My Engrand vely powderful ah Day 2

After waking up, at 4, I decided to go back to sleep! I did wake up with a cramp on my left calf, I think due to the lack of water and maybe because of the long flight. Of course, I can never sleep if there's light, not even a bit, or if there's noise! Then I woke again and again and again, and my alarm set for 735 only went off after I had taken my shower. Went for breakfast at the main dining hall, and was asked what was my purpose for being there? Aiyah, customs deja vu la! Hehehe. Actually it was cos there was some sort of summer camp for some kids there. So the lady was nice enough to help me jump queue, which I felt so bad for doing, as if I was bullying the kids! It was a pretty good breakfast, an English breakfast (AT LAST!) and it consisted of a whole buffet line of mushrooms, bacon, hash browns, deep fried french toast, red beans and so many others. Of course there were fruits which of course I didnt take la. Hehehe. I had breakfast with Huan, or was it Kuan, a Malaysian who works in Kuwait. After breakfast I had my conference registration and called my mom just to tell her YOUR SON'S GOING TO PRESENT IN CAMBRIDGE. Hehehe. Oh I can't get enough of saying that. Hehehe. And I checked the list of participants. I'd say that 90% of them were lecturers. And doctors and professors. I went, I'm gonna die! And I even met an English knight, or a sir. A real Ah Sir I guess. Hehehe. He was almost 90 but still was actively writing! Hmmm I took a pic of him using my camera but I can't seem to locate the pic now. Oh well...

When I walked along the streets, I felt like as if Mr. Bean were to drive up in his yellow mini cooper, or that I'd meet Harry Potter at the next corner, or when I saw the cooks in the kitchen, I felt as if Ramsay was going to pop up out of no where and started shouting at everyone! The weather here is pretty gloomy, being at around 20 degrees, and it's summer! My presentation went pretty well, I had a very long Q&A session and it was pretty productive. At the end of it, I had this feedback from a Dr. from the USA. She said, Well done Adrian, your research is very good and interesting. Your presentation was good. It was brilliant! Very very very motivating words indeed!

After that I headed back to my room, met this couple from Tunisia, now living in France and the husband tried to help me with my internet. Aiyah, dont know why but I couldn't access the internet on the wireless. Now I can, cause a kind soul, whom I think was half drunk, gave me an ethernet cable for the room's internet! Before that I had a stroll around the city of Cambridge, checking out the old buildings. It was so lovely just being at the heart of it all. The buildings seem so old and the architecture is just splendid. The experiencing of seeing them with your own eyes, touching the surface of things with your hands, smelling the fresh air and just walking around this historic city was such a wonderful experience. At this moment I realised how much God loves me by giving me the opportunity to travel, meet new people, experience other cultures and just to be here!

For dinner, I had some sort of English ale beef pie for dinner washed down with warm ale, which I didn't really like! I explored Cambridge with 3 other lecturers...and Ezekiel! We met his dad here, Mr. Lotus, who served as a damn excellent guide. He really knows his way around here and there and could explain the history of the place, as if he's been living here for years! It was so good having him around to learn more about the place. Well, gotta sleep now. Still feeling rather jetlagged and my calf hurts plus I'm feeling the "after conference presentation" tiredness. Tomorrow we'll tour the city again and starting out tour at 10am. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep more. I still feeling a bit not used to the idea that I'm in the UK. Anyway, I'll take more pics then. I'll post all the pics I've taken onto Facebook.

"After wondering the whole night why the college was named Churchill, I finally saw the answer!"

"My very cosy and comfy bed."

"You too wouldn't have figured that the door opens to a wash basin right?! I think the housekeeping people left it open for me to see! Hehehe. They must've gone, this 3rd world fella! Hheheeh. I still don't know how to operate the shower. I did bathe la, that's the thing. I had to take a bath and not shower cos I don't know how to turn on the shower! But I did have a bath!"


"C'est moi!"

"Presenting my paper at Cambridge!"


"Taken in one of the many colleges in Cambridge. There's a total of 31 residential colleges here. This is one of them"

"At the entrance of the same college"

"Sorry la, still feeling very jet lagged!"

