INNER THOUGHTS

Sometimes, I like to sit at the corner-most table of a coffee house listening to some beautiful music and immersing myself in a good book. Occasionally, I would look up and watch the world go by.

I love to observe people, trying to understand them. There, that pretty young girl near the entrance with a chocolate ice-blended on the table while she fervently typed into her phone with a smile on her face and slight flush on her cheeks. Two tables away, a mother watching over her little boy playing on an iPad while daddy reads a book. On the left - a lady having a discussion with a guy and a laptop in front of her. Of course, things aren't always as rosy. I've seen couples fighting, unhappy marriages and whatnots.

Granted, I'm not a very expressive person. But I feel very deeply (Pisces rising, anyone?). Sometimes it makes me wonder the reasons we get together with another. Excitement? The need to feel wanted/fill an emotional void? True understanding? I like to believe in the last reason. I read from an article somewhere that we have to learn to see our other halves as if we are meeting him/her for the first time each day. Tough, huh? Keeping the spark and excitement alive in a relationship ain't easy at all. But when the relationship works out beautifully, its always comforting to know that there will always be someone there for you.

So I say - cherish each moment. Each day you're given 86,400 seconds. Why waste those precious time in vain? Spend them doing meaningful deeds. And do so whole-heartedly. Spend so much time in improving yourself that you have no time to judge others. Inspire. Motivate. But most importantly, love truly and sincerely.

..and its been 8 months!

Know what? I totally forgot I have a blog for the past 8 months. No kidding.

See, this is what post-grad studies do to you. =.=

Thought maybe I should just update with a post since now I've finally recalled its existence. Haha. :)

So let's see. The past 8 months have been a rollercoaster of a ride. Rushing experiments, rushing publications..rushing thesis. Flying off to Germany and London for conferences. Meeting new people, renewing ties with old ones. Getting back to the working world again. 

Maybe I should go catch a breather.


But the ride's been good, if not enjoyable. 2012 is probably the year in which I have learned (and grew) the most. Finding my path, finding my own identity. Pinpointing objectives in life. 

Its great to be back at work again. And I like my seating place. Very got feng shui. Haha. ;p

Christmas is just 14 days away! And in another month or so, its d-day. Yes, the moment when I finally have to defend my thesis. The viva. 


Gotta run now. Update again soon! Here's a picture of the Mosel river (Koblenz, Germany) for ya! Miss the serenity and the buffalo mozzarella! And till now, I've always wondered how I managed to get through the entire week in Germany without knowing a single German phrase except for 'danke' and 'schoen'. Its great fun being adventurous though =)

Time Away

Deactivated Facebook as of 03.04.2012.


So as to focus on the final leg of the 4-year programme. And also to claim some personal time. Feels like I've been losing bits and pieces of myself. Being away for a while would be good. =)


Shall be back when this soul is well-rested!

Wow? First post of 2012?

Ok. I totally did not realise that this is the first post of 2012. *sweat*

*brushes away cobwebs, spring cleans*


Just watched Hunger Games today. Katniss is just so freakin' cool! Stood out literally as the Girl on Fire. *loves* thanks to her (and Legolas!) now I have the urge to pick up archery. Yeah maybe I should really give it a try someday!

Truth be told Haymitch looks better on screen than in the book. I like him.

And that feeling returns after watching Hunger Games. Just like how it felt after watching Avatar and LOTR. The way Katniss belongs in the woods, the way Legolas owns the jungle. Maybe I was a hunter in a past life hahaha. Or someone who lives in the woods. If I could I'd choose to be both a warrior and a healer. Ok just being random. =D


BUT. I am just a normal city girl. I couldn't fight this inner calling. It isn't about personal achievements or milestones or successes. It isn't about realising all my dreams. And it doesn't just include caring for loved ones. It is far-fetched. Very. If I said I wanted to do something for the world, how much could I contribute?

There is just too much suffering, too much pain, too much hurt in this world. Can I do something?

