The end of the beginning

The end of my engineering undergraduate studies has approached. As much I have no relish for studying, knowing that this is ending brings about a melancholy feeling.
Moving to Roberts is the start of change. I can't help but miss Howitt. A couple of pictures from my room.

As it comes to an end....

Last day of the last week of the last month of last year of my undergraduate degree passed by numbly. The solace of no need of a job and paying your own bills diminishes, confronted with real hard fact that it's time. One can only forestall their graduation but you can never evade that impasse. Pessimistic as it sounds, don't get me wrong, not that I am not ebullient to be "out" there, but it's always good to not need make life choices, choices that doesn't only revolve around me alone. Many more things to mull over, backup plans to revise. But there is always one more thing. To my rue, there is always one MORE thing.

The beginning of the end

A picture taken from my room.

The last semester. These three words brings qualms, jittery. It marks the end. For many this is the fork road, where everyone has to walk down their own chosen path, beset by challenges and doubts. For some it's still a straight road, taking an amble down the Postgrad path before venturing the 24-7 career path. Yet this momentous decision daunts everyone, no matter how hard one struggles to avoid it.

Is this the beginning or the ending? It marks the end of uni life, but marks the start of a new life. It's like the sun setting. It ends the day, but a brand new day shall soon appear. Intricate much. Yet sometimes it is easier to live life as it is; plan for the future, but live for the moment.

Last update before this semester ends

*sings* I am taking the next plane home.

Writing this while I’m on my flight back to home. This marks the end of the semester once again.

Time flies I concur. 12 weeks flashed pass, winning the award of the fastest semester. I remember the start of the semester when we decided to give it our best, and now all is left to wait, to prove our worthiness.
Four units for this semester: FYP, Engineering Tech for Biomed, Robotics and Control. Control was not a choice; I was coerced to take this subject I reckon. Eng Tech for Biomed, was due to some misjudgment, or should I say the enticing fact of it having no finals, which means more time to study for fewer subjects. It was definitely a unit that we did not gain much knowledge. We had a rather busy lecturer - he cancels classes every other week; the unit has no fix syllabus and really disorganized. It would have been an interesting unit to enroll and learn, but the pivotal role of a teacher should never be disregarded. Besides that, control was rather muddled too. Or control itself is rather abstract, and rather hard to comprehend most of the time. Besides Biomed, the rest had a steep learning curve. Every year, the course gets harder; this semester was just another big leap from the previous. Vast difference in difficulty compared to the rest of the semesters. Robotics was linked to my FYP, I enjoyed learning robotics. Found it rather intuitive, or maybe that’s where my interest lies; but it was something I could comprehend although we only learnt the theory and formulas. On another note, my FYP was on robotic surgery and it welcomed me with many impediments. The main reason why I took it was because it involves a lot of programming, and with the cool factor, the project was enticing compared to the rest. Currently I am halfway through my project, but the complications that surfaced were beyond expectations, and the questions that trailed along remains a conundrum with no solution. I still do not see the end of the path yet, but I believe the slogging will come to an end, and it will be all worthwhile. Or so I hope.
Whoever said that you should cherish your last year in Uni, as it will be the best days of your life, studying. After that it will just be work work work. But how to? When work keeps piling and piling and piling. ><

Once again the 8 passed by, calmly with no upheaval, no tragedy, or at least none that I knew of. It’s uncanny how every year that day passes by with some anguish and sorrow. Time heals, people say, but how true is that? After so long, I still lack the courage, courage to admit, courage to share, courage to speak out. There I stand, alone in the dark, knowing others share the same sentiment, but never the comprehension. But I do, albeit the fact not showing gratitude, not saying a word but feels comfortable cuddled up in the warmth shell. The silence is well appreciated but the wildfire is not.

Engineering?

I have been doubting my role an engineer, and the doubt is becoming more overwhelming than ever. I am more destructive than I am in constructive. Or maybe I am just a smart aleck, and reality hits right smack in the face.