"This picture is for my dearly beloved parents"

"They really are everywhere aren't they?!Someone suggested Chinese/Malaysian food. Of course, it faced serious objections!"

"One of the 4 round churches in England"

"Dinner! I couldn't finish it!"

"Bought this for 1 pound! The man at the counter went, such a waste, the best player NEVER to play for England! I felt his pain, somehow! Hahahahaha"

My Engrand vely powderful ah Day 1

This IS REALLY HAPPENING! I am really so far away from home. The furthest I've every been. I'll try to recap as best I can, what had happened, from Malaysia till now, which is approximately 9pm plus. I've just had dinner a really warm pint of ale (not really to my liking!). I'll keep my writing short, so that more pics can be put up. Hence, less cheong hei-ness! I didn't take any pics for this blog. There'll be others in the next blogs.

Yesterday, I finally had my fishball noodles or as my lil sis says, FBN. After that was the drive to the airport, which took me around 30 mins from Seremban. Yes, I was F1-ing all the way there for I was afraid that the check in counter would be closed by then! But, although I've already done the webcheckin and just needed to do a baggage drop, it still took me around 20-30 mins to get checked in! So what's the difference then right? Plus the baggage drop counter was soooo long, I ended up lining up at the normal check in counter. OK, so after boarding the plane, Air Asia being Air Asia was delayed for around 15-20 mins. Reason, one piece of luggage was lost! More bout this later. Then we finally took off, and I felt, this is gonna be one roughtflight. I flew with my Macha, or brother in law. Yes I have a macha now! Hehehehe. And I had the honour and privilledge to sit beside, not one, but two aunties. AND their whole cohort of aunties! I think cohort sounds too few, maybe batallion?! And it was basically surround sound, DTS, dolby all the way la, if you get what I mean. So I just put on my headphones and went to sleep. With really loud music, I could still hear them chit chatting. Again, chit chatting seems too mild. It was as if they were in a pub! Hehehe. So, 13 hours left to go in the flight. I looked to my right, brother in law or BIL as lil sis calls him. Fast asleep!

So in the end, I decided to do my work. I out my notes and I noticed at the corner of my eyes, a set of eyes peeping at my work. The question came: Are you a doctor? I said, no I'm not. Then, why is there a signature by a Dr.? I replied, oh I'm going for a conference in Cambridge..And other questions like, Are you from Malaysia? Are you Malaysian? Are you really a Malaysian? Are you sure you're Malaysian? I said YES! I am Malaysian! I even showed her my passport and still she didn't believe. She said in Mandarin, after she somewhat managed to con me into admitting that I do know (a little bit of) Mandarin, you look like WAI GUO REN. I said, no I'm from Malaysian. WHERE? I said SEREMBAN...OH SOLOMON?! SOLOMON ISLANDS! NO WONDER YOU DON'T LOOK CHINESE! Still...13 hours left. Then are your parents Chinese la? Got girlfriend ah? Married ah? Working as what...So after politely speaking to them, I decided to sleep la. THEN, lunch. What is that you're eating? I watched a movie on my laptop...Can I watch with you? I said, oh no sound la...Nevermind, I see the pictures only...We aunties are very noisy right? And she asked me that 3-4 times! In between were singing sessions, food sharing, I'm not joking. Turn right, BIL sleeping! I don't know why my area became the "gathering space" where everywhere came over! One auntie even asked me to swap seats with her so she could be with her partners. I said no la, I'm also sitting with my friend la. Then she gave me that sad sad sad sad sad sad look. But I guess it would've have made a difference! Imagine the noise if the 3 of them sat together! So it was some sort of aunty fellowship going on la. There even was a priest involved, apparently they were going to Lourdes, Fatima etc.Then I decided to play Sudoku, then realised I had a partner playing with me! Hahahah.

