#524 - Diary #2

I've been neglecting this for far too long, haven't I?
Let's get up to speed with things.

 - For the first time in forever (did you see what I did there :p) I got sick first in the fambam. And remained sick for a fairly long time - ie.turned into a major homebody for a week. Rewatching dramas & movie marathons: Star Wars VI-III (finally!), Rio 1 & 2, Thor 1 & 2, Rise of Planet of the Apes.

- Life's full of surprises. Amazing ones that suddenly come out of the blue and when you least expect it, when all hope seems to be lost. Couldn't quite believe my eyes when I read it but there it was, plain as day. It was real. I was struggling so much to contain my utter disbelief-turned-happiness, all I just wanted to do was jump around and hug everyone and share the good news. But how could I, in the midst of a bustling area? I just silently screamed "YES!" and kept smiling from ear to ear for the rest of the day :)

- Sleepover. Wow. The best sleepover I've ever had. Pigging out, snuggling to keep warm, LOTR, getting emotionally invested in K-drama parodies, rolling on the floor laughing and trying to contain our laughter during crazy ridiculous early morning prank calls, reminiscing about old times and dnms all the way until 4.30AM. Such a wonderful night. I love how although we don't always have to talk or see each other, we can just continue on from where we last left off. Very happy to have grown up with my girls :)

- Bitter & I somehow got onto the topic on the varying levels a friendship can be classified as. Just did some sleuthing through the archives and found my old post here.  I still stand by my views of three levels 2 years ago. And the funny thing is, you never quite realise the process of friendship as it happens. It's because it just happens so naturally it never occurs to you. And one day in the near future, it suddenly hits you - bam!

- This made me so excited.



- On repeat:

The movie was 10/10. Beautiful. Not another happy ending that I'd normally expect but it's a realistic portrayal of adolescence and growing up. I still sometimes feel regret for what has and what hasn't happened but the memories are there and there's nothing we can do and only one way ahead: go forward. It's truly bittersweet.

1. Maleficent was magnificient

2. Lord of the Fries (finally. Tuesdays are cheaper)

3. Pretty sky

4. Can you see the moon?

5. Sleepover selfies #1

6. Sleepover selfies #2

7. Buddies (dat double meaning)

8. Fruity life

9. With the one and only sis

10. My fave halfie

11. Angel Place

12. Bitter @ Ippudo

13. Ippudo dinner

14. 9pm Patbingsu feast @ Beauty & The Beast

 

     
                    

PS.Only just realised how frustrating it is to embed images in blogger side by side. Pls don't judge the shitty alignment, I know the images aren't all the same size - probably why I can't align properly -__-

#523- Swordsman 2012-2013

I had a lot that I wanted to say but lately I feel as though I procrastinate just about everything. Who knows how I even manage to make it through the day doing god knows what. Remember how during the Summer holidays I was watching dramas like crazy? Well this time around I am restricted to merely one and that is Swordsman, Yu Zheng remake of Jin Yong's 'Smiling Proud Wanderer'. I make not have grown up reading or watching Jin Yong's books and film adaptations respectively but they have become a drama staple of mine and have received so much love from me this past year. I mentioned in my earlier post that I was like a kid with candy at the thought of Hengdian World Studios and I am still weak at the knees every time I think about it, yeah that's how excited I am.

So onto my thoughts about Swordsman, I follow this website Wuxia Edge and I concur with her opinion about how in general I quite liked this drama since I'm not watching it through the lens of someone has watch past remakes nor have I read the book. I am a vehement anti-Yu Zheng person and I still will be after he trashed or will trash my beloved Yu Zhong Ge by Tong Hua- I'm awaiting the nightmares to come. His remake of Return of the Condor Heroes had me flipping tables with all of its absurdity and horrid casting. I'm going to sound like a massive bitch in saying this but heck with it, so many other people in China and in forums mentioned this as well but his casting choice of Michelle Chen was a big mistake, no offence to her she's cute and all but she is far from being qualified to play Jin Yong's most beautiful woman in existence- Xiao Long Nu. I'm not exaggerating here when I say that Xiao Long Nu is a major goddess because that's exactly how she was written and Liu Yi Fei's casting in the 2006 drama alongside Huang Xiao Ming was major eye candy. To top that all off, Michelle Chen's stunt double is way prettier than her (where is the logic).

Taken from Miss Koala's blog

"By popular vote the Weibo Goddesses of 2013 and of the night from left-to-right: Ni Ni, Angelababy, Michelle Chen and Liu Shi Shi. Three of them would be perfect to play Xiaolongnu. The one who is not is actually playing Xiaolongnu. *sigh* I actually like Michelle's black strapless short tulle dress but unfortunately for her the goddess that is Ni Ni showed up in her own LBD and in comparison Michelle is just underwhelming."

Also taken from Miss Koala's blog

I agree with everything she said except I didn't like the tule black dress, more so in general I hate that style because it reminds of a ballerina and their tutu and should not be reserved as an evening gown dress.

Enough of that and on Swordsman after a massive tangent.

