and i love the times we had, fauz. so take care and will see you soon!

i think i've written enough for the day.
it's 3am. i better get some rest.
and yesh... i lovveeeee sleeping.

swelling with emotions

it's 3.21am.
i'm sitting here in front of my 4 year old powerbook,
listening to Sara Bareilles' Little Voice album as i'm typing this.
i'm swelling with emotions.
and it's clear cos i'm typing an entry into my blog.
"where my inner thoughts reside" is how i would described it.
but i havent touched it for as long as i can remember.
but that doesnt mean i havent been thinking...
that doesnt mean my life is at a stand still...
that doesnt mean i dont feel the world around me...
i do.
i'm swelling with emotions.
and maybe it's time to just type a little something for the world to know,
that i feel, and am very much alive.

as most of you guys would have known by now, i'm leaving for sydney.
in a week's time.
in a week's time....
2 months have just slipped by me.
2 months have just slipped by.....
i'm swelling with mix emotions.
i'm gona miss everyone again...
"what's new?" you may ask.
well let me tell you,
it's not easy saying farewells to people you love and care so much for.
"you're so lucky! i mean, you get to live and work overseas!!!" you may say.
well, let me tell you,
it's not easy living and working in a whole different and foreign country where
all your love ones are back home. you only get to see them once a year... 6000km apart...
separated by land and sea... and only a voice on the phone to say how much they love
and care for you... that they will support you no matter what it is.... think about it, is it easy
to be away from people who are there for you all the time?.... i dont think so.
"so why leave? you have a choice." you may reply.
well, let me say this,
i believe in sacrifices... i believe in the phrase "you reap what you sow". i have aspirations and goals.
to be at where i wana be, i need to do this. i need to do it so that i can come back and support
the people i love. it's about time i start earning my own paper.

i'm not sure if any of you feel that your parents are getting older.
i very much do.
and i'm not just refering to their age.
i only get to see them once or twice a year.
and everytime i do, i can just see it in them...
they are not wat they use to be 10 or even 5 years ago...
i'm swelling with emotions...
and i cant stop thinking about what i can and wana do for them.
there's just so much.
there's just so much.
there's just so much...
there's just not enough time...

tell me what would my future holds.
tell me that i'm doing it right.
tell me if i need to make a U turn.
tell me what the voices in my head are.
tell me to believe in myself.
tell me where i belong.
tell me that everything would be alright.
tell me that fear is non existent.
tell me the reasons for it all.
if someone would just tell me...
i dont have the answers, but i'll just take a step at a time,
and slowly move forward, looking out for the answers along the way.
i'm swelling with emotions and i cant get it out of my head.

i heart melbourne

will and grace

::pic of lipei and i while waiting for the tram. this is by far the best pic of us together. to set the mood for fashion week, we decided to pose like models. you know... the cold, we-are-fabulous-dun-mess-with-us kinda look. :) anyway, love this pic a lot, especially the colours ::

living the lives of Will & Grace.
this is the kind of relationship lipei and i
have developed over the years we have been in melbourne.
if you have watched the tv series,
and you know us in person,
you'll totally agree that i'm very much the character Will, and lipei as Grace.
firstly, i'm aj. (just like Will)
and secondly, i'm the controlled guy that makes sure
everything doesnt go overboard.
lipei is the big curly hair girl (just like Grace), who's nothing but fun and laughter;
basically, a free-spirited girl.
i have my own apartment, and lipei crashes into mine for a month.
(that happens exactly in the tv series)
and when she moved out a couple of weeks back,
she still stays over at my place and we hang out everyday, just like Will & Grace.
a lot of things that happen in Will & Grace would somehow happen to us as well.
we are each other's support, like in Will & Grace.
we have this mutual understanding for each other, just like Will & Grace.
everytime we watch Will & Grace together,
it's like watching a reflection of us on the small screen.

so lipei, you will always be my Grace.
and i'll always be your Will. :)


i know its been a while since i last updated.
august has been really eventful for me.
and it seems it's not slowing down for the month of september!


before you scroll down and view the pics,
i better write everything that i have to say first.
cos there are over 80 pics in this entry, and by the time you reach the bottom,
i dun think any of you would care about reading the last bits.
can you imagine?! 80 pics in an entry!!! has anyone ever put that many
pics in a single entry?

to fauzi,
hey, cant wait for you to come here (melbourne) and
spend your holidays with me. (and of cos lipei)
there are so many places i wana take you to.
so better prepare yourself!


after being in melbourne for a couple of years,
i have truly grown to love melbourne very much.
in fact, i'm loving melbourne more with each passing day.
as you scroll down and view all the pics,
you'll realised that there's always something to do in melbourne.
new places to explore,
new gallery openings to attend,
new restaurants to dine in,
concerts after concerts to scream about,
parties after parties to go crazy about...
you'll never get bored of the city.
it's full of life here.
and i'm really enjoying my stay here.
i'll miss melbourne terribly when i go back.
but i'll always know that melbourne will welcome me back with open arms.
and who knows, i might find home here one day...

