alwayscuilin

[ how to dress like a londoner ]

LONDON has a multitude of style. the wonderful thing about a big city is that you can pretty much wear whatever. there is no one certain ‘look’ or niche that you need to adhere to. this independant attitude is crucial!

1. inspire looks with some London style icons, eg. Victoria Beckham for women. trends pick up very quickly here.
2. if you have totally no idea, reach for vintage blouses or dresses to wear, rather than a plain T-shirt with jeans.
3. polish your look. wear more form-fitting clothes.
4. they depend heavily on accessories, especially purses, bags, earrings, tights and boots and scarves.
5. play safe with black but neutral colors such as navy, camel, cream and white are also popular here.
6. mix and match styles, textures, lengths and colors to come up with your own confident look. experience, look and learn!

[ gorgeous, sexy, rich and strong ]

handbags, shoes, money, intelligence, becoming famous, and turn smoking hot, every girl has a dream. but i learn when you get too focused on the ‘american dream’—goals of being rich, famous, and beautiful—you start ignoring spending time in meaningful relationships, ignoring paying attention to yourself and growing as a human being, ignoring ways in which you could volunteer and give back to the community. life is short. and the fact is people with the highest intelligence scores earn more money during their lifetime than people with high beauty. *i’m picking up, bear with me.*

[ the voices of ordinary people ]

maybe i’m not a person that might accomplish great big things, but i know i’ll give my very best to contribute to this society even with my least ability. maybe i might not glow and shine bright, but i know i can bring enough light to the people around me. i dont mind if i’m not a super star, being like an ordinary person is also a blessing. life is not bout fame and materials. its the purpose of life that make you feel very much fulfilled.

[ be at the center ]

birmingham sounds famous. 7 of us. we were at the city center. it was my second day and also my last day here in birmingham. from Centenary Square to Victoria Square, Chamberlain Square and the high street. was just glancing through on the city. it isnt THAT big but a very cozy city. had our first dinner on the field under the summer sun. it was joyful and beautiful.

[ KTV ]

i’m not a singing person. but friends around wanted to step in UK’s KTV and get the experience of it. but all we know, its super expensive. never had thought of but on research of prices, birmingham has the cheapest for it. 80pounds per room and it fitted 7 of us. it was a blessing because i didnt expect myself to be in birmingham for 2 days. 2 of the gurlfrens invited me over her own college mate’s place and they had a space more for me. haven stepped in london and i’m in birmingham with my big luggages. i’m new within these people around but these two girls are amazing. spent the whole noon having a good meal, singing/shouting our lungs out.

[ keeping it low ]

i’m bad in goodbyes. i’m leaving the campus today. its saddening when i do my last round of packing. when i see my post-it notes my housemate left on my door daily. when i hand in the keys to accommodation office. closing bank accounts from hatfield. seeing all my friend on campus for the last round without knowing i’m leaving. its a brand new start. i’m leaving to london. i’ll be staying there till i settle down. why london, because my current place - hatfield/hertfordshire isnt an industrial place. i’ve finish my studies and its time to get a professional job. just started to get comfortable with hatfield and then i had to leave. the LRC, the field, asda and the people. i’m leaving at 3am so it wouldnt be any obvious. we came in three. and now we are going our ways. i’m scared. but i know i’ll be fine. *think happy thoughts*

p/s: world cup starts today! =)

[ my beloved sister ]

she’s a darling, a precious at heart, no chance of escape from me at any point of shouts. a sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double. i can never get to kiss her on her cheeks, i can never make her scold a vulgar word, i can never turn her bad. she’s so strong, so brave, so lovable, so cute, so dedicated, so obedient, so patient, so much of a blessing to the family and to this world. she taught me everything I really need to know, and still love me for what i’ve wrong her. i wonder how do people make it through life without a sister? she’s my closest friend, my bestest listener, my dearest at heart. she’s the most prettiest, the most beautiful women i ever had in this world. as we grow, we had learn to miss and to appreciate even more. i really miss her so much. *sobs*

when sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us?

[ london naked bike ride ]

yes, naked on public streets legally. i’m shocked too! and its an international event. it started in 2001 and i only knew bout it today. and it happens only once a year. its a celebration to protest against oil dependency and car culture. we cant deny, in advertising, the most attractive or eye catching ads are always sexy girls. and so this is the media they use to get the attention - nudity. it gets more attention then any other advertisements. sell health, sell beauty, sell anything. comparing a sexy pretty one and a old ragged aunt, which ad makes you turn and look. *be honest* so yea. bicycles, making awareness to cars and oil users. they actually paint/decorate themselves even. 50+ cities and thousands of riders participate worldwide, and 3000 was from the UK. old, young, fat, slim, married, single. *madness*

[ tennis ]

forgive me for i dont know what i’m doing. i dont even know how to hold the racket/to hit a ball properly. but its summer. i should be running and exercising. the field is full of people, kicking, smashing, hitting, and i know i had to do something too. i might not be a good floorballer, but at this time, i wish i could be at court playing floorball/running around sweating. well, tennis was a joke for me. i’ve been laughing everytime i hit it. the racket is quite not moving my way. *haha* i’m far from even returning a good one. at least i went under the sun, acting like one sports person. *madness* as i said, forgive me for i dont know what i’m doing.

[ welwyn garden city ]

its my last 8 days being in hatfield, hertfordshire before heading to london. what a shame if i say i haven been to places nearby. welwyn garden city is just 3.7miles away from my uni. why not. most of the malaysian are either back to hometown or on vacation. the weather was good today, so 5 of us headed to see what’s on even when people warn us how boring it was. it is, a small town/garden city indeed. a very healthy living environment - peaceful and full of greens. it is bigger than hatfield town center yet a very not happening place for teenager. there’s a run down mall, but along the streets, there are shops. didnt expect alot but its a good place for retirement, i believe. plus the flowers there were very interesting.