This project has been a steep learning curve, compared to the previous two internship, this is actually the worst by date. At first I was still contemplating doing research in engineering, then I am rather certain of not doing it. My mom claims that once I complete this project the sense of achievement would change my mind. I have my qualms, seeing this project is not progressing on a positive note at all. But I cant foresee impending situations, and mom's best. Ill just keep my hopes up for the moment.

Now, I am even doubting my capability to be an engineer. Maybe I am just better off working with a computer and causing no damage to anything else. On another note, a job in IT seems more inviting than ever looking at the bleak future of me being an engineer.

I hope this is just all a phase. A phase I have to go through seeing I was certain ill be an engineer since young. Maybe it was influence. But I cant shake off this perturbing feeling. Maybe... Just maybe...

Peepz, don't worry. Ill survive... I always do... Hopefully I make a come back with a bigger bang :)

Time to catch a short breath

As a protest to the previous post i wrote that got deleted, I shall keep this short. No idea what I did, this is the second time this happened to me before.

Life is crazy albeit it is only week 5. The transition from year 1 to year 2 was exponential, then life took a break in year 3. Then 4th year surged to a new historic peak; final year project is always looming around, and the other electives are not easy, being rather theoretical and mathematical. The load increased ten-fold. But I guess its my final year, all these years, 15 years of studying is just for one piece of paper. I just want to get out of the student life. Everyone say once you start working you will miss the student life, but then again, not many wants to go back to student life.

Just a few updates:

Sydney is good, Melbourne is good too. I am rather torn between the two cities, both have it perks. Will see what the future holds for me.

Taking ENG 4700, as interesting as it sounds, the lecturer is too busy, he cancels half of his classes. In a way its good, I have more time on hand, with the hectic schedule I am having I can only be grateful. This unit its about Engineering technology. Sounds interesting and intriguing, but the 3 reports to be handed in is a major turn off. On the bright side, I'll be getting my hands dirty on Holography.

FYP is just piles n piles of never ending work. A robotic arm heals when it is working, its futile when it cant be controlled, but deadly when it is out of control. My FYP is plain perplexing. It is a never ending project, it is intricate. As cool as it looks, the problem is probably just as much. But since I have chosen it, i'll just embrace it and hopefully it works out without jeopardizing my future.

Went to watch Andrew Lloyd Webber theatrical event at Regents. It was a rather nice place, a lot more classy than the Princess (I think). We got cheap tickets, but had dress circle seating. It was a good show, did not know Andrew composed such many good songs. Then I heard that he has much scandals too, I guess people who are talented always have other issues.


Regent Theatre



Cookie time... An obese star-shaped cookie.

Counting the days in Sydney

Counting my last few days in Sydney.
It's been a great experience. I have done my presentation, but I'll just repeat myself, I really did enjoy myself in Sydney and working at Mac.Awesome experience, meeting great people, learning more-than-what-your-mind-can-perceive technologies, working with helpful mates, strolling the city alone by myself. Prodigious experience.

Hmm, something i learnt there is a misconception of everyone towards Malaysian. Telling people you are Malaysian, they assume you are Malay. They do not know who are Malays, but it started to dawn upon me that I do not know who really Malays are too.
Malays are the original citizens of the Malaya when Chinese was still immigrants. So basically Malays are citizens of Malaysia, explains the words Australians - citizens of Australia. So when we fought for Independence, and Chinese became citizens and part of the country, why are we still called Chinese? Why is there the occurrence of calling people by race in Malaysia. If Malays were called Malays because they were citizen of Malaya, why do we have Malaysian Chinese and Malaysian Indian? Why are judged based by our own people? Aren't we just all Malays, but we aren't....

Jan 2011

Its the start of the new year, and the end of the new month.
Welcome 2011. And goodbye Jan 2011.
3 more weeks before I finish my internship, 3 more weeks before I bid Sydney good bye, 3 more weeks before i start my final year, 3 more weeks for a perilous, grueling year ahead to welcome ahead.
Counting down the weeks, its been 9 weeks of internship. I realized I enjoy working, but dislike the 9 to 5 hours. I learnt to know more about my interest, but became unsure of my future. This 9 weeks has bestowed me knowledge and experience that made things both complicated and simple. Java, HTML, CSS, libraries are just the few things that I have learnt, not to mention the full exposure to Sydney, Aussie and its culture. I took a big leap, and looking back, I realised there are things that can changed, but there are still things that cant be changed.