WARNING
yes... warning... a lot of pics are being uploaded in this entry.
so pls be patient and wait for them to upload.
there are still a hundred more pics to upload.
and i'm not kidding about the number.
there are still a lot of pics i took in singapore that are not uploaded here yet.
so be patient and i'll upload them in the next couple of entries.

in the mean time....



::the Motorola Melbourne Spring Fashion Show. took this picture during the second show::
Fashion Show
The Motorola Melbourne Spring Fashion Week just came to an end.
this was one event i have been waiting since the begining of the year.
it is THE event for me!
afterall, my life revolves around fashion and the fashion shows.
i attended 2 out of the 4 shows.
too bad i couldnt get tickets for the last show...
but we had fantastic seats!!!
third row from the runway.
all thanks to me of course! heee...
before the fashion shows, many outfits were scouted.
finally settled on 2 sets of clothes.


::lipei in her gorgeous outfit! the pic doesnt justify the fabulous-ness of the outfit::


::lipei and i all dressed up for the fashion show::
for the first show, (titled Style Wars)
danny, lipei, devi, bus, kathy, michael and i attended the event.
i wore:
white shirt ($60) with fabulous gold cufflinks ($50),
a gold slim tie ($50),
Nudie thin fin jeans ($210),
converse shoes ($70, yesh i finally bought a pair of shoes for the event),
a black trench coat ($250),
and i carried a gold men's purse and wore gold ear studs.
i love gold so my attire was basically gold and black.
lipei wore green and gold that night too, so it was great
that we complimented each other. :)
lipei, you were absolutely gorgeous that night!
and so were devi and kathy!!!
during the show, fashion labels Kate Hurst and Friedrich Gray shone,
with fabulous outfits and shoes.
Alpha60, Claude Maus and TV were great as well.
Romance Was Born ended the show in a funny but entertaining way
with 3 pairs of wedding outfits. 2 straight couples and 1 gay couple. :)


::when stepped into the Melbourne Town Hall, you are greeted by make-up booths. the whole setting for the show is so glamorous::


::closer look at the make-up booths::


::pic taken during the first show (Style Wars)::


::michael, bus, kathy, devi, me and lipei at the Fashion Show After Party. deeny couldnt join us for the after party cos he has an exam the next day::


::gorgeous devi and i toasting::

the second show, (titled The Looking Glass)
i wore a thin strip shirt from RDX ($90),
a Jacket from RDX ($120),
an ultra slim tie ($50),
Nudie thin fin jeans, converse shoes and my gold man's purse.
this second show was so much better than the first one.
i love the clothes from Aurelio Costarella, Anna Thomas and Nevenka.
the rest like Husk, Christine and Jayson Brunsdon were amazing too!


::lipei and her gorgeous tube dress::


::me trying to pose. i had a long day before the show... ::


::as i have mentioned before, you got to be there to fully experience it. it's extremely glamorous::


::model wearing clothes by Anna Thomas::


::model wearing clothes by Jayson Brunsdon::


::model wearing clothes by Aurelio Costarella::


::models wearing clothes by Aurelio Costarella::


::this is how gorgeous the models are. this pic shows the screen beside the runway. lipei, denny and i particualrly love this model::


going to a fashion show is really exciting.
the atmosphere, the gorgeous crowd, the cameras clicking,
the models strutting down the runway and posing, the after party...
it's really different from watching fashion shows on tv.
and not forgetting, australian models are gorgeous!!!



::look at how beautiful the threater is! this is where we watched the film Paprika during the Melbourne Internation Film Festival::
Film Festival
there was the Melbourne International Film Festival.
as with any other years, lipei and i watched 2 films.
the first was Day Watch.
we watched the first one, Night Watch, 2 years back, our first year in melbourne.
so it's fantastic that we caught the sequel during our third
and fianl year here in melbourne.
the special effects in Day Watch is spectacular!
nothing short from the first film.
the story can get a little confusing and i wished there was more character development.
the concept's very original and interesting, but lacks substance.
however, overall, it's still worth catching the movie.
i just cant wait for the third and final installment.


::a shot of us just before the show started::

the second film we watched was Paprika, a japanese anime movie.
visuals and artwork are amazingly detailed.
story is confusing and needs a little more explanation.
but still a good movie nonetheless.


::our tickets for Gwen Stefani and Bob Dylan's concert!!!::
Concerts
lipei and i attended Gwen Stefani and Bob Dylan's concerts.
2 concerts.
1 word.
FABULOUS!
lipei and i were very fortunate!!!
during Gwen Stefani's concert, she came over to our seating area!!!!!
lipei stood beside Gwen Stefani while i was just behind her!!!!
and i touched her!!! i touched Gwen Stefani!!!
overall, the concert is one of the best i've ever attended.
the props, the costumes, the band, the music...
awesome!!!!
if any of you guys ever get the chance to watch Gwen Stefani perform,
please do not hesitate to get the tickets.
it's worth every cent!


::this is why we have the BEST SEATS!!!! Gwen Stefani was at our seating area!!! i was directly behind her!!!::


::damn the girl's mobile phone... or i'll be getting a great shot of Gwen Stefani::




::this is why Bob Dylan's concert is awesome! look at the crowd!! look at how grand it is!!! i love this pic very much! ::
Bob Dylan is a legend!
yesh he's old and his songs wouldnt be appreciated by many youngsters these days.
but lipei and i really enjoyed his concert very much.
he's amazing! you have got to be there to fully appreciate his music.
he is, afterall, a legend!
i'm glad that i went.