I recently read some books on how the world is interconnected on the subconscious level. Maybe I could start from there. Little by little, one step at a time? It sounds possible. We could create the Ripple Effect. Energy never gets destroyed, it only changes form right? If each person sends out positive energy to two other persons, then we get 4, 8, 16, 32... now that is something that can be carried out.


So it begins within ourselves. Be the change you want to see in the world. Gandhi said it well.

Morning's Gift

Let's talk about 2012!

Ok. So recently I'm into all these New Age readings and thoughts. And most of these articles touched on the subject of 2012. The end of the Mayan calendar. The conclusion of a 26,000 year cycle. The moving of the Earth into the Photon Belt.

Right I shall stop with the technical stuff.


Anyway. The question that perhaps might or might not pop up in your mind is - "Is it the end of the world? Or somewhat like the movie itself?"


Some theories state that upheavals are indeed going to take place as Mother Earth begins a cleansing of herself. Which in turn leads to new masses of land emerging while existing ones sink beneath the ocean and poles shifting. National Geographic has confirmed that the North Pole is currently migrating towards Russia. Possibility of such a reversal?

When the Mayans calculated their calendar, they stopped at precisely December 21, 2012. Which marks the end of a time cycle. So what happens then?


Some sources claim that there would be 3 days of darkness after that day. But most agree on one thing. That the human consciousness experiences ascension into the 5th dimension. A dimension of Light and Love. Whether there would be profound changes on the surface of the earth is left to be seen. We are entering the age of Aquarius, an era in which spirituality sees growth.


I think the following website is a good read. Take the articles objectively and with an open mind. Its pretty enlightening. :)

http://ascension101.com/


Ok my brain's slowing down now and I'm feeling sleepy. Perhaps I might just pop in another post on this topic sometime in the future.

A unicorn to guide and protect you!

Beautiful Like You

Yeah, I am recently addicted to this song. Like seriously addicted. The song is just plain awesome :) Lee DeWyze rocks! Haha Adele, too! Rolling In The Deep is great. Reminds me of all the beautiful souls I have met, have known and came across. :)


Anyway! So much has happened over the past 2 weeks. I've attended two weddings, been on a journey of finding my inner self, and I have met really wonderful people.

Ex-colleague's Ryan's wedding was on the 29th of May. That was the first time I actually tried to stick to a single lens for casual (and fun!) shooting for this friend of mine. Used the Prime and got hooked on it since. :) (The full post has been posted at www.nikkileevisuals.com) I really love the decors and had such a good time viewing the videos of the proposal and events of the morning itself! And of course, not to forget, catch-ups with fellow ex-colleagues!

The following week, I headed up to Ipoh with a huge group of fellow PhD friends for YW's wedding. She was an absolutely good host, ensuring that we get accommodations (Thanks YW! The bungalow was awesome! :D) and that our needs were catered to.


Needless to say, she looked stunning in the gowns. I love the blue gown she wore - it was so fairytale-like! :D The red number was unique too! Had fun taking pix alongside fellow PhDs Albert and Lee Seng. The next morning the tea ceremony was held. I have had the privilege of tagging along with the 'heng dai' team (for some random and fun shots). The 'dai kam che' was hilarious (and commanding!) and pranks were pulled on the guys entourage..t'was fun and everyone had a good time laughing! :) sneaked here and there to get shots and at one point, I was taking a breather and chatted to fellow friends when we noticed Lee Seng was perspiring all over! He was literally drenched! I guess it could be due to the heavy shutter (when I said heavy, it was really heavy!) and the items he carried with him. Albert was up in the bride's room waiting for those endearing shots :)


It was a good weekend in Ipoh and I do hope to go there again some day for the sights and sounds and food...haha! That weekend has proved to be a rebonding session for us too. And I get to talk to a friend whom I have known for almost 8 years but never talked to before.