Otherwise the flight was ok la. My very first long haul flight. I met 3 other Malaysians who were going to present there. And a baby...Ezekiel who I visited during my walks around the plane. In the end, I was so hungry for dinner, it was around 530pm UK time, and I had no idea where we were. And it was around 12-1am Malaysia. Lapar lah of course! So I kept asking in between for snacks etc. BIL was nice to buy some snacks for me. Then in the end, they served dinner. Fettucine, which I thought YES LA! But then when I opened, I went, surely not enough one. So I asked for RICE, nasi lemak, briyani, anything la! Then it was sold out. But the attendants were kind enough to go search for a packet of rice for me. But came back with...tadaaaaaa...another pack of fetuccine! So, BIL was kind enough to swap his nasi lemak with my extra pack of fetuccine. The attendants were really kind. The male attendant went, cari lah nasi untuk dia. Dia dah lama tunggu makan. Kesian tau...And then there was some "dispute" between him and another female attendant, who kept wanting to serve me. I could hear, you nak serve dia? you nak serve? HMMMMMM...I wonder why...Hehehe. Well, I would say that AA's service has indeed improved by leaps and bounds. So much better than the other that proclaims to win so many awards for hospitality! And they're getting prettier as well. The attendants were really pretty on the flight. Aiyah, don't ask BIL la, he just got married so of course he'll say his usual "Pretty meh? SO SO only la". If he says otherwise, ah kena la...

Arrival at the airport was OK. Not too long a line. I got asked questions like what's your purpose of visit. By the way, I made a new passport to replace my "terrorist looking photo" passport just in case I get denied entry! Another 4-5 questions and I was in ENGLAND! Upon arrival at the customs, it seemed rather relaxed la. I saw a couple "ta pao-ing" their nasi lemak from the plane. But I'm not sure if they managed to get it past customs. Bought a bottle of wine for Soon Lock for I'll be staying at his place, BUT I dropped the bottle and it kinda damaged the cover. Well I'm not much of a wine fan, but then what the heck la! Hehehe. Later BIL walked me to the train station, and before that I had my first taste of hostility! But, I won't talk bout it la, just that a lady was a bit unfriendly! Then I took the train to Cambridge, along with Ezekiel as well. Hehehe...Arrived and then took a cab, the journey was 8P. I almost went, what's P?! Hahaha. The taximan seemed a bit grumpy at first. But the he said, thank you I think nearly 5 times. So I had to campur campur the you're welcome, cheers mate, no worries...I was hoping for those black taxis, but instead rode in a van! Came to my room and serious knocked out. Till this morning! I was confused! It was around 8-9pm. So I asked BIL, I'm confused, should I be feeling sleepy or hungry for dinner now?!

Around (half) the world in (almost) 80 days

Tomorrow I will be the furthest away from home as I have ever possibly been. I will be travelling to the University of Cambridge to present a paper. No la, I didn't bribe my way through! Heheheh. I just submitted an abstract, for fun, to test if my work seems good enough for Cambridge standard. They said they'll reply in 2 weeks. I received mine in a few days! Hehehehe. Seems strange that I'm studying transnationalism for my thesis. I've been from Australia to Malaysia to Singapore to Malaysia now to UK and soon to another destination that shall be revealed in good time! So it's going to be moving across at least 3 different time zones and 3 different continents!

It's 3.10am now, and I'm still awake practising my presentation till perfect, well at least almost! It's just a few more hours till my flight. I've already done the webcheckin on Fri afternoon! Hahahaha. I checked the list of presenters. Professors! Doctors! And then here comes this Ph.D fella from Malaysia! Aduh, stressnyer! I hope I don't get grilled! It'll be my second conference sine coming back to Malaysia. Singapore's NUS conference was great. In many ways, it has given me a lot of hope, confidence and the bravery to dare to dream again! I have since adapted the motto, "Well, you never know what tomorrow brings! Seriously!"And I've really seen this happening in the past month! Seriously, Cambridge was a surprise. In truth, I'm supposed to be back in Melbourne at this moment! But see what tomorrow has brought me!