::the stage at Bob Dylan's concert::


::this is a blurry shot of us just before the concert. i'm wearing the green Bob Dylan's Bandana. lipei's wearing the Bob Dylan concert T-shirt::


::Bob Dylan's concert program::


::LOOK! my name's on the cover!!! heeee.... ::


::lipei and i can be very crazy at times... this is us lying on the ground of an overhead bridge after Bob Dylan's concert. people were walking pass us.... but we didnt really care ::


::no matter how crazy we are... we still have each other::

next concert lipei and i will be attending is Snow Patrol!!!



::this shot was taken outside the National Gallery of Victoria. it's currently exhibiting the Guggenheim Collection::


::this is the State Library of Victoria::
Exhibitions
there are many exhibition running in Melbourne at this point in time.
i went to the Guggenheim Collection Winter Masterpieces at the
National Gallery of Victoria.
works by 68 artists including Roy lichtenstein (i love!), jackson Pollock,
Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol and Cindy Sherman, were on display.
i went to the exhibtion twice, and i love it!
next i went to Famous: Karin Catt Portraits exhibition at
the State Library of Victoria.
i love this exhibition very much.
Karin Catt is amazing.
another exhibition lipei and i went was a graffiti exhibition by famous
graffiti artists all around melbourne.
artists like Reka, Phins, Dabs ete were on display.
the exhibition was held at Revolver, a club along Chapel Street.


::this is Revolver pub along Chapel Street. awesome atmosphere! i highly recommend the place. anyway, the graffiti exhibition is currently held here::


::just some of the pieces exhibited on the wall of the pub::


::more artwork at the other end of the pub. the artworks on display are amazing!::

Drinking sessions
erm... yeah i've been having a lot of drinking seesions....
but it's so much fun!
i dun think i will be able to upload all the pics from the parties here.
so i'll upload shirley's birthday party (the most recent event), the drinking/clubbing session my friends and i had at Cookies and Boulevard, and the other drinking session at Bimbos along Brunswick Street.
jennifer, if you are reading this, i'm sorry but your birthday party pics
will be in the next entry. :) we had a lot of fun at wagamama and Lavish ya. :)

shirley's birthday


::took this photo from the garden at the back of the house::
we had the birthday party at Akiko and Kumiko's house.
i love the house very much!
very homely and spacious.
and the party was awesome and fun!
almost everyone was there.
i'm really glad to have friends like them!
and if you are wondering why we are all in pink... well...
cos the theme is PINK!!!
this happens when girls organise events.


::this is the birthday girl, shirley. look at how shy she is :) happy birthday again shirley. glad that you enjoyed your birthday ::


::we had an A1 piece of paper pasted on the wall. everyone would draw something that would represent what shirley's world would be. the final result is an awesome piece of artwork. good job my fellow graphic designers!!!::


::not everyone is in the picture::


::jolina, jennifer, me and devi::


::we are definitely very pink! jolina's wearing a tutu. :) ::


::kumiko, jennifer, me and aaron in accending height. haaa! and we didnt even plan it!::


::me, shirley, nina and christa at the living room::


::me, devi, jennifer and michael, the fantastic (and fabulous!) four!!!::


::michelle and i at the kitchen. love your outfit, michelle!::


::post-fashion week fever!!! devi and i couldnt get enough of fashion week... so we decided to pose for the camera::


::jennifer, devi, me and akiko::


::steven, me, michael, sam and aaron. man enough to be in pink!!! hey... sam and aaron arent in pink...::


::michael digging for garbage after the party.... dun ask me why... haaa! ::

the group photos are with the rest.
so pls people, pls pass me the group photos
so i can upload it here. thank you very much. :)


Cookies
after a stressful semester, it's time to wind down and head over
to the coolest pubs and clubs for drinks.
all of us went to Cookies, which is an awesome pub btw, for a hell of a good time.
we drank a lot... too much for some of us...
but heck! we need the drinks!!!


::steven, michael, michelle, me, jennifer and christa::


::jennifer, christa, shirley, me, nina, devi and kumiko::


michelle, michael and jennifer sharing a drink::


::me, michelle, aaron, michael and jennifer::


::fiona, christa, michelle, me, michael, ivan and shirley::


::me, akiko and jennifer::


::fiona, me, nina and kumiko::


Boulevard
Boulevard is a club along the Yarra River.
that night was asian night.
and by the time we got to Boulevard, most of us were
pretty high from the drinking session earlier on.
so yeah, from the pics, you can kinda tell that most of us are pretty drunk...


