Merry Christmas!

It's the day of the merry year again! Although I'm not a Christian, this day is often very special because it is especially festive! It's the first time I'm celebrating this festival overseas (in Singapore) but it doesn't make this day any less exciting! Merry Christmas to everyone!! I hope everyone has a satisfying day because the celebration of Christmas also signals that the year is coming to an end! Happy holidays guys!

Spotify

Spotify now is running aggressive promotions, and for new users who have never signed up for premium, it offers SGD0.99 for 3 months. I fell in love to Spotify ever since I was introduced to it by my cousin. I tried it first on phone, but it couldn't be played to my liking and it shuffles automatically so I ditched it. But I didn't know I could basically listen it as any other playlist on the web browser or computer app. And so I listened to it for weeks, despite the advertisement interruptions which I didn't find much bothersome, and I've found a lot of songs I liked. Majority of them are songs from my high school era, which I retouched now that I've got the opportunity. I've stumbled upon many fantastic songs, and since it offers such an irresistible package, I just felt indebted to it for introducing me so many great songs and so I signed up for it and till today, there is no regrets. There'll be a monthly charge of SGD9.99/month after my current package expires, but if I can afford, I'll continue to support this platform.

BELL宇田《陪我看日出》

Another my favourite kind of song.

I love it just way too much!

The emotion is raw, authentic, and I just love it a lot!

Little Updates

Three months I am now in Singapore. I haven't got much time to do proper updates, but I rather this blog doesn't die because I slack.

So a few updates worth mentioning:

1) It has been officially three months since I joined my company. I've got a confirmation letter pertaining to my employment.

2) I really like where I work now. The ambience, atmosphere and environment are awesome. Colleagues are cool. No office politics. Everybody really gets along very well, there are no gangs.

3) I had been incredibly busy. Been going home past 10pm daily for the last week.

4) I've got four projects with me now. The fifth entering. Luckily one of them is rather small.

5) There is little work-life balance. I've rather busy. But I've not much life either. No friends to hang out in Singapore. Not many anyway. I hope I can make new friends so that my life here is more interesting. I very seldom loathe weekends, but lack of friends and social life really make me despise weekends.

Will continue to update time to time.

張智成 & 江美琪- 愛情

Seriously, no song beats anything as emotionally powerful as this.

Songs like this, are exactly the type I fall in love with.

Jonas Blue - Rise

I have always preferred acoustic version over those with electronic elements.

My preference also applies to this song.

How Am I In Singapore So Far?

Well, I'm not really in the mood of writing much, so I'll quickly summarise what I've got to share.

1) Work life has been very satisfying. I got to learn a lot, colleagues and superiors are generally helpful. There are pressures and some deadlines but these are a common problem throughout the world so I'll not bitch much about it. I am lucky to have got into a very good firm and I am more than happy to stay as I have no reasons to leave it at all. No complaints when it comes to work life.

2) Living, on the other hand, is a mix. I like living in Singapore because transport is good. The bus and MRT are reliable and the MRT can get you to most of the places you want to go owing to the relatively diminutive size of Singapore's geography. If you don't mind walking (which you shouldn't, since it is a very good exercise), you can go to quite a lot of interesting places on foot. I've walked from Promenade to Esplanade, and from there to City Hall, then Bugis to Rochor. It's a very small island nation which allows you to travel relatively care-free.

3) I like Singapore because groceries and food are cheap. If, and it is a big if, you do not attempt to do currency conversion. Just remind yourself, you're earning Singapore dollar, spend Singapore dollar like how you should do. If you know how to do proper budgeting and control your finance, savings should not ever, ever be a problem even after you've paid your rents. I have no problems saving 1k SGD every month because I literally do not spend anything unnecessary. Food could cost as cheap as SGD2.5, on average it will cost only around SGD3.5, so your two meals per day should be able to cost below SGD10. If you don't party, don't drink, don't splash money on materialistic staffs like top-notch smartphones or high-end fashions, you can imagine that you've got nothing much to spend.