Those breaks helped set myself back on course. For some unknown reason, I felt much less constrained than before. As if some chains have been lifted off me. The motivation to strive towards what I want out of life is back...and first on the list, is to get this PhD done as soon as possible with all the best that I can. And I came to realise that, taking pictures is some form of self-expression for me. I caught myself smiling in the middle of night when looking back at the snapshots of happy faces and joyous moments haha.. :)


I have this strong urge to begin living my heart's desires - to make a difference to this world no matter how big or small, as every difference made, like a wave, sends out ripples and affects all that is in touch with it. Joined the Eco Warriors to keep up to date with all environmental conservation activities. The next on my list would be WWF. I guess its due to this inner resonance and love for mother nature.. :D


Such feelings brought back a memory of Segovia. Here's a picture of memory from when I was there. This is the interior of the Segovia Cathedral..extremely huge and really nice. :) I wish I had more time there to explore the Saints.

Life's been a rollercoaster of a ride..and looking back now, I'm already 26.

I think its been a long time since I last updated any posts. Have abandoned my blog for some time now. I think its time to revive it again and spill some thoughts. :)

Well, a lot has happened over the past couple of months. Lessons I have learnt, experiences gained. I promised myself that 2011 is going to be a better year for me, what with dealing with all those confidence issues I've been facing all this while. Yeah, somehow, along the course of Life, I have lost that confidence I once had when I was 14. That unshaken trust and belief that everything eventually falls into place, and that I should not worry about anything.

Trust can be betrayed, Faith can be shaken.


I have learnt so much in the past 10 years. Friends whom I have lost touch since primary and high school are back in my life again. And I am extremely grateful and glad for that! There are friends who grew up with me, and friends of whom conflicts happened in the past and placed some distance between us, but after all these years and when we all finally met up, it felt as if we are still good friends as ever. We grew up, and those banters gradually melted away. We are seeing each other as unique individuals, friends who once played wonderful roles in our lives and who are going to continue to paint our canvas of life with beautiful colors. And we chose to keep the good times. This is for you all, friends and buddies of primary and high school. :) I am so happy that we are all back in touch again! I hope that our friendship continues till the end of time.

And then there are fellow friends from the lion dance troupe I joined. Friends from my university days. And my fellow ex-colleagues. And friends whom I got to know through friends. And I have met one of the most amusing sifus ever. :) Needless to say, they are all companions walking with me on this path to the unknown future, breaking my fall when I tripped and giving me a kick in the ass whenever I was bowing out.



But of course, Life is a balance of Yin and Yang, of Light and Darkness, though we always choose to walk the path of Light. There are gains, there are losses too.

If there is one thing I have learnt, it is to give and care sincerely. And when we talk, to talk only good of others and nothing bad. Who are we to judge others, when Nature itself gives second chances to life? I admit, I myself have once fallen into the trap of judging others too fast too soon, of lashing stinging words at others when none of it affects my life one bit, and I slap my mouth big time for that. Some time alone and away for thoughts have placed me in a clearer position, and I hate myself for being judgmental, for being selfish. Now I know better. I vow to never be that 'me' of the past again.


Even though so, I guess there are still people out there who may try to bring you down. To stoke fire behind your back, to place you in such a position that you are rendered dumbfounded and confused. Well, I guess its ok if people chose to believe those words. As long as the conscience is clear, there is nothing to worry about. It is sad to lose friends that way, but if that's the way things happen to be, I rest my case.


Regardless, we move on in Life. There are always ups and downs, but being optimistic is a choice we make. :)

Here is a picture of lovely flowers, captured in Cameron Highlands. Specially dedicated to you all, dear friends of primary school, high school and university, and friends whom I have met outside of education varsities, who have made differences in my life! :)


Thank you all! :)

Ahoy Pirates :D

I was totally awed by the ship right smack in the center court of Mid Valley! All in conjunction with the latest launch of Pirates of The Caribbean! The details are impressive, the ship looks absolutely ready for sailing!

Well, of course, with zilch chances of boarding a pirate ship, all I could do was to let my imagination run wild. :)

Took some snapshots of the ship and the atmosphere, and a scene came into my head. I wanted to recreate this fantasy world. And so having obtained a copyright-free image of a sea, it took me an hour to extract the ship and overlay onto the image of the ocean. Played with contrast and brightness settings, and also some color adjustments.