And I believe that life has been surprising me at every turn since! I've never laughed so hard for weeks as I had in Singapore. I learnt to love others again, for I learnt that others loved me too. I also realised how great an influence others play in my life, and I accept this positively by only being positive back towards them! Oh well, a lot has happened since, I got hurt and burned real badly, but I'm leaving it where it belongs, in the past! I've moved on la and I once wrote before, I'm a Leo and a Rooster, when I go down, I go down kicking and fighting till the end. And then I come up again. Even bigger and better! I live with no regrets and I don't regret whatever decision that I've made! Strangely, life seems bigger, better, more satisfying and more joyous eversince!

Well, it's been awhile since I've last written on this blog. It's also partly because I am not far from home at the moment, hence the silence! Yes, I am in Malaysia! But tomorrow my journey starts again, I'm just feeling so darn excited! I shall start trying to speak in a Brit accent-LAH! Hahahaha. I'm not sure if I have any pics of me at the moment. I'll try to "steal" some from FB.

"Right, this seems to be the most "professional" looking pic I've ever taken in my life la! I think!"


"Well, nobody told me to wear red ma! Hehehehe...The second newest edition to the family, Bryan Kua. Well, he's got a little sis now!"

"It was really nice meeting up with these ex-students, and Dr. Ooi P. Ramlee. Of course I remember all your names la. You'd really want me to name you here online?! Hehehe. Yalar, I know that I don't always, not it should be, always don't remember people's name on the first meeting, but when I remember, I never forget! Visiting Penang was great and made even greater when so many friends were inviting me for meals and above all, treating me! Yummmmmmmmmmmmm. Strangely enough, I didn't have one single bite of hawker food! Hahahahaha"

Next stop, Cambridge!!! I'll of course make a trip to this place...and sing out GLORY GLORY MAN UNITEDDDDDDDDDDD!!! (Eventhough there's no match going on at the moment and the squad's not even there! Hehehe)

This Facility Cannot Accept: Dirt

My emo song. Been listening to this song for more than ten years when I'm feeling down and out. EH, men also can feel sad what, ex-lecturers also can feel sad what, Ph.D students also can feel sad what. So what's bothering me, I'd rather not say la. Everything seems to go south but as always, let me put on a huge smile and spread it around. Adrian Matthews said, that's exactly what a clown is. Am listening to the song now. I don't know how to upload a video here, actually more of not really bothered to. So here are the lyrics:

Down in a hole, by Alice In Chains

Bury me softly in this womb

I give this part of me for you
Sand rains down and here I sit
Holding rare flowers
In a tomb...in bloom

Down in a hole and I don't know if I can be saved
See my heart I decorate it like a grave
You don't understand who they
Thought I was supposed to be
Look at me now a man
Who wont let himself be

Down in a hole, feelin so small
Down in a hole, losin my soul
Id like to fly,
But my wings have been so denied

Down in a hole and they've put all
The stones in their place
Ive eaten the sun so my tongue
Has been burned of the taste
I have been guilty
Of kicking myself in the teeth
I will speak no more
Of my feelings beneath

Down in a hole, feelin so small
Down in a hole, losin my soul
Id like to fly but my
Wings have been so denied

Bury me softly in this womb
Oh I want to be inside of you
I give this part of me for you
Oh I want to be inside of you
Sand rains down and here I sit
Holding rare flowers (oh I want to be inside of you)
In a tomb...in bloom
Oh I want to be inside...

Down in a hole, feelin so small
Down in a hole, losin my soul
Down in a hole, feelin so small
Down in a hole, outta control
Id like to fly but my
Wings have been so denied

Usually I feel better after listening it around 15-20 times. Hehehehehe. I'm at the first go. Anyway, I prefer the unplugged version.

Layne Staley, R.I.P.

Maydays

Very:
Busy
Injured
Cold
Underslept
Overworked
Stressed
Tired
Spiritual
Loved
Happy

=)

School

I have no idea why I'm writing this blog for. It all started because I was using a pencil sharpener. Then I had this thought, how many of us, today, actually still uses one of these? Plus it's been ages since I've actually used one. Well, most of us have adopted the pen for work. And I guess amongst all my friends, as in the ones I have grown up with, are all basically working already, unlike me who's still studying. Never ending!