[ marble arch ]

is a large white arch (known as carrara-marble monument) at the junction of oxford street(its the street to stop for PRIMARK). i’ve always been passing by this huge thing but i had never really look at it till i hop on the bus ride today. historically, only members of the royal family and the king’s troop, royal horse artillery, have been allowed to pass through the arch in ceremonial procession; it was originally erected on The Mall(the road running from buckingham palace) as a gateway to the new Buckingham Palace. *deepness* but i’m glad i did observe.

[ photographer’s gallery ]

i passed by. it wasnt a big sign. but it says ‘the photographers’ gallery is the largest public gallery in london dedicated to photography. from the latest emerging talent, to historical archives and established artists - we are the place to see photography in all its forms.’ i took a peep and i finished the entire gallery in 20minutes at most. there’s a cafe, a bookshop and 2 small levels of viewing area. maybe i didnt know how to appreciate it? i dont know. *winks*

[ moving out ]

our contract in campus ends at the 18th of june. which means 10 days more for packing. this is how a part of my room looks like after finishing packing one box. i suppose there will be more boxes to come. after 18th june, we need to get a place for shelter. decisions to london or to leave, everything’s gonna change again. a new start of a new environment - the cold working world. either or, i still have to be packing up. its just 10 days away from leaving this lovely campus full of facilities and people. p/s: i have too much rubbish. everything is design to me. *hahaha*

[ guitar session ]

everybody is hanging around campus doing nothing after finals. some might be packing but most of them are out under the summer season having fun. well, 15 of us from hope international, gathered in a double bedded room in roberts way, had 2 and a half hour session of strumming - the right way with the right chords at the right time. tips of my fingers are kind of numb now. but i had learnt huge. *thanks wally. but i still have a long long way to go.

[ blogging 101 ]

it takes passion, effort and commitment to make this happen. its my fourth year. yesh, its a release of tension, freedom of expression, ability to communicate thoughts and feelings and ideas, therapy, sharing, teaching, lecturing, bitching, whining, groaning, and relationships. but alot of bloggers stopped after few post. and leaving all the depressing post all the way down. dont blog because everybody is blogging. blog because you know you love doing it. dont hurt yourself by blogging sad post. i know its a good way to release sadness but its unhealthy for a long run. remember you never had time talking bout your happy days. what you write about defines who you are. people are reading it, your future boss might just check you out and understand your lifestyle through a living post. be wise bloggers. find a focus point. make your content count with facts, references, and validity. and blog safely. keep writing. xx

[ broadcasting platform ]

been watching, understanding and observing. not those videos of animals, or unboxing of stuff, not those video of teaching make up from head to toe, not those videos of band from a low megapixel hp camera recordings or funny pictures with music. i’m talking bout real youtube star - staring right into the camera and make recordings that updates in weekly basis. the awesome one hype media (internet/youtube) that gives you fame without paying. have you ever come across wondering why are they being highly rated as youtube stars?

1. they have to be talking bout current issues that could make listeners stay.
2. they have to make up topics within a week, juggling their time with other routines.
3. they have to got the knowledge of video editing. thinking of camera view and storyline.
4. they have to prepare props to keep the entire session interesting.
5. include famous people in the topics can get more attention in some case.
6. they have to be knowledgeable and i believe they have made alot of research before recording.
7. they have a certain limit of confidence in their look.
8. most of them are truthful and natural - if they want to criticize on something. and that’s what normal human loves to know/hear. comments. 
9. they say almost everything and anything.
10. smart youtube stars knows what should be private and what can be said in public.
11. at least they are doing something, then others sitting down wasting life.

i seriously admire their courage, their talents and their commitment towards the people. keep it up whoever it is. *muchsupport* you will succeed.

[ showtime ends ]

well. its the day we really say goodbye to all our peers. we had finish our course, our showcase. we had just started the hello conversation, last week in LRC. and now its time to head of to our further future. everybody is going back to their hometown and move on with life. meet you guys in facebook then. x

[ london cs5 roadshow ]

it was a designer event. held in VUE cinema, shepherds bush green. 2 cinema was running at the both sides. it felt so grand. agenda: CS5 Web Premium, A closer look at the Photoshop Family, CS5 Design Premium, CS5 Production Premium & The Web Developer and Web Designer workflow. we were serve with Häagen-Dazs, popcorns, bottomless coffee/tea, adobe button badges, and many stalls along the way, pick anything for free. it was exclusive. so cool to be a part. by the way, cs5 is the latest collection of graphic design, video editing, and web development applications made by Adobe Systems. and we were the only 3 chinese there. and i got interviewed by The Adobe Creative Juices Team. *teehee*

[ weird weather ]

it was officially summer yesterday. but it feels like its still in the spring. it gets so cold in the morning, drizzles for 10 minutes, so sweating hot in the noon, cold in the evening, so cold in the late night. wonder how am i suppose to be dressed. mmm. headed out to london for the entire day, wearing layers over layers because everyone was shivering in the morning. well, then comes the sun that makes you wanna take off everything in the middle of the day! yesh, i mean it. when i was at one of the stores in oxford street, those guys just literary took off their tops. and the english girls on the street, they just wore ‘bikinis’ inside and took out other layers lying down on the park. well, it has already irritated most of the people here but all i can say is, God is fair. it will be fine soon, i pray.