This was what became of the ship. :)


And that's the original image :)


More on www.nikkileevisuals.com! ;)

Yes, I noticed cobwebs :)

Can't believe my last post was on pre-Christmas!

Missing posts on Christmas, 2011 New Year's Eve, and Chinese Rabbit New Year. Honestly, I almost forgot about the existence of my blog. LOL. Hopeless, I know. Hahaha!


ANYWAY.


Its been one hell of a rollercoaster ride for me.


Final year of research means extra work, extra writings, extra referencing and extra what-nots. I've been hiding at home working overtime on documents and occasionally, well ok not occasionally but rather, often, at coffee cafes. To the extent that the Starbucks barista asked me,

"Eh, yesterday didn't come one?"

OR

"See you tomorrow!"


Rather predictable huh. Haha.


Christmas was quiet, dinner with family and a one time experience of New Year countdown at Taipei left me with an unforgettable experience. Plus the afterthought of snuggling on the couch at home watching drama series with a good jar of cookies and a hot chocolate on New Year's eve sounds more than comforting compared to jostling with the crowd out there. :)

Starters for Christmas dinner. :)



And the ambience.


And then comes CNY with all the cleaning up and preparation work. Assisted sifu for lion dance shows on CNY 2 and 6 - had fun! Saw the biggest ever platter at a shop in Central Market with mandarins, pomelo, fake pineapples, fake cherry blossoms, a box of chocolates, peanuts, a bunch of limes and lots of angpows. Confused me which one is the REAL one. Yes the one with $$$ haha.


Playful lions on CNY2 - they've been chasing down people! Best show of the day? The one in SnowWorld. Forgot which lion decided to be cheeky (and sporting!) and went sliding down from the cabin! Of course, we came out with icy noses. :) CNY6? The hair salon. Tail player had to support head player on his head while climbing up chairs to get the lettuce. Scared the hell out of me. Freaking worried. But the show went perfectly :)


Here are some pix of the lions in action. :)








Alright, time to get back to more writing. And programming. *yawns* Good Sunday to you! :)

What It Takes to Make Christmas Come Alive

We were always awed by the after-works of Christmas decorations and never got to witness the process of constructing those scenes. This year, I managed to catch the staff at 1U putting up the decorations and work actually began as early as 9 in the morning!


Well, I still have yet to guess what this year's theme is, but a lot of effort has gone into constructing these buildings. Yes, I've seen them sawing and nailing boards together. I've seen them actually painting them.

And look! These miniature buildings were actually fitted with electricity, with lights in them and the windows are draped with curtains!


Literally building everything from scratch. Just like actual buildings.


Onlookers and passers-by were drawn to the whole scene.


There's a bridge there. And covered with red carpet in the centre of it.


Staff discussing and ensuring that the plans are executed properly.


Decorating those trees ain't easy.


And I'm a lil worried for this guy. Perched right on top of the ladder stretching all the way out to decorate those flowers.


The overall scene. I can't wait till everything is done!


I couldn't help but feel deep appreciation for these people who put so much effort into bringing the spirit of Christmas alive! All that for just a single month of display!


Thank you for bringing to us the wonderful atmosphere of Christmas! =)

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade!

Been kinda down and bothered lately. Too many thoughts, too many things to be sorted out.


Time is running out for me. Those occasional panic breakouts and kan-jiong-ness are happening more often. Maybe I shouldn't target perfection. Maybe I should just let things down one notch and strive for my best.


But striving for my best without attaining the best of what things can be is so not me. And it comes back to the perfection question again. Chicken and egg problem. And I tell people, nothing is ever perfect. Gahhh. Contradictory.


I'm trying. Again and again and again. Swallowing those frustrations and worries numerous times. Telling myself that probably the next time I would hit something. I could learn something from Edison.



Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

The Marrying Game

The title was from an article published in The Star today. And after reading the contents, I can't help but conclude how true they were!


The stats showed that more than 40% of men do not get married due to financial problems. And the problem women encountered is because they couldn't find a suitable candidate.