4) Singaporeans, on the other hand, are downright rude, nasty, and unfriendly. And this is perhaps the single, and biggest, complaint I have in Singapore and the reason I do not enjoy living in Singapore despite all the pluses I've written earlier. It seems to me they were born with resting bitch face syndrome, and wherever you go they are good at grumbling and many of them (to be fair, not all are this nasty, just a very big proportion of them are) are just too entitled because they are so good at complaining you can tell that they have no a hint of what's happening outside Singapore. There are people out there who can't even have a proper meal for 3 days, and some Singaporeans complain the fruits here are not of quality. WTF? People here co-exist, but don't co-mingle. As it is a small, crowded, heavily populated nation, living together is also a problem because people here are too self-centred to sometimes understand that not everything centres around them. They are good at complaining all the time, even if it is because their neighbour has done something remotely noisy and affect them. You wanna ask why Singapore has one of the lowest birth rates in the world? My room-hunting experience told me, babies are a nuisance that bother the neighbourhood and other people's living and I strongly suspect it's why Singaporeans rather have no babies. It sickens me to hear that when I was looking for room, people stressed to me that "no babies here, so it's quiet". If I ever live in a place, I care what I can provide for myself. What other families do, and therefore whatever ripple effects it may to our shared environment, is none of my business and Singaporean should also learn that.

I love working here. But because of these issues, I do not believe I'll stay here for long.

Shawn Mendes Performs 'Stitches' For MTV Unplugged

I first head this version on Spotify, and instantly fell in love with this version of this song.

I've always loved acoustic songs, sang to the tunes of musical instruments that have no electronic interference.

And this version is just so powerful, filled with authentic feelings and sang out his true talent.

Love it. Absolutely love it.

Not Doing Great in Singapore

If you want to ask, no, I am currently not okay in Singapore.

My problem is not work-related. But rather living.

Things here are rudely different. For a place that is so densely populated, you would think that living here you would feel less lonely. No. Quite the contrary.

My first month experience has been nothing short of disappointment. People here, they live in their bubbles. A cacoon they never escaped from when they were born. Look around when you are outside, people are constantly on their phones. Even in MRT, in buses, or even in restaurants or malls.

People here co-exist, but they don't co-mingle. There is no exchange of words or interactions of any sorts.

This is really not a place I find enjoyable. It is reducing its people to a less sentient being.

People here are very less friendly. They aren't deliberately nasty but they just lack any semblance of warmth. I miss saying good night and being said good night every time I left the lift or people leave the lift in my sister's apartment in Penang. Here, people just don't give a damn about you.

Speaking of family, my sister just left for UK to study her Master's. My parents are in Penang. While I am in Singapore. I miss all of them.

And I miss my home.

And of course I miss all of you, if you manage to read till here.

Haoren 朱浩仁《我挺你》

I heard this song on 988 Fm. I was instantly hooked.

Maybe because I am away in Singapore, away from my family, and I need someone to give me the warmth I need like how the singer is giving to his friend.

It's a nice and warm song. And btw the singer is a Malaysian.

Problem Owners

I've moved out from my rental room in Singapore, just one month into renting it.

I did not particularly like the place but I don't hate it either. The owner is a 41 year old Vietnamese with extreme OCD in cleanliness. As I was the tenant and he was the owner, I had to oblige as it was the right thing to do.

And so I did.

He had to use the bathroom from 0730 to 0800. So I used it before 0730 else I would be late to work.

He loved cleanliness a lot. So I try to clean myself up whenever I use anything at sharing facilities like toilet or kitchen.

But here's the problem: he never told me whenever I did something he did not like.

I noticed that when he was using the kitchen, even only if making fruit juice, he hated it if I use it even just to wash my cups. He never said it, but his face was blacker than ash and so I stopped doing that. I just find it extremely weird.

He obviously valued his privacy a lot. That's why he's single at 41.

And he didn't like it if I throw thing in the rubbish bin in the kitchen. So I prepared my own bin in my room and threw it out myself. Again, he never mentioned it. But his face can tell a lot of things.

Then the dealbreaker occurred before I was to make the second-month rental payment.