Then last night I was talking bout SPM with Missy E. Wahhhhh...turns out, she's secretly a genius. I promised not to say 10 As anymore, so I'll just use Straight As Student from now on. Hehehe...Then I remembered getting my SPM results back then. PLEASE dont ask me how I did! =p And I called Annessa, whom I was very close to back then. She still does remain one of my closest friends till today, one of those friends I can really fall back on! And I asked her today bout that call, and she says she still remembers it!

Yesterday Navin, a friend from school posted up an old photograph of us when we were 17-18. My goodness, how time has flown by! Looking at these pics just brings me into another "dimension"! That's basically more than 10 years ago! Let me try to download that pic so that I can post it here. Of course, all credit goes to Navin for it's his pic! How time has passed and how things have changed. Looking at the pic, I think I've lost contact with almost half of my friends in it! But, thanks to Facebook, I've managed to keep in touch with a few. It'll be really nice if I could have a few of the photographs I had taken in my school days. I've actually lost a lot of pics when I moved to Penang, and then there was the termites in my old house in Seremban. I feel that a huge part of my life has just gone missing! I guess all of us are pretty much doing well these days. A big part of it has come from the friends who we have mixed with, how they have shaped us to become who we are today. Plus, not forgetting our teachers, whom we terrorised and were terrorised by! I guess in the end we all grew to love one another, I think! But the only thing that comes to mind when I look at this pics is: FOOTBALL!!!

"Yesteryears. Our class teacher, Mrs. V. Sam isn't in this pic. Many thanks to her too for "disciplining" and guiding us!"

"The skinny days! Let's see: Seated bottom row, from left, Roeshan who now has 2 beautiful daughters, then it's that crazy PhD fella in the centre, so skinny then. Ken Soon whom I believe is working in Seremban running a successful business.
2nd row, Jared, who's now in Adelaide, Dennis (in blue shirt), who's in KL and also has a daughter. Sunil (in MU Jersey) who I believe is now in the UK and Stanley who's an engineer working in a big firm in Cyberjaya.
Backrow, Timmy, who's successfully running Live and Inspire, Navin, who's doing well in KL, Soon Lock I believe is in the UK and Adelphy Papini Peter who I believe is doing well in JB!" Speaking bout football, I believe that this is a picutre the class team that played in many games when we were in Form 4 and 5!"

Ph.D(ed)

Is the abbreviation PHD short for PsycHoeD? Hehehe. We've always been "bashed" by the Permanent Head Damage, uhhhh... tease? Add in Pretty Heavy Drinker also la. Hehehehe. After all that endless hours of researching, studying, writing, reading, typing, drinking, absorbing, depression-ing, procrastinating, PRAYING, eating, starving, table and computer keyboard bashing, Facebooking, MSN-ing, Mafia Wars-ing, hey after all I'm still human right?! RIGHT?!!! Hehehehe. Oh yeah, I left out cursing in the long list of what PhD people do. Hehehehe.Strangely I still haven't spent any time crying over the stress of doing this thesis. Luckily. Well, I just hope that it'll be all worth it in the end. Strangely, I'm listening to Korn's A.D.I.D.A.S as I have this thought: I would say the PhD's mind goes, A.D.I.D.A.S, All Day I Dream About STUDYING! Sigh, what were you thinking? Hehehe. True enough, I've had dreams whereby I'm actually generating thoughts and ideas related to my thesis! Sometimes I wake up with some ideas in the middle of the night and quickly write them down! Ph.D(ed)! Speaking of adidas, I just suddenly miss my black jacket ='( Still missing my black adidas Jacket...sigh...Oh black jacket, where art thou?

"Myself climbing out from the PhD prison to escape this needless endless mindless torture. Hehehe...No la, it was my second visit to Puffing Billy. I was trying to climb onto the window rail. This trip will always be remembered as the bestestest, ever. I didn't even know this picture was taken! Hmmmmm...wonder who took this pic? I feel violated!"