True, ain't it?


If you ask me, why am I not attached at the moment, I would tell you just one word. Uncertainty. Alright, I admit, there are traces of fear and insecurity as well. No one can see the future, no one can tell what the future holds for us all. What? Take a leap of faith, you said? Take a chance? Well I'd love to. But fear always hits back at me. Always. 101%.


Maybe I should conquer my fear and place my faith in Fate. Alright, you can criticise me for being overly negative. Or for not living what I preach to others. To me, the dating phase is like a sunny spring garden - beautiful, full of promises, dotted with butterflies and all things colorful. Marriage is like summer, when the flowers bloom at their best. However what comes after marriage are family commitments. Now this is where the real challenges start and understanding comes into play.


Nevertheless, I still believe in a summer that lasts forever.


I believe everyone cherishes individual freedom to some extent. But also, everyone needs to feel needed and loved as well. Its inherent. There are compromises to be made. Classic fairytales are immensely rare if not extinct. But we can all make our own modern fairytales. The spark, the joy, the love, the respect and the chemistry are what brought two people together in the first place. Never let them die. Immortalise them.


Life is never smooth sailing, but with the right thoughts and attitude, we can make life an exciting voyage. And I will still keep believing that unconditional love stands the test of time. That however conditions change, there is still that mutual respect and care that each person has for another.


Kind of relieved now that I have blogged part of my thoughts. But I've still got work to do in conquering my insecurities and fears haha.


Anyway, twas a lovely evening yesterday! Captured this picture in fluorescent mode on my mobile.



Do share some thoughts if you have any! Maybe you could help me conquer my inner insecurities. =) muchos gracias!

That sparkle of joy in the eyes

Hmm. Do you feel uplifted when someone flashes a genuine smile at you? One in which the eyes speak everything?


Alright. I admit. I am a visual person. I like to observe. Inquisitive mind. And what I saw, I like to conjure up a story in my head.

And I always, almost all the time, prefer happy stories.


Well ok, who doesn't anyway? ;)


You know when people say that if a person's smile is genuine, you can see it in his/her eyes too? I totally buy that. Undeniably the windows to the soul. Its that sparkle of joy and bliss that I find solace in. And it always lifts my mood. I feel it.


Now, do pardon me if I start staring into your eyes. LOL. Then again, maybe I could do with a Mr Sunshine in my life. Haha!


Attended one of my long-time friend's wedding last Saturday. Special thanks to her for giving me the opportunity to sneak around with my camera. =D Here's sharing one of the edits. The one that I love best.



Congratulations to Justin and Diane! Wishing you both lasting bliss, joy and happiness! =)

Just Married =)

Well, I was walking half-dazedly to pay my parking ticket after dinner and then I turned around and saw this.


Yes you can imagine my excitement (*read: pointing at the car jumping up and down*) at that moment. xD I was literally awed!



Now that is a very, very unconventional and surprising move! Imagine when this car goes on the road. Everyone would be smiling! It would bring back fond memories for some if not most! Kids would be screaming delighted! Now I don't see this as setting standards on what guys should do, but rather let's all feel happy for the couple in that they have taken a very unique and bold approach. A move that would definitely leave you smiling. =)



Congratulations to Andy and Lynn! Whoever or wherever you both are! Thank you both for lifting my spirit and leaving a huge smile on my face! =D Wishing you both continuous excitement in life and all the best that life can offer!

The Process of Falling

Suggestive title, eh? Haha!


Was driving to work this morning with a very, very gloomy weather (hey it was drizzling and the skies were grey and it would be awesome to sleep in but had to drag my big fat butt off to work T.T). Anyways!


So this thought came to me while I was driving. Yeah ok, those mellow Mandarin songs got thoughts running through my head. And the fact that I got pawned big time on this particular subject left traces that contributed to those thoughts too.


So what's all this falling about?


First it started as fascination. Aha, I think some of you might have had light bulbs on your heads now! Now zip your mouths while I finish my Oscar-award speech.