::group photo of us inside Boulevard::


::yup... pics of us drunk...::


::and here's another pic of us drunk... we get really huggable when we are tipsy...::


::another group photo of us in Boulevard::


::kumiko, devi and i::


::erm... i think the pic speaks for itself...::


::me, jennifer and ivan... the remaining survivors??... ::

Bimbos
seriously, the pub/restaurant is really called Bimbos..
nope, there arent any bimbotic blondes as waitresses serving us...
the mascot and logo has nothing to do with bimbos...
and no, it's not a gathering place for bimbos...
in fact, the mascot is a cute (some say it's scary) baby...
pls dun ask me why...
i'm just there for the awesome food!!! and drinks!!! and music!!! and of cos, company!!!
that night... we drank quite a bit... as usual...


::photo of us at Bimbos::


::michelle and ivan sharing a pizza while i'm just... yeah i'm just there... :P ::


::me, jolina and jennifer::


::me, fiona and danny::


::michelle sitting on jennifer's lap, while ivan and i lean in::


::group photo with all the girls... and me. heee... i'm such a lady's man... ::


::me and my two gorgeous girls, jennifer and devi::


::group photo of all of us there. the flash wasnt strong enough though::


Mics pics
basically, these are some random pics.
trying to upload as many pics as possible so that it doesnt pile up.


::roshan's boyfriend, roshan and i. roshan is an old friend of mine since JC, and i accidentally bumped into them after one of my drinking sessions. it's great to see her again::


::kenjee, lipei and i at Jeromes::


::lipei looking sexy and all::


::and me trying to act cute.....::


::lipei and i at Supper Inn in Chinatown::


::me, alvin and jared at Jeromes::


::me, lipei and denny at L'in Control for some late coffee::

and these are four of the many pics i took when i was back in sinagpore.
tons more to upload in the next entry....


::fauz and i at... erm... were we at Bishan? anyway, we were there to help out in the adventure race::


::me, fauz, suping and angelin at sentosa. it was fun! and we even brought champaign and martini glasses.... heee::


::the four of us at Arab Street sheesha-ing::


::thanks guys, for sending me off at the airport. appreciate that a lot::

wow, you guys have finally come to the end of this entry... phew!
it's pretty long eh?
meant to write more presonally stuff, but time is not on my side.
hope to do so soon.
i'll also be uploading some of my artwork in the next entry.
i'm very please with some of my illustrations and design work.
if you love fashion as much as i do,
look forward to that becos two of my works are fashion based! :)
in the mean time, take care and i'll try (no promise) to update this blog regularly.
and yesh... pestering me actually helps....

ciao!

intermission

i came and i left

::lipei and i in melb. miss you so much lipei!!!
no! it's not true!!!
my blog is not dead yet!!
it's very much alive and kicking!
.............. ok.... it's dormant....
but like a volcano, it'll erupt,
and soon, there will be many many entries
to read and pictures to gawd at. :)

but for now,
this is another one of those very short, anti-climatic intermisson.
yesh yesh... i'm supposed to be updating this blog regularly...
i think i have accumulated hundreds of pics to upload...
and i'm not exaggerating at all...
i'm also suppose to redesign this entire blog design...
hmmm......
dun worry my friends, i will in due time!
for now, i'm just gona do an extremely ultra mega brief summary...

finished my assignments and handed them in on 15 june.
flew back to singapore that very day for my winter holidays.
caught up with some of my friends (there were quite a few whom
i still havent gotten the chance to meet up... sorry guys...).
had lots and lots of fun...
so much so that i didnt wana fly back...
but i have to...
i flew back to melbourne on the 15 of july for my last semester.
so here i am, in winter cold melbourne.... *shiver*

very brief eh? :)
details would be accompanied with pics,
so pls wait till the next entry.

for now, i wana thank these people who made
my trip back to singapore so enjoyable.

fauz:
meow!!! thank you so much for everything.
i'm so happy to have you.
thanks for tolerating my nonsense
and being there for me always when i'm in need.
thank you so much for the food you cook.
i'm missing your tom yum badly!
and of cos all the shopping we did and the suppers
we had at simpang bedok.
thank you thank you thank you...
take care of yourself ya.
i miss you!!!

gaz:
hey man,
you know your working schedule is cra-cra-cra-crazy!
so make sure you get enough rest.
and pls pls pls ride safely.
thanks for taking time off to catch up with me.
enjoy your trip to L.A.!

boshen:
wei,
wo hen gao xin hui lai nen jian tao ni.
ok, i'll stop my han yu pin yin... muahaha
as i was saying, i'm glad to be able to catch up with you.
great that you're doing fine and all.
take good care of youself!
will catch up with you again year end.

jenn,
hugs!!!
i'm glad that i could be of a listening ear to you.
take good care of yourself.
and smile always! :)
it was so nice seeing you!
see you year end!!!

suping:
hey hey!
your company has always been fun and enjoyable.
the movies, the suppers, the shopping, the beach...
and savouring to fauz's delicious cooking. :)
cant wait to hang out with you again.
and thanks for sending me off at the airport.
appreciate that so much!
in the mean time, take care!!!

angelin:
hey girl,
still very impressed/amazed with your IT skills...
maybe next time you can help me with my comp. :P
wana say thanks for your company and
it was fabulous hanging out with you.
hope you get your psp soon!
then can wi-fi and play together. :)
take care!

jingyi:
hey hey,
it's always a nostalgic feeling hanging out with you.
too bad grace cant join us.
anyway, all the best in watever you do.
take care and send my regards to desmond. :)
catch up with you again when i get back.