He talked to me, and asked me to move. Apparently he had problems with me using the toilet.

He said I used too much, and after I used it, it's dirty.

I went home every night, I bathed once. Maybe peed once or twice. And used it once before I sleep because I have to brush my teeth. And sometimes poop.

These, according to his logic, are "too much". But to be fair to him, he indeed did use the toilet only once the whole night.

Then, I have nose allergies. I have runny nose and occasionally stubborn phlegm. Hence, I have to clear my nose and spit my phlegm sometimes.

I admitted it wasn't a nice thing to do when I was renting someone's place and I admitted it was awful of me to do that, but to kick me out just because I was sick was a bit too much for me to process.

He could have just told me not to do it in the toilet, or lower down my noise if I had been too loud and disturbed other people. I would be more than happy to oblige as I knew personally it wasn't a nice noise to hear.

But without telling me anything he kicked me out immediately. His reason was I had been noisy, but I have a brain and I knew that couldn't be the case because the other room tenants' sometimes play music that was so loud I can hear it with my doors closed.

He just found my nose clearing and phlegm spitting disgusting. Because he has OCD in cleanliness.

I think this is too much. I apologise if I have been too dirty or noisy, but he just had to tell me so that I do it in my room, to a tissue, and use hand sanitiser to clean myself.

To kick me out because I have a sickness I couldn't possibly prevent is just too much.

Hence, even though he gave me one month time to find a new place to live, I moved out immediately the next day because obviously this guy is not someone I can tolerate living with either.

I think when it comes to room rental, yes, owners would be very particular because it is not uncommon to have problem tenants. I had problem roommates too, but the key to solving them is to communicate and iron out the issues. Kicking someone out should only be the last resort, not the first and only option.

He kicked me out for something he could have told me to stop doing and I would have happily obliged. He did not. There was no communication.

And I'm glad this ended.

I will be much more careful when I'm looking for a new room now.

Singapore

On the 16th of August, I departed Penang and headed to Singapore for my first full-time job.

The flight departed on schedule, and arrived 10 minutes ahead of schedule. I was glad to have reached Singapore, because back on that day Penang was shrouded in a thick insufferable haze. Singapore air was clear, temporarily spared from the annoying lingering suspending particles in the pity air.

Well, I don't have much time or much things to tell. But this is where I currently reside in.

One thing I like about Singapore is its public libraries. The one in Bishan is awesome, while the one in Toa Payoh is more inferior but still is awesome! The first thing I'll do when I have got my EP and my first salary will be to sign up for a library membership! Bookworms like me who wish to socialise should never go to Singapore because the library is freaking superb!

For cost of living here, all I can say is that if you earn Singapore Dollar, things are rather cheap. But if you earn any other currency, including Malaysian Ringgit, Australian Dollar or even British Pounds, all products here are cut-throat expensive.

Some of the products are already more expensive than the price you can get in Malaysia if you just multiply it by 2, let alone the exchange rate of 3.

Anyway, I'll update more if I have the time, or any good things to share.

Little Update

Not exactly in the mood of updating anything. Feeling beat now.

Just wanna say now I'm in Singapore. A new phase of life is about to begin.

Actually, it has begun.

I'll update when the time is right.

Bored

I'm currently unemployed, almost two months since I finished my last semester. To be honest, it ain't really because I have not been finding a job. I have been, it's just that the process takes time. I should have a job in a month or two, but until an actual confirmation is obtained, I rather not share too much because I fear disappointment.

I've been spending these few weeks at home, bored, because BM is a small town, so small that even with a car I have no idea where I should go.

Also because I'm unemployed and therefore have no income, I rather not go out often to spend money which has not begun trickling in.

Also because I'm living with my parents now. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents. But living with them is depressing, difficult, making me suffer on an enormous magnitude, and I can't wait to live this house. Some parents are better loved afar.

Please let me have my first job soon.

Thai Football Team Rescued

Yes! The football team that was trapped in the flooded cave had all been rescued!

I wasn't aware of what initially transpired and had not been following the news when the news first broke. But when I read the boys had been missing for 9 days and the divers had not managed to find them in the cave, I regretfully admitted I wasn't expecting the divers to find them alive.

