Composed Upon Westminister Bridge, September 3, 1802
William Wordsworth
Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth like a garment wear
The beauty of the morning; silent , bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky,
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did the sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!
I woke up at five today and took a glance out of the window of Jasmine's Kensington Garden Square flat. It might not be Westminister Bridge (which btw is near Trafalgar Square and Big Ben, where I visited yesterday evening), but after two days here in London I can see what Wordsworth meant in his poem. The city's very quiet now, but pretty soon it'll be bustling with people. Surprisingly, London doesn't seem to be as congested as KL, nor as polluted, though the air is pretty thin here. I also like the way the old buildings blend into the landscape. It's not exactly what you expect from one of the busiest cities in the world, but the old architecture really gives the city a rustic, more laidback feel compared to like, Tokyo or Singapore. It certainly helps ease the stress of constant hustle bustle in the city.
The flight to Heathrow from KLIA was mind-numbing torture. I hope I don't have to go through it too much. Ended up watching 3 movies and 3 TV shows, in addition to listening to random music and playing some brainless games on screen (Pong! Can you imagine?!). I am really grateful to Keegan, Ding and Van for being at KLIA to send me off, together with Chong and Chee, WHO WERE LATE! Haha. No worries, I'm glad you guys made it in the end before I left. Keegan was kinda stoned, and Van looked pale, but yea, it was nice to see all of you before I left (ESPECIALLY VAN, WHO DID NOT SEE ME BEFORE THIS!!!). Thanks for coming guys, I really appreciate it. Thanks to Sin Ye who came too, and for the earphones haha. The sound is excellent, and the mike works, but it's kinda too small for my head, even after I extend it all the way. Oh well, haha, beggars can't be choosers.
Amazingly, I don't feel any jetlag at all despite this being my first time being in the UK. The plus side is of course, I get to go sight-seeing around London for a few days before I leave!! Hahahaha. The company here in Kensington Garden Square is really good, and I'm really grateful to Jasmine, Kelly and Scott for having me over and showing me around London. Too bad Anthony couldn't be here though... The weather's been excellent. 20 degrees with plenty of sunshine, and it's suppose to be this way for a few more days, which is GREAT news. The sheer size of London though, means I'm still kinda lost even in Kensington. Have to learn the roads quickly, since I'm going to have to go to Hendon on Monday to meet DEBBAY!!! Hahahahhaha. See Debbie? I go all the way to see you... Ish... Haha. Or do you want to meet in Oxford Street?
The stay here so far's been great, and I'm really looking forward to Warwick now. Can you imagine that there's a test on the first Wednesday of term? Time to start brushing up on my Integration, Differentiation and Trigo. Hopefully I'll do fine since it counts towards my final. Ish... Been busy e-mailing in the morning since I woke up early, and I hope people do reply my mail. For those whom I promised to e-mail but did not, please don't lose faith haha. It's because I'm kinda lost for words now for you and don't know what to say. I promise I'll get down to it as soon as I can. Will probably have pictures up soon, assuming I can get myself to load them into my laptop =P For all the people in UK, please drop me a message and tell me your number. I'll get my phone today and keep you guys updated. It'll probably only be a temporary number until I get my bank account sorted out and go on contract. I WANT A NOKIA 6500 SLIDE!!! IT LOOKS SO AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!!! Seriously, I've never been THIS infatuated with a phone until now. Please, please, PLEASE forgive the vanity but seriously, it's so PRETTY!!! Hahahhaha.