kenny:
hey kenny!!!!
1 more year... just 1 more year!
wait... you are looking forward to graduating ya?
heee...
yesh... and next year i'll be joining you in hell....
ICT... fuck...
but anyway, great to meet up with you and the rest!
miss ya so much!!

alan:
hey!
next time you better follow me to you-know-where. :)
anyway, its great to see you, kenny and the rest.
all the best in your portfolio.
take care and i'll catch up with you when i'm back.

jared:
hey neighbour!
thanks so much for sending me off at the airport!
so envious you're back in sinagpore slacking and
enjoying your break...
but yup, you definitely deserve your break.
hope to catch up with you in melb in august.
in the mean time take care,
and pls pay simpang bedok(the eating place) a visit. :P

sham:
hey man,
thanks for introducing clique to me.
that's a really cool place to chill.
and thanks for asking my Godbro to join us for clubbing.
you are always so sweet.
do take good care of yourself.
will miss your company!

and to everyone else who i've met like fazli(my first Godbro), izad(my second Godbro), esen,
heed etc, thanks for everything. :)

and rain, i hope you are well in USA.
miss you loads!

ok ok, got to go now.
still got other stuff to do.
though i'm missing singapore terribly,
with lipei and the rest of my fabulous friends in melbourne,
i'll be soooo fine. :)

eternal assignments...

am i awake?

::asleep in dreamland::
i know i'm in serious need of an update.
and yesh, it's pretty obvious wat my reason would be.
it's my assignments...
if you guys have been msging me on msn,
you'll probably have a conversation like this:
you: how are you?
me: i'm doing alright... just busy
you: what have you been up to?
me: assignments
you: any plans for the weekends?
me: assignments... maybe a few drinks with friends.
you: ok... what are you doing right now?
me: assignments....
you: hmm.. it's pretty late...
me: yup... assignments...
you: so er... sleeping yet?
me: nope... assignments...
you: er ok, then i shant disturb you
me: assignments............

i'm left with just 2 weeks before my semester ends.
so you probably can imagine the sheer amount of work load.
and to make matters difficult, the final assignments are crazily challenging...
but you know, i'm pretty glad that the first half of third year is almost over.
time really flies eh? but then again, i've been thru so much to get here.
i'm more or less in a holiday mood already.
spending a lot of time outside having dinners and drinks.
and it's never too early for a beer. in aussieland that is.
beer for breakfast and lunch....
still trying to get accustomed to that though.


::the 6 of us discussing our assighment in the studio::
for one of my final assignments,
we were asked to be grouped into groups of 5 or 6.
i'm really happy to work with these group of friends.
everyone's doing a great job with what they are tasked to do.
everyone's putting in a lot of effort into this group assignment.
we have a lof of fun as well.
each meeting is such a joy!!!
we would eat, drink, gossip and joke around a lot.
but the best part is that we DO get the job done.
love them loads.
thanks jennifer, fiona, michelle, michael and ivan.
let's get everything done for the presentation!!!
we'll do great!

pictures of my other assignments would be posted
in later entries. i dun really have the time to
convert them into jpegs for uploading.
but i'm really please with my designs.
so do drop by to check it out next time. :)


::my logo after vectorizing my sketches::
i've finally done a personal logo for myself.
the idea behind it?
well... i know personal logos should reflect who i am.
but i've been drawing this character a lot for no reason
in my sketchbooks and for other people for a very long time.
i like it a lot. so i've decided to use it as my logo.
so yeah, you'll see it on my pictures and works from now on.



::the movie posters for 盛夏光年, eternal summer::
once in a blue moon,
out of no where,
when you least expected,
a film appears and sweeps you off your feet
with its touching story, beautiful cinematography,
engaging characters, heartfelt soundtrack....
you feel in love...
you feel out of love...
you feel the bond of friendship...
you feel hatred, sadness and betrayal all coming to you at once...
you smell the sweat off their bodies...
you taste the salt of sea water...
you smile...
you laugh...
then you tear...
not knowing if it's tears of joy or something unexplainable...
you look back at your own life,
only to realise it was a direct reflection of you.

盛夏光年, also known as 'eternal summer',
is one film that has somehow pulled my heartstrings,
and caused me to feel so much emotions all at once.
an emotion rush... no. more like an emotional tidal wave...
i felt like i was living the lives of the characters
and could relate to them totally.
no matter what i write,
there'll be no words that could decribe how i exactly feel,
or for that matter, how great the film is.
serously, no words can justify it's sheer beauty.
a few of my friends have expressed their thoughts and think otherwise.
it's subjective, but to me, its a powerful and beautiful film
and would go down as one of the best films i've ever watched.
i urge everyone, straight or gay, to watch it.
it will definitely move you.

the soundtrack is awesome.
五月天 never fail to impress us with their songs and lyrics.
ah shin (the front man of the band) is a genius.
盛夏光年 (the song named after the film) and 拥抱 (one of their older hits)
are so beautifully written and composed by them, you cannot NOT love these songs!
even 明白 and 纯真, the other 2 songs from the soundtrack are amazing as well.
if you guys know me well, you'll know that i dun listen to mandarin songs...
but the movie soundtrack is so awesome i was in fact frantically searching for
the album all over the net. i was deperate to get my hands on a copy of the soundtrack.
that said, do check it out!!! i'm glad to have a copy of the soundtrack now.
all thanks to fauz and jolina, so nice of them to get it for me.
you guys have no idea what it means to me!