So when it was announced that everyone had been found alive after 10 days in the cave, I was surprised, and genuinely moved and touched by how strong the team members were.

I began following the news, and was troubled to know there were so many complications and challenges.

But as it turned out, everything went smoothly. All the team members were successfully rescued!

To be frank, I don't blame the coach. The coach shouldn't be blamed for a natural disaster. It probably wasn't a wise idea to bring the kids into the cave, but it cannot be denied he's the reason the kids are alive and I think the people and the jury of the court of the public opinion should be mindful of that.

Secondly, I sincerely think the volunteers and helpers and all the unsung heroes such as those who washed the laundries for free and the farmers who sacrificed their one year's harvest should not go uncredited. Elon Musk however is another story entirely.

Thirdly, I felt bad for the navy SEAL diver that perished on duty. He was the only casualty. At least we know his efforts had not been in vain. I'm so sorry for his death and I hoped he can move on to another world in peace, knowing all the kids had come out alive.

Lastly, as has always proved, disasters always bring out the best and unity of the people. Why this kind of unity surfaces only when something unpleasant happens?

Anyway, I hope all the kids do fine, and also the coach. You all survive a horrific experience. In the future you have a wonderful story to tell to your grandkids, but do remember too everyone who was there for you when you needed them. Stay strong!

Bebe Rexha - Meant to Be (feat. Florida Georgia Line)

Another great song that I enjoy listening to recently.

It's a very uplifting song that is cheerful. I love it.

Dear Sarawak

Dear Sarawak,

4 years to some people is nothing. But to me it means a lot. I have a confession to make, it's going to be long but I'm telling it out because it's eating me from the inside and I want it out because it's tormenting.

You provided me with some solace in my life. I grew up in a rather complicated family, I do not wish to elaborate much but one of them is that I grew up in a bilingual environment. My father is English-speaking, Western-influenced, while my mother is Chinese-speaking, adopts Asian practice. As a result I grew up in an environment where I am equally influenced by both Western and Asian culture and the consequence is that, because I pick up pieces and pieces from both cultures and mix them into one, I find myself in an intersection of culture where I belong in neither and where collisions confuse me. For example, I like Western values of living where you should go out and learn to be independent, but I also like the Asian values of upholding family relationship because family is everything you have, and you don't wanna miss out something until you lose it so you should spend time with your family. I speak better in Chinese, but I write better in English. I am not fully Westernised, but I'm not fully Asian, consequently, I cannot fit in both and thus I always felt left out. All my friends are either fully English-ed and hence Western-influenced or fully Chinese-ed. Some studied abroad and are influenced by their culture, but it's different. They transformed. I grew up this way. Whenever I go out with them, some part of me felt suppressed because I felt a little left out. So, I became reclusive, introverted, and I turned to writing because it provides me with solace.

But because I write, I tend to be more emotional and sentimental. I used to hide this because the stereotype is that men who are emotional are weak. But f*ck it, I don't live for their approvals, I don't care what they think anymore. I cannot forever live in their shadows. I am an ambivert, and it's not something I enjoy being. I don't think any ambiverts like being an ambivert. It's self-contradictory. Back in 2014, a teacher told me I am not suitable to be an engineer, because I can talk and connect to people in a way many people can't, and that's not a telling trait of an engineer. I'm not sure whether it's true but deep down I want to believe it is. I like to do public speaking. I like to talk to people (not gossiping), I like to inspire and be inspired. It's soulful, it makes me feel human and I prefer to live in a physical reality where people communicate and share experiences and interests. A part of me likes to engage in the society and talk and meet to people and share knowledge and experiences. I actually hate social media. They have strayed from the original intention of connecting people to hosting a virtual world where boundaries are broken down to feed narcissism. So this is the extrovert in me wanting to shine brightly.