Anyhow, signing off now. Don't miss me k? It's only been two days haha. Take care people...~Zhongy~
You'll Think Of Me
Keith Urban
Golden Road
I woke up early this morning around 4am
With the moon shining bright as headlights on the interstate
I pulled the covers over my head and tried to catch some sleep
But thoughts of us kept keeping me awake
Ever since you found yourself in someone else's arms
I've been tryin' my best to get along
But that's OK
There's nothing left to say, but
Take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
Take your space and take your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cap and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me, you'll think of me
I went out driving trying to clear my head
I tried to sweep out all the ruins that my emotions left
I guess I'm feeling just a little tired of this
And all the baggage that seems to still exist
It seems the only blessing I have left to my name
Is not knowing what we could have been
What we should have been
So
Take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
Take your space and take your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cap and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me
Someday I'm gonna run across your mind
Don't worry, I'll be fine
I'm gonna be alright
While you're sleeping with your pride
Wishing I could hold you tight
I'll be over you
And on with my life
So take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
And take your cap and leave my sweater
'Cause we have nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me
So take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories I don't need'em
Take your space and all your reasons
But you'll think of me
And take your cap and leave my sweater
'Cause we got nothing left to weather
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better
But you'll think of me, you'll think of me, yeah
And you're gonna think of me
Oh someday baby, someday
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Wednesday 17 September 2008
If ever there was a time to say thank you, I guess this is it. It's two more days before I move on to the next phase of my life, and as my MSN personal message says, I want to leave Melaka without any regrets. So, here's a small thank you note to all my friends out there whom I can think of. If you're not mentioned, please don't feel sad (or come after me!). Your friendship will always be treasured and remembered =)
So to kick things off (this is random btw, I'll put people down as I think of them)...
Ash a.k.a. Cap'n Jack for being a fantastic Head Boy, good listener, confidante, advisor, sleep therapist, food supply (occasionally!), sharing your bed and arguing about stuff. Did I mention the comedy double act with JaYus?
Jun for also sharing your bed sometimes, listening to stuff, BIG source of entertainment and helpful advice, especially about family...
Amira for well, almost everything in KTJ. I can't remember doing anything without her being involved. ENORMOUS thank you too for listening and being supportive whenever I needed it. Also for all the fun times and photos =) I know you got more photos of me than I have of myself hahahahahhahaha!
Jenny for being an understanding friend and big mum to almost everybody in KTJ.
Joanne for keeping me grounded and being good competition in English Literature. Yes it does help :P
Erazon for yea, almost everything too, especially a caring friend and excellent competition in Double Math class. It seriously went down the wire. Also for all the humour (it's lame, but oh well...) and encouragement during trying times.
Alvinraj for also being good competition in Double Math and another double act with Kevin haha. Also for being my tennis partner for the most part of KTJ, even though my standard's not reaaaallllyyyyy there yet.
AISHA!!! for all the fun times and British sarcasm!!!! Also not forgetting being partner-in-crime in procrastinating (ssssshhhhhhhhhh.........) and those last-minute studying sessions. Soooo going to miss your enthusiasm and happy-go-lucky-ness!! There should be more people like YOUUUU~~!!!~~!~! Hahahahahahahaha....
Wei Rhong for being the gayish punching bag =P not doing double math work and all the gung-ho "don't care lah" moments. YOU MUST COME TO MELAKA AGAIN!!! (my sis thinks that you're hot haha)
Wan Ahmad for all the tennis and help during OBS hehe. Also your laptop controllers and Winning Eleven sessions.
Debster for being a nice President, source of amusement and annoying random-ness. Also for all the times on prefect duty together and ganging up on me with Pam.
Hui Ming for generally being an annoying presence (just joking!) plus all the theological debates. They were highly amusing I assure you.
Quine for taking over most of my job in school. Yes that includes shouting 'NO EXIT' in the tuckshop =) I'm glad that caught on hahahahaha. Gerald and Aunty Anne will be very pleased.
Gerald for all the sports debate, insight, speculation and sharing the moments. Also making fun of Max, Bobby, baby Ben, ZABIDI and all the other juniors you can think of. Thank you to Aunty Anne and Uncle too for taking care of me during my stay in KTJ.
'Lil NUNU for always being a nice 'lil girl haha. Seriously. Also thanks for reminding me that smart people are annoying (which makes you annoying too btw), lending me your Physics notes, being responsible for all the stuff and giving me hope for the future of Malaysian politics =P
Pam for everything you've done and more. No thanks for sounding like my mum, being annoying, nonchalant and constantly pouting haha. And yes for making me feel like an idiot. I kinda regret not knowing you better earlier in KTJ despite even being in the same OBS group. Be nice and TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF!
Chong (no I'm not calling you Wen Shan) for tonnes and tonnes of help, teh tarik sessions and sticking with me through everything. I must admit the rumours about you have also been a constant source of entertainment hehe =D Please forward on the same to your shadow Jenn Yang.