::from left: bryant chang, kate yeung and joseph chang::
the actors, joseph chang, bryant chang and kate yeung,
played their roles exceptionally well.
go watch the film and you'll know what i mean.
there's a reason why bryant chang won 'best newcomer' in the golden horse awards,
and joseph chang got nominated for the same category and 'best supporting actor'.


::the oh-so-good looking joseph chang. i'm in love with him already. love kate yueng too!::
and i do have to say that joseph chang is extremely gorgeous.
he is the kind of guy i would die to date...
love his tan skin, love his hair, love his smile, love his chiseled good looks... *drool*
i think kate yeung is really pretty too.
love her too! she is one girl i wouldnt mind dating as well...
i wish i could play the part of Jonathan (bryant chang's character)...
then at least i'll be able to kiss both of them. *grin*

just wana include a verse taken from 五月天's 盛夏光年.
i love the meaning of the verse. it's something that i believe in,
and hope everyone feels the same.
"放弃规则 放纵去爱 放肆自己 放空未来 我不转弯"
i'm glad that i can read and write mandarin.
and yes, i'm glad that my mandarin is not half bad. :)
just lacking in the number of friends who would speak to me in mandarin.
someone... anyone... speak to me in mandarin!!!



::pic of the dvd::
and btw, i have the dvd of the movie.
they are already selling it in taiwan, so one of the chinese shops
actually imported the dvd to melbourne. jealous?!
i've watched it 4 times already.



::pic of me waiting for the tram::
of all days......
is it a joke life's playing on me?
i thought i would never see you again.
yet on one of those days when i'm at my lowest,
you appear right before me.
it's as though nothing had ever happened.
you may have been out of my life for as long as i can remember...
but you have always been in my heart...
i thought i no longer existed in your life.
i thought you had deleted me away... not once but twice...
but here you are, right before me.
so near, yet so far.
with a touch of a button, i could reach you.
but... could i really reach you?
would you hear me?
i stare at my screen in disbelief....
is this really you?
is this the same you that broke my heart into pieces?
is this the same you that left me stranded in my own sorrow?
is this the same you that couldn't see me the way i see you?
i stare at my screen in disarray....
how have you been?
are you happy and living your life?
are you any nearer to reaching your goals?
i do hope so.
there's so much i wana say to you.
yet i know very well some words are meant to be kept to myself.
if i've learnt anything this past year,
it would be that i've learned to accept things the way they are.
i just want you to know that i'll always pray for your happiness.
if you have ever worried about me,
well...
dun worry, i'm doing better than i thought i would be.
i'm living my life now, though there's still lots to accomplish.
but i'm make my way there, somehow.
so... take care for now...
if i'm lucky, maybe i'll see you briefly again.



i was chatting with my mum on the phone the other day.
it seems that my mum and dad went to see some cars.
my mum hates sportcars...
however, there were 2 of them that she really love.
in fact, i recalled her using the word "gorgeous" to describe them.
2 seater convertible. i'll be using the word "fabulous!".
she said that i'll love one of them and wants me to go see it when i return.
and it seems they might get it for me if i get my licence!!!
my gawd! a sportscar! me driving a sportscar?! i like...
i still love the mini cooper and suzuki swift though.
but a sportscar would do just fine... :)
however... my parents are pretty frickle minded,
so by the time i get my licence,
they might get me another car... a car's still a car though.
so i'm fine with it, so long as it moves...
i love 2 seater cars. to me they're called "selfish cars".
so dun expect me to fetch you guys around in it.
(exceptions to my good friends of cos)


humour me.
no serious, give it a shot.
i find the lack of intellectual conversation depressing and oftenly annoying.
what has become of people?
singaporeans especially.
where are the puns?
where are the ironies?
where are the witty remarks?
where are the sacastic comments? (and i'm not talking about angry/insulting sacasism)
leave lame aside. i'm done with lame. lame is so 90s.
the most annoying thing is when i say something, humour intended,
people look back and say "huh?"
it's not that i'm speaking Hebrew.
people just aren't used to having intellectural conversations...
look, you dun need a PHD to be witty.
you dun even need big words.
just be creative. and matured.
no more, no more boring conversations.
it's such a turn off.

these are some pictures i took.

this entry's theme is 'ray of light'.