Fascination. Then slowly, slowly, fascination links the path of observation. And then comes the foundation for friendships and the sorts. Slowly this combination of elation, mesmerisation and fascination combines to form a lethal weapon that leaves you entrapped within helplessly.


And then it happens. You started tripping. Butterflies visit your innards. Bouts of sudden increased heartbeats. Flushed cheeks. What happens after you trip?


You FALL. =) Maybe small time. Maybe BIG time. Ok lame sorry. There's no such thing as small time.


But what continues after the fall -the getting up again, is not an easy path to walk. Determination and understanding are entirely needed with occasional doses of sparks and fireflies to keep the journey exciting.


Damn, I think I'm on writer's mode now. I should go continue working on my writings. See ya peeps! Hope this post entertained you somewhat, in some way! xD





Picture of the day: mushroom bruschettas!





I'm missing these bruschettas already! =(

Hoot Hoot!

In anticipation of a movie coming end of September, I have changed my wallpaper to the following.


Yes, the Owls of Ga'Hoole. =) Legend of the Guardians.


Saw the trailer some time back and I was totally awed and captivated! Isn't that barn owl in the wallpaper adorable?


Some interesting beliefs on the Owl.

Middle and Far East

In some middle and far eastern cultures, the owl is a sacred guardian of the afterlife, ruler of the night, a seer and keeper of souls transitioning from one plane of existence to another.

Ancient Greece

The ancient Greeks attributed the owl to Athena, goddess of wisdom and foresight. This symbol was used on Greek coins and therefore also became associated with wealth.

America

Native Americans attributed owls with wisdom and sacred knowledge. The shaman would call upon Owl medicine for insight into the truth of ill-intent. Plains Indians wore owl feathers to protect against evil spirits.

Africa

West African and Aboriginal Australian cultures also saw the owl as a messenger of secrets, and companions to medicine people.

Europe

In the celtic tradition, the owl (cailleach-oidhche), represents wisdom, clairvoyance, stealth, initiation, change and detachment. Always aware of its surroundings, the owl uses intuition courageously, with insight into hidden truth, and a guide between earth creatures and Underworld deities.

And...

If You Are Drawn to the Owl

The owl’s gift of heightened senses enables it to see through deception, external appearances and illusion and to discover hidden truths.

If you are drawn to owls or owl symbolism, you may have this same ability to uncover secrets. People may feel uneasy around you, as if you are able to see through pretence. The owl also teaches us to acknowledge the dark side of our personality, and in that darkness we may find food for growth.

If people do not speak words that reflect the truth of their actions and motives, owl medicine (as referred to by aboriginal cultures) will guide you with vision and inner knowing to reveal the truth. The owl puts an end to doubt and offers vision and clarity of the truth of events, people or circumstances in your life.

I've been seeing too many things related to the owl lately. Perhaps its time for this majestic night creature to step into my life. =)

Haven amidst chaos =)

If not because of my sister's gathering with her friends, I would never have known the existence of this place.


It is indeed a haven amidst chaos.

Could only manage to capture the following with my mobile. The pictures are not doing justification to the place in reality. =/



Alright, to you guys out there, be romantic and take your GF to this place for dining at night! *grins*

Check out Teeq Brasserie at the Forest in the City! ;)

This is what I feel like now...

Current feelings.



What do u think it feels like to sit in the clouds while looking at the world below? =)

If you can...

Ok, I still have a couple of outdated posts to catch up on, and I think I shall post them as pix-posts soon! *hopefully*

And by outdated, I mean really, really outdated! Well anyways! xD



Thought I'd do some abstract writing, which somehow speaks for me.


If you can...

let the wind take you away
be immersed in the rich golden hues of a sunset
contemplate among the solitary stillness of a forest
smile at the mist-covered mountains in the morning
fall in love with the yawns of new born puppies
breathe in that crisp freshness of dawn
bask in the quiet shimmer of starlight
be touched by small acts of kindness in daily life
count your blessings for each chocolate cookie you have
enjoy the lap of waves at your feet


Then you would have understood some deepest parts of me. =)