Ding (Yan) for all the sarcasm, complaints, political insight (better than Hong Kong drama, I know) and also sticking with me through everything. YOU still owe me a meal btw. Hahaha. Livewire in the club and certified joker.
Ding (Jian), yes the cousin. Thanks for being annoyingly absent most of the time. But of course for always a good and hilarious game of tennis, movie session, gags, jokes, parodies and stand up comedy. Ah yes advice too. We SHOULD meet up in UK.
Kai Zhang and Yee Wern for being good tennis kaki's. Also for being good friends since like, forever. Haha. You guys are the longest I think.
Choon Zhi for being the driver and source of gossip in Melaka haha. Also for all the times in SFI and after that. Lame jokes aside, you should make a good pharmacist lol.
Teck Hin for being a dustbin like me when it comes to FOOD. Can eat non-stop and think about the consequences later =P Also for being a very good friend and confidante.
Nian Yang and Soon for also being fast friends even though we don't really keep in contact anymore. I know I can always rely on you guys if I need help =)
Vanny for being a good listener and caring friend =) I very 'pek chek' sometimes look at you but you always bring a smile to my face =) Also another one TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF!!!
Sin Ye for being the driver in Melaka and something closest to an eldest sister, even though technically she's my aunty haha. Also for all the good food =D
Should I run off a list of all the other people I would like to mention as well? I feel obliged to express my utmost gratitude also to Faiz and Nadzra, Dolly, Yan, Surein, C.J., Wen Yao, Wei Ern, Shu Yi, Rhu Vern, Wei Yi, Keegan, Alison, Isaac, Zhi Wei, Tian Huey and Shan, Hui Xiang a.k.a. Firz, York Xiong and Hui May, Tony, Muzaffar 'hot stuff' Qays, Ikki, Tian Kang and Tian Siong, Yeh Ruenn, Su Lynn, Azlan and everybody else for everything that you have done. Good bye and God bless. 有缘再见.
Sayonara, au revoir and goodbye.
Con te partirò (Time to Say Goodbye)
Andrea Bocelli Ft. Sarah Brightman
Romanza
Sarah:
Quando sono sola
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole,
si lo so che non c'è luce
in una stanza quando manca il sole,
se non ci sei tu con me, con me.
Su le finestre
mostra a tutti il mio cuore
che hai accesso,
chiudi dentro me
la luce che
hai incontrato per strada.
Time to say goodbye. -- Con te partirò.
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
it's time to say goodbye. -- con te io li vivrò.
Andrea:
Quando sei lontana
sogno all'orizzonte
e mancan le parole,
e io si lo so
che sei con me, con me,
tu mia luna tu sei qui con me,
mio sole tu sei qui con me,
con me, con me, con me.
Time to say goodbye. -- Con te partirò.
Paesi che non ho mai
veduto e vissuto con te,
adesso sì li vivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
Both:
con te io li rivivrò.
Con te partirò
su navi per mari
che, io lo so,
no, no, non esistono più,
con te io li rivivrò.
Con te partirò
Io con te.
~Zhongy~
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Monday 15 September 2008
Broken
Secondhand Serenade
Awake
In the moonlight
Your face it glows
Like a thousand diamonds
I suppose
And your hair flows like
The ocean breeze
Not a million fights
Could make me hate you
You're invincible
Yeah, It's true
It's in your eyes
Where I find peace
Is it broken?
Can we work it out?
Let's light up the town, scream out loud!
Is it broken?
Can we work it out?
I can see in your eyes
You're ready to break
Don't look away.
So here we are now
In a place where
The sun blended
With the ocean thin.
So thin, we stand
Across from each other
Together we'll wonder
If we will last these days
If I asked you to stay
Would you tell me
You would be mine?
And time
Is all I ask for
Time
I just need one more day
And time
You've been crying too long
Time
And your tears wrote this song
Stay
In the moonlight
Your face it glows
Is it broken?
Can we work it out?
Let's light up the town, scream out loud!
Is it broken?
Can we work it out?
I can see in your eyes
You're ready to break
Don't look away.