::love this pic a lot. took this pic during sun rise::


::this pic was taken at my balcony during sun rise::


::love the effects of the sun rays::


::a pic of a hand. wonder whose is it?::



i thought this pic is equally nice


::took this pic when i was waiting at the train station. love this pic::

other pics i took

::nina smiling to the camera while doing her work during design studio::


::jolina, michael and i at the gallery showcasing some awesome typograpgy artwork from the world over::


::me waiting at the foyer for ivan::


::fiona, eri, sam, jolina, sherly, christina, michelle and i went to the opening of a gallery::


::pic of the menu from the chinese restaurant::


::eri, sam and jolina::


::sherly, christina, michelle and fiona::


::this is henry. and i kissed henry many many times. isn't he adorable?!!::


::ivan hugging henry::


::as i said, it's never too early for a glass of beer :) ::

after easter break

touching the sky

::i took this pic while i was on the train on my way back to the city from school::
mid semester break is over.....
and as much as i wana believe that everything's gona be fine,
i doubt it.
as usual, assignments after assignments are pouring in.
i had 3 submissions dued on the 5th week(last week).
and it seems the same thing's gona happen on the 9th week...
argh... why must all 3 submissions be dued on the same week?
i'm so gona work my ass off...

it's always nice to know that friends and family
back home are missing me.
it's also nice to know that they're hoping i'll return soon
so that we can hang out and do some catching up.
at least i know i'm working toward something
at the end of the semester.
anyway, just wana say thanks guys.
and thanks for keeping me company on msn. :)
should be back in singapore by 11th june... hopefully...



anyway, these are some of the stuff i've been doing.
for one of my asssignment, i was tasked to redesign
an existing movie dvd or a music cd.

so i chose to do michelle branch's Hotel paper album.
reason being i love her and just thought the design
of the entire album was crapped...

my main aim in the design is to bring out the
acoustic sounds of her guitar,
emphasising it greatly in my illustrations and layout.
firstly, i did my sketches.


::sketch 1::


::sketch 2::

next, i thought of incorporating the texture of wood grains
in my illustration. i felt that having just vectors and flat colours
wouldnt justify the acoustic sounds.
i did a lot of trial and errors...
after much consultation with my tutors,
i settled with these final illustrations.


::this is the postcard i designed. the same image was used on the cover of the cd package. but the layout of the cd cover is a little different, so it look svery different from the postcard::


::this is a close up of the face. makes it easier to see the details::


::this is how the A2 poster looks like::

i'm not able to scan in my cd cover and other applications.
but at least you get a rough idea from the poster and postcard
how the whole collection may fit together.
in all, i did a limited edition digipack cd package, the design of the cd face,
an A2 poster in colour, an A2 poster in black&white and postcards.


i'm not sure if you guys have seen it,
but the poster i did for the charity event has finally been comissioned
and published in 8days, iweekly, Newpapaer and Today newspaper.
personally, it's a bittersweet experience....
i'm happy that my work is finally in the media.
but so many changes were made to my inital design that i
wasnt satisfied with the final look of it.
i mean, ultimately, if a client want changes, even if its ugly
and unreasonable, i have to do it...
so yeah... most of the ugly changes were dued to client request...
so if you think it's ugly... it's them...

i first came out with the header.
spent quite a long time on it.
they like it, so no changes were made.


::this is how the header looks like after tracing my sketches into vectors::


::this is how the header looks like with the effects::

next i designed the flyer.
the background was the hardest to do becos
i did everything from scratched.
that's right, from a plain white canvas to wat you see here.
a lot of texture and flow.
i trying to give a very dreamy effect to the whole design.
no changes were made becos the client like it a lot.


::this is the final design for the A5 flyer::


::this is how the back ground looks like. from an empty white canvas to this... it's like painting...::


::an upclose of a section of the background::


next was the poster....
which gave me the most headache of them all....
the prob with it is that there were so many artisite to fit
in the tiny canvas. and there were requests like the main singers
have to have more priority.
seriously, its not easy at all trying to put
the individual artisite's pics together.
a lot of factors have to be considered,
like the flow of the entire layout,
how it sit well with the rest of the text,
the colours,
how each pic of the artiste had to be positioned
so that there is harmony...
and then whether or not the client likes it...
ultimately it was a nightmare.


::this is the final design for the poster. a few changes were later made for the newspaper editions::

i added a lot of effects, but it had to be removed
because of certain regulations...
the names of the artisite was really a distraction
but the client requested for it.

one of the client actually asked me to put the individual artistes pics
into bubbles... thinking that would solve the layout prob...
my gawd... it would be fucking cheesey and fugly...

i felt that i could have done a whole lot more to make it perfect,
but due to major time constraint, and i had to juggle my school work as well,
this is all i could have done.

that is why i said it was a bitter sweet experience...



the obession of looking good and all.
was chatting with a friend the other day.
and we were talking abt how people are
so conscious abt their body.
seriously, it's not the end of the world
just becos you dun have a six pac.
everyone is unique in their own ways.
so wat if you have a gorgeous body but a retarded personality.
i have met such people and trust me,
it's fucking annoying.
i think it's fucking pointless if you work out
just becos you wana look good and that people
would only want you becos of that.
shallow people...
work out becos you wana stay healthy.
work out becos you wana train for a marathon or something.
work out becos you are the adverturous type and like
pushing yourself to the limit.
but dun just do it cos you cant stand the person
you're seeing in front of the mirror.
if people wouldnt wana be with you just cos
you dun fall under the category of "muscular, hunk, stocky",
then fuck them. they're just shallow and delusional.
you're more than just that.
i myself, am not muscular.
i have no six pacs to boast and have a pretty small frame.
heck, i'm not even goodlooking.
if no one wants me becos i dun have the body,
then i'll rather stay single all my life.
i'm not gona cater to anyone's desire or fetish,
becos i know i'm more than just that.
if people cant see that, then i'm not gona care.
yes, to a certain extend, its a superficial world.
but does that mean you need to comform?
i'm telling all you people that you are
worth a whole lot more than just goodlooks or a great body.