The only reason really why I chose Swordsman as the drama that I would be marathoning this break is because it stars Joe Chen and Wallace Huo, two people who I adore separately and now adore together. Both are Taiwanese and have actually dated before, I suppose I would have loved them together but alas that is not to be. Rumour has it that the two rekindled their romance thanks to this drama and I was super excited to see their chemistry together. I guess this is the one time that I'm glad that Yu Zheng went through with his usual drama killing original storyline mo jo because he opted for a female Dong Fang Bu Bai as opposed to the book which is not so and also added in a love line between her and Ling Hu Chong. 

First off, how awesome is the name Dong Fang Bu Bai, I suppose you cannot really appreciate fully unless you know mandarin but just saying it has this kickass ring to it doesn't it? The translation is 'Person in the East who never loses' and I thought was so fitting of Joe Chen's character considering her goal to become stronger is so that she never has to be afraid of being killed and so won't lose and to do so she becomes the leader of the Sun-Moon sect. It's a wuxia drama so unless you watch a lot of these shows, it probably sounds like gibberish most of the time. I am going to be my biased self now and start criticising certain things, the CG was terrible, so so fake but then again I've come to expect that from a Yu Zheng production so that's why I avoid them as much as possible. Secondly and this was my biggest pet peeve, Ling Hu Chong you're such a womaniser my god! I understand that you can be in love with several people I get that but going through 3 women is too much for my feminist self, had you have ended up with Dong Fang Bu Bai would be a different story altogether but since you guys didn't end up together, I along with many others are very annoyed. His first love can be described as a childhood love, not sure how to quite categorise his love with Dong Fang Bu Bai but I was really upset in the way it ended. They practically had a silent agreement to be together and never part, to save the guy's life Dong Fang Bu Bai did so much and because she thought he was dead (and was her everything) she kinda let loose and kill people who in my defence were trying to kill her in the first place. Thanks to that misunderstanding and the meddling of that pathetic Hua Shan Sect leader, Ling Hu Chong fell out with Dong Fang Bu Bai and only saw her as an evil person and actually stabbed her. The guy obviously regretted it right away and didn't mean to actually inflict harm but you don't do that to a girl that you practically implicitly confessed your mutual feelings to. If she didn't trust people much or had more experience in love, girl would've have recognised the feelings right away but not Ling Hu Chong just had to believe what his pathetic Master said. If there is one thing that you can take away from this drama, it is that there is evil in good and good in evil. 

I'm still shipping Dong Fang Bu Bai, I don't mind Ying Ying but she's not as complex and just simply as amazing as Dong Fang Bu Bai so she can never really get my appreciation.

#522 - Diary #1

 June 21 - Some things will inevitably happen
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                                                        《有些事一定會發生》                2014年6月21日  

我要把心裡的感覺說（寫）出來。我就是這一种人。今天是很重要的，我一輩子都會記得。有些事一定會發生, 我們沒辦法改變困難的選擇。

關於這件事，我現在可以了解別人的難過，感覺和困難。真話就是：現在的情況特別差。

這過去的幾個月，我真的很開心，我以前有時候想過，我不是太幸運嗎？說真的，在這裡，我最高興。別的地方沒有這裡那麼好，那麼舒服所以離開這裡不容易。

當他突然告訴我的時候，我不知道怎麼想，想起來了我一句話都說不出來。現在看得出來，他有點難受，好像他不願意跟我說話。說話了以後，我跟他說我懂了，我都明白他沒辦法，只可以這樣做事。這完全不是他的錯, 他的選擇是對的。 雖然我讓他不要給我帮助，但是他的人品太好了，他說他得帮我。他差不多哭了, 我都有點難受，可是我哭不出來。。。

這件事發生了太快, 我不可能表示感謝。真要謝謝，我是這麼幸福，這麼幸運我可以有那麼好的經驗。只有他一個人願意給我機會。他是我知道的人最好的之一。 不少人只是說，而不去做。他不是這樣，他說他會帮你，他就會帮你。我真高興我認識他了。心裡一點難過因為我沒有跟V說再見。我和她笑了很多，她也是非常好的女士。我真的會好想他們。

夠了，我可能說得多了。希望條件會進步，我不想聽情況沒有大的變化，現在的事絕對不可以這樣下去。最重要的是我不會放棄。 我應該看未來，繼續做我最好的, 別想太多過去。只要我努力做還有一直相信自己，我一定會成功。加油！

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Dinner with B at a delicious handmade noodle place at Eastwood after finals

The joys of modern technology - able to see V's face even though she's on the other side of the world :)

She's growing up!