~Zhongy~
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Sunday 14 September 2008
The mood seems so right to blog now, but the words just aren't flowing... Sometimes, things are better left unsaid... Will be having an update soon I guess...~Zhongy~
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Thursday 4 September 2008
Sometimes I lament how fast time passes. One year has breezed past my eyes and my motherland is a year older now. It seems only a few days (ok maybe not, probably about a few weeks) ago that I wrote my piece in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th National Day, and now I'm back again with (hopefully not another) politically charged piece. I've refrained from being political on this blog, one as to not irk the views of my readers, and two as to avoid being charged with sedition or whatever law they can think of to limit my freedom on the Internet. But hey ho, doing it only once a year isn't too bad I hope...
Yes, we all know about the political tsunami of 10th March, Malaysia's 13th General Election. I can't recall whether I have blogged about that but oh well, as it stands, Malaysia might be at the cusp of a new dawn (what a cliche, I know...) 'The people have spoken!' says the opposition, and for the first time in our 51 years of history, we might see another ruling party in power in the near future. What I want to concentrate on in this post is that being anti-government is NOT being unpatriotic.
Yes.
You read that right.
I find it incredulous that some people can still be duped into believing that being anti-government is an unpatriotic act. This misguided belief (I hope the word 'misguided' is mild enough) goes against the very foundations of democracy. Democracy demands that the people have a choice in choosing who they want to be in power, and it certainly means that they have the freedom to choose between a party's manifesto and the next. In a democratic country a government is not permanent anyway. It is the mandate of the people given to the ruling party in the General Election which is subject to review every five years or so. That means that we have the liberty to support whichever candidate or party that we see fit. Just because a person does not vote for a government candidate, he/she cannot be deemed as anti-establishment. This goes for government servants, workers under the government payroll etc. as well. Sure, the government pays your salary, but not the ruling party. It does not matter if you support the opposition, they will still pay your salary because you are contracted by the government, not the ruling party. Sure, our nation has not seen a change in government since independence, but the people should have the maturity to separate politics from governing policies. It is not unpatriotic to be anti-government and being anti-government shouldn't be taken as anti-establishment or pengkhianat. Our rights are enshrined in the Federal Constitution, and we are given the liberty, the duty to choose what is best for our country.
In actual fact, democracy works best when there are more credible options to choose from to form the government. It is a system of check and balance -- the Opposition keeping the Government in line, in a way giving constructive input for the betterment of the nation. Of course, this is very much idealistic thinking. In parliament we have seen our MPs tossing insults at each other, leading mass walkouts, and in the case of Taiwan, brawling, throwing chairs and basically doing everything that do not justify their paycheck or the people's confidence in them. As the representative of their constituency, MPs are suppose to be protecting the interests of their people and giving constructive input into the country's governing policies, not throwing hissy fits or hurling insults at each other. They have an obligation to fulfil, but sadly much politics have crept into our parliamentary system. MPs toe the line of party rules, which explicitly demand that they support any motion tabled by their party. If not, the party chief whip takes action against their 'indiscipline'. Blatant dictatorship I say. Elected MPs are servants of the people, and should know to who they answer to. Sure they might have won on a party ticket, but when it come to deciding on government policies, they should always have the people's interests at heart first. It is not about who tables the motion, but whether the motion will benefit the people. Political parties should not tie the hands of their elected MPs for deciding what is better for the people that they represent.
In all the developed countries you see what is known as a 'two-party' system, the basis of their check and balance. Nobody would call you unpatriotic because of your political views, because you have freedom of choice. It is almost an anomaly in the history of democracy that a party can maintain power in government for 50 years. A probable cause of this is that maybe most Malaysians think that our country lacked a credible Opposition to provide another viable option to form the government, until now that is. Or maybe we Malaysians just prefer stability and peace (or mere delusions of both). Whatever the reason, there is no more excuse to shirk our responsibilities as voters and people of this proud nation anymore. The general election has proved that society is ready for change, and it is time to choose with a conscience, and with common sense, for better, or for worst. We all want what is best for our beloved country, and a better democratic system is clearly a step in the right direction.~Zhongy~
P/S I think I went totally off topic with this one... Pardon me on that =)
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