Updates on Sydney:
Went to Power House Museum, its not a museum that generates power, its a Museum filled with science, technology, fashion, music etc. It was quite an eye opener, I must say.







Went to see Power Plant at the Chinese Garden. It incorporates nature with lights and sounds.






Went to Coogee Beach during Australia Day and manage to catch the fireworks at Darling Harbour. It was not as big scale as NYE, but I reckon this is nice in its own way. It has more distinctive patterns.

Sydney NYE 2011

Week 5 into my internship in Sydney. Life is good, except my close friends aren't here to celebrate New Year Eve with me. Work is rather hard I would say, I never realised going into a field which is not your undergrad degree can be so hard. But work is starting to get more interesting with my new project. So far, Sydney is looking great, except with the influx of humans in Sydney. So far I have been to Blue Mountain, Bondi Beach and Manly Beach, Sydney Opera House, Glebe, USyd, Art Gallery... Sydney is just HUGE! :)

New Year eve celebration was really good. I spent 7 hours waiting for the new year eve's fireworks which lasted for 15 minutes, but it was really worth it.

RIP Uncle Tim

It breaks my heart knowing that you are no longer here with us. I hope you rest in peace, knowing that many of us misses you a lot; reminiscences the past, with old memories pouring in. You always seems so cheerful, very chatty but it kills the silence. I have known you for 5 years; I miss those weekends where you'll try to smoke and Serene and I will hide your cigarette, which then you decide to hide it away from us, in your socks maybe. I miss those weekends, where I come to CW and we go out for supper and lunch, sometimes dinner. The only regret I have, is not throwing all our cigarette away, but one thing is for sure, I am really glad to have known you.

RIP

Sydney Week 1

1 week done, 11 weeks to go. New place, new company, new friends, new roommates new experience. I have really enjoyed my new working place, my new colleagues, except for my new house, I really enjoy Sydney a lot. Working here is a different experience from my previous internship. The people are really nice, and friendly. Which makes me feel really really guilty and obliged when they actually try to accommodate my given task to my ability and actually spend time on giving me a good working/learning experience. They actually are willing to, despite their really really busy schedule.

First week done, I have not started anything yet, but i really like my new working place. It has a really awesome environment, different from the others. People would not want to leave after they work there, i assure you.

Coming to Sydney is about working, but travelling, sightseeing being a tourist not only as a interstate visitor but an international visitor. Sydney is so much bigger and nicer than Melbourne, or I am just being bias. But I am really liking here, despite the lonesome part. Having to go out with Carmen and her family was a great time. Eating seafood at the Fish Market, visiting the Art Gallery to see the tarracota army, seeing the Opera House was a great time. Next up, i so have to sit on a cruise before i head back to Sydney

Porridge vs Congee

I never knew there was such a significant difference between porridge and congee. At home, it was a habit to call congee porridge, or for the least in Malaysia its a common scene i think. Until today, I was making "porridge" when my neighbor walk into the kitchen and asked me what i was cooking. I answered porridge, then she was rather surprised i was cooking it with a rice cooker(lazy way, but it works).
She: what's inside
Me: water and rice
She gave me a disgusted look
She: that's not porridge, my dad cooks porridge with oat, water, barley,milk and sugar
Me: No, we cook it with rice and water
I went to google and realised I made a mistake
Me: Ok, this is congee, not porridge, my mistake
She: I still have no idea what is it. What does it taste like?
Me: It is suppose to taste rather bland.
She: Bland? *disgusted tone*
Me: It is meant for people who are sick. but you can add meat to have some taste in it. So definitely it can't be made out of milk, milk and meat ain't a good combo.

Well, congee and porridge is just too different. I will hate porridge definitely.

Week 12 Doom

Week 12 is coming to an end, indicating the arrival week 13, equivalent to exam week. I am starting to panic, I should start studying like NOW, but things seems to be surfacing, not back logs. This is official things that needs to be settled soon. I need to study!!! BUT I CANT. There is FYP, enrollment, house searching... I need more than 24 hours....