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June 26 - Emotional wreck  that I am
A day of emotion. It had started off with so much hope and anticipation. I had been totally at ease with my surroundings and felt like this was my best ever yet. I'm not as bad as I used to be (thank god for that!); I feel like I have really matured as a person over the last year and a bit and I like that. But yet then there it was, later, when my hope was totally shattered. I felt utterly crestfallen. I just feel that I'm not good enough. I'm never good enough. I really do doubt myself sometimes even though I try my best to be optimistic. It's not a good mindset to have but when things don't work out the way you want them to, it's slightly impossible to not self-doubt. Urgh, this not even the end-or-all-be-all. Also life will give me lemons (*cue punch lines*)...so I might as well get over all the things I don't want to remember.
I let the feelings come pouring out. Thrice. In a single day. This isn't even something worth being downcast about. But I'm crazy and ridiculously emotional. Not going to look back anymore because the past is the past and honestly, there is no good dwelling on it - best to look to the future.This is going to be difficult but I'll do just fine...it's merely a matter of when, not if, it will happen.


June 27 - T's birthday party | V for Vendetta | Musings
Had a great time with the lovely bunch at T's party.  T is such a lovely and sweet person and I really do hope I'll get to know her more in the future. R became my partner-in-crime as we both went a bit nuts over the free drinks tabs but overall, my spirits were lifted and I forgot my woes :) Dressed up as V. Also awesome because I do espouse the ideologies of Anonymous.

Watched V for Vendetta (for the first time the night before) because it's kinda awkward turning up and not knowing anything about the character you're dressed up as. Loved the movie; it reminds me of Orwell's 1984 (the only book I have truly enjoyed from the English high school syllabus). Anything about a dystopian world is always right up my alley. What comes to mind: Ben Elton's Blind Faith and Hunger Games. All the other major dystopian books I haven't mentioned so far; I must read them. But yes, freedom forever. 

Alan Moore: Behind this mask there is more than just flesh. 

Beneath this mask there is an idea... and ideas are bulletproof.

V: People should not be afraid of their governments. 

Governments should be afraid of their people.  

(Why can't democratic governments always keep this in mind? Far too often the elected leaders of a country forget that the government is for the people and elected by the people. Denigrating the rights of citizens and generating inequalities on all spectrums completely goes against the values of democracy. Just look at what's happening to this country at the moment. This, this, this. But wait, there's more. It's disgusting. The majority of us simply aren't impressed in the slightest. At least we're better off than countries and states ruled by autocrats.)

A random thought from the night. Friends older than me had told me before that the second year of uni will be one of the best years of my life. I really do believe that this statement to be true. 2014 has been pretty wonderful so far. So many new things :) A few minor flaws won't spoil it for me.


June 30 - Free
I'm just happy exams are finally over and done with!
Note to self: Do NOT attempt learning two languages simultaneously, on top of other pressing things. Never again.

July 1 - Seeing the hubby
Had a wonderful day out with J, so good to see her in person! Lunch at Devon first before we 'wobbled side to side' (ie. ate so much we can't even walk straight) to Town Hall for the usual adventure. Bought something from Myer because they've got awesome sales going on until this Sunday. Also, Lush. Holy. I love that shop. Is it weird to say that I love all the smells that hit you as soon as you walk in? Olfactory heaven.

YUM. $19. One of the most popular items

July 2 -  At least I 've done this
First GI sucked big time. Just didn't know how to stand out. The way they put you on the spot and the way others acted because they were desperate for this...urgh just urgh. So much fake-nice going around. I could tell people were just putting on an act. I don't like this system but at least it's good I have a rough idea of how it works now, right?


July 3 - Catch up with the girls & J's birthday: High Tea @ Shangri-La | Apple & HP | Racism
On high tea: It was a lovely catch-up with the girls. It really has been far too long since I've seen most of them. And what I love most of all about today, is that although some of us changed from what we used to be, we are still very much able to talk comfortably to one another and don't put on a facade. No fake niceties. We are genuine to each other and most importantly, ourselves. I honestly am so happy that I don't have to pretend to be a person I'm not - they accept for me for who I am - occasional derp who cannot Maths, fangirl, ditz and everything else in between. As long as I've got the people who matter, nothing else matters to me at all.

Love her so much!

 

So good to see F! ^^

 

 YUM. Doesn't look like much but damnnn, it is filling.

Missing A in group photo since she's taking the pic D: 

 

Loved the flavour in this mocha

 Ahahaha #legitfoodbaby  (:

 

MY BABIES FINALLY CAME!!! Can't wait until I read them all again. childhood memories :)))

On Apple: Well, I've finally got a new upgrade from the school laptop after a good five and half years and lots of badgering from Dad!

On racism: I think most people have already seen this video but god, it pisses me off. Australia always purports itself to be a multicultural country but this is absolute bullshit. We really aren't. You could deny it but let me tell you, it's a fairly common occurrence. I've experienced this countless times and it's shit, it makes you feel really bitter about humanity. And it's especially terrible when kids are racist, even though it's not their fault - it's the fault of the parents and their upbringing.
Also, I never quite understood why racists make fun of others for their accents when the racist, if he or she had gone to another country, may have had the same language difficulty or would've struggled badly to be fluent in the language.
And please. Despite her public apology, Sue Wilkins isn't even truly sorry for her racist attack. She's just sorry she got caught and law enforcement intervened. But at least we're trying to make a difference.