these are some of the many pics i took.

i've decided to have some sort of a theme for this entry.
but i'm not sure if i'm gona continue with it for the rest of the entries.
anyway... this entry's theme is Sora! which means Sky in jap. :)


::pic taken at my balcony during sunrise::


::hot air balloons in the sky! this pic was taken in the morning at my balcony::


::another pic taken during sun rise... apparently i dun sleep till after the sun has risen...::


::took this pic while i was waiting for the train along Richmond after paying Paperpopint a visit::


::took this pic during sun rise::

other worthy pics:


::this pic was taken at GPO, Bourke Street. the architecture and the interior is beautiful and grand::


::my deary Havaianas Flash::

misc pics:


::pic taken in design studio during consultation. michelle, brad and nash::


::eri and i during submission of our graphic design assignment. everyone looked pretty exhausted becos of the lack of sleep the previous night::


::jolina and i during submission day. jolina had a bit of a prob with the school printer... her work was supposed to be in black, but the printer ran out of ink and printed her work in grey... and she wasted $30 on that...::


::jolina's skirt. wicked! somehow, i find myself liking it. heee::


::kumiko and i during submisssion day. kumiko, you still look good even without make up ya. :)::


::the train broke down and becos of that, it cause some major confusion outside my uni. everyone was rushing to get onto the trams. fiona, eri, devi and i were squashed on the tram. but it sure was fun.::


::fiona trying to grab paper on the upper shelf at Paperpoint. as graphic design students in uni, we get to collect 10 pieces of A3 paper for free everyday. that's really a life saver. imagine the amount of money we save....::


::eri still deciding what papers to get::


::chicken curry don with extra tofu!!! i've been having cravings for this for weeks!!! i'm practically eating this almost everyday... my bad... but look how delicious it is!!!::


::jolina enjoying her chicken teriyaki don::


::it fabulous having a small room and having the tv just outside the room. why? cos i can sit on my bed while watching my fav anime on dvd! :) ::


::me at the balcony::


hey fauz,
thanks so much for doing my errands for me while i'm in melbourne.
i know my obession with toys has been driving you nuts...
and i appreciate the constant back and forth to Latendo.
i'll defintiely make it up to you.
thanks a million! and i miss you!

to jenn,
hey girl! how have you been doing?
hope you are doing good.
will be back in june, so i cant wait to catch up with you! :)

to idil,
always remember that your future is in your hands.
pursue your dreams, your aspiration, your passion.
it's for you to decide, not others.

to esen,
hey, how was your play? the animal farm one.
hopefully you're able to shed off those excess weight after it's over,
and become the usually beautifully gorgeous esen everyone knows. hee! :)


sigh, got to start doing my work again...
i'm only left with next week, before i submit all my assignments...
argh!!! save me!!!

intermission

::this is when i'm stress... pic taken with my k800::

yup, its another one of my intermission entries.
and the reason has and will always be the same...
i'm busy... extremely busy with school!!!
it's a little more relaxing now
cos i managed to pace myself and work
within my timeline.
my schedule was extremely hectic last week.
had to do 2 assignments and at the same time,
squeeze time for the charity poster that i'm freelancing.
i'm glad that i'm done with that for now.
the poster looks pretty ok.
i'll post it up in my next entry so you guys can judge.
and once you guys have seen it,
do try to look out for it in the newspapers and magazines. :)

i'll also be posting some pics that i took throughout this couple of weeks.
i love the pics because of the colours.

also, i will be posting up the cd cover and poster that i'm designing
for my current graphic design assignment.
i really really love it.
it'a very illustrative.
i'm using mixed medium in this assignment,
so the effect is very different. my teachers like it. :)

before i end here, i wana say something about the anime
that i've recently finished watching.
it's called Gantz.
and two words for it...
"fucking awesome!!!!!"
i love the story!!!
i love the characters!!!
i love the illustrations!!!
i love the extreme violence!!!!
but not so much of the erotism in it though....
you guys should catch it!!!!
but erm... for my fellow sinagporeans, they wont be selling it
in sinagpore...
over here in australia, it's rated R18...
translation: it's R21 in singapore.
but if somehow you guys can get it, do watch it.
i love it!!!
i'm now reading the manga, cos it's different from the anime.
the story continues in the manga.
but be warn... it really is damn violent... and hentai to a certain extent...

these are some pics from the manga.
and i'm telling you, these are considered less violent compared to the other scenes...




::this is a famous scene in the anime::


::pop goes the weez... i mean head.....::


::body in half...::


::it's a body alright....::


::and for all you hentai people... haa! theres more in the anime and manga though... i'm so not interested ok...::


ok that's all for this entry... i think it's pretty long for an intermission...
oh heck!