21st Bday Celebration

Being 21st is old, but celebrating it was awesome and memorable, once in a lifetime. Having a pre-celebration with my Uni mates was a great one. But having my sister and mother fly to Oz was just touching. Not to forget the presents that they brought along, makes me feel more sentimental. I had a great time with here, especially the awesome food we had. I am just so speechless, and will let the pictures.

21st pre-Bday bash

Gotta thank everyone for a great birthday surprise celebration, especially KPC, CI and MX, together with KY. As much as i anticipated and knew about it, it totally slipped my mind, thanks to my mom and sister. But it all turned out well, I was rather taken aback during the ambush, I got to say, guess one cant predict everything. If I was more observant, or at least more detailed, there would not be any surprise anymore. :) But as much as one can predict, one could never predict what other thinks. The present was AWESOME, a Nintendo DS. It was really unbelievable, made me really speechless. All I can say is Thank you.

Thanks for making this day an unforgettable 21st pre-celebration.

Cook attempt 2

Second attempt of cooking something special. The first was pancake now its cake. What's next? Hmm *think*........

The cake was nothing fantastic, but still edible. The cake was rather hard and dry and "lumpy", we did not have the mixer and didn't manage to whip it nicely. But first time actually baking a cake, so rather satisfied with the outcome.




FYI, Mary Poppins was a good musical. The singing was nothing prominent but the props was laudable, the dances was commendable too, with tap dancing and ballet incorporated into the play. They did change the plot a lot, but overall it was a good play, with really good props. :) I guess musical all not all about music then, or so for me, its not.

Week 3

It proceeds into week 3...

Things happen, people change, thinking sways, decision changes.

Assassin is back on. Some seems to be totally into in, some just could not care, while some just sore losers. It is really a good way to know people around the halls. But seeing this is the second semester, who know more people making it easier to plot against others. :)

Back to Malaysia 1

Wow, it's been 4 days since i've been home, and the different types of food I have eaten is definitely more than two hand full. I have eaten two types of Bak Kut Teh, fish noodle, steam fish, pork noodle, toast bread, steam fish, fried vegetables, nasi lemak, sa hor fun, curry chicken, grill fish, roti telur, leng chee kang and ciku etc etc. I can't even remember the long list. Oh and Dim Sum, not Dim Sim. :) Coming back to Malaysia was seriously a great idea, i'm really glad my mom made me come back. I just miss the food here so much. Nothing can be better than good ol Malaysian food.

I just came from my grandpa's old house. We were packing his stuff, trying to clear some of the stuffs, and i found quite alot of antique stuffs. My grandpa's was a photographer, and had many photography stuffs. No idea what to do with these stuffs, i feel like keeping it, but that's like wasting space. ><














A RFID tag. :)

Dance with my father again

My finger just gets bigger. >< Sigh, a fractured finger, how sucky, especially during exam period. The doctor broke the news in a funny way: "Good news, you have a fractured."

In a mood for the song, Dance with my father again. A nice song.

Relatives, why are they important? Is it because money is important? Its been years, and money comes to your mind. F*** off.

Week 13

Coming to Australia have been an experience. First the food and culture then the craziest weather. Now, a broken finger, ok not broken just injured. I have been injury free before Oz, except for the sprained ankle and back ache and the bruises; Maybe I am rather accident prone. But Australia gave me a bad cold when i first came and now my poor pinkie. I have to see the doctor and wait for the results. 5 months here is more than what could be accomplished in Msia.




Talking about culture, being rather conventional, seeing a lady breast-feeding in public just aint common. It felt rather awkward seeing it. Maybe its normal here, and YES, women have the rights - they should not need to do it in discreet, but it just made me feel a little shy.

Been here for 4 months, cooking was simple, eating is simpler so that washing is the simplest. That day I try something simple, something easy and fast - Claypot chicken rice without the claypot. It looks fine, but the taste is really really lacking. I shall remember not to put butter next time, and add sesame oil and ... I have no idea. ><