But there's another part of me that likes to think critically, and hence I turned to engineering. I like challenges, I like solving problems. I want to have my own success. I want to have my own achievements in my life. It doesn't matter if no one recognises that, I do it because I like how achieving my own dream feels. It felt good to suffer 1 and a half year and ended up with a near 4 flat for my STPM (still regret the near miss), it felt good to go from failing English in Form 3 to achieving a Band 5 for MUET, it felt good to failing Mathematics all the time in primary school to having it as the only subject I consistently scored 3 solid As for my STPM, and it felt good to always failing Physics in Form 4 to be studying engineering with decent grades. I worked very incredibly hard for these achievements and I'm proud of that. I want to achieve something hard so that I have things to relive when I'm old, because I do not want to grow until 60 years old only to think back of what I did in my youth and realise what I did were about scrolling phones and binging dramas. This is the introverted side of me, dreaming for ambitions that could be often unrealistic.

You see, both my interests do not overlap. It's very hard for me to know what I want. There are a lot of things I want to do, but I do not know how to start. But you provided me an opportunity to understand that if I cannot get what I want, I can create what I want. Another thing I've learnt is that if you have no confidence in doing something, just pretend you do. It might turn out much better than you could have imagined.

I'm 24 years old and am about to venture into this society. I cannot tell for sure I'll end up becoming an engineer. I do not know where I'll end up, but you provided me a place to start. New phase of life is beginning, and I'm looking forward to my excitement in life. Thanks for 4 years of care, I'll miss Kolo Mee and Sarawak Laksa the most I'll tell you, but since I do not have a car to explore your beauty further, I regret to say the only thing I'll miss about you is literally just the food you host, and the warmth of the people residing in you.

With Love,
Tang Jia An.

The Suits

This is the most recent K-drama I watched since Descendant of the Sun. I watched it because my sister and mother are a fan of Jang Dong-Guk, then I slowly liked the plot and I liked the character Go Yuen-Woo. He's a genius who is a high school dropout but became a fake lawyer. I liked him because he's strong, he's smart, and he survived hardship with optimism. I am always inspired by people who can weather the storm. I know he's only a fictitious character but it's still inspiring. Anyway, this show focuses heavily on his law practice, and the bromance between the two main characters. I was very looking forward to the finale, but sadly it kinda disappoints. His grandmother died, which is very sad. It is not known what happens between him and his love interest, but judging from the ending I think it's safely assumed they had broken off. He went to prison, which is just but it's also a sad news. I feel sad for the character. He has nothing, no family, no education, despite his intelligence. It's sad. But he's strong, he pulled through, and that's why I admire characters like him, however fictitious it is. It serves as an inspiration. But the show is good, worth watching. I like dramas like these.

The Incredibles 2

I've waited 14 years for this sequel! The first movie came out in 2004 and I loved it very much. So when I knew they're making The Incredibles 2, I told myself I must watch it on the day it was released. And I did! The Incredibles 2 is awesome! It started off slow, with a heavy focus on Elastigirl (my favourite character was Violet, now it's Jack-Jack!), but the movie picked up pace in the middle and it's all actions at the end and I loved it. I must say the movie plot is actually very predictable. It's easy to tell who would be the Screenslayer, but Jack-Jack really gives you something to keep your ass on your seat. Jack-Jack is adorable, and his fight with the racoon was the best part of the movie in my opinion! Anyway, 14 years later, The Incredibles 2 proved to be a major success and it continued to charm as it did with the first film. Even in the theatre, I could see it's 95% teenagers and young adults who watched the first film and were there to watch the second. I loved this movie, and if you haven't watched it, you should! It's an awesome cartoon that I really want to watch a second time.

Jessie J - I Have Nothing

I know Jessie J, but I never knew she is this pro in singing.

Mind-blown.

Talented singer like her is on the brink of extinction. We need more singers like her.

And So It Is Ending

.4 years have thus gone by. I still remembered my dilemma back when I finished my SPM. I have always loved Biology and languages over Physics. In fact, I hated Physics. I sucked at Physics. I simply couldn’t understand the concept at all. I still remember I couldn’t understand F = ma, why a net force exists and why it couldn’t run out. I remembered I was amazed by my Form 4 Physics teacher’s formula derivation in one go and I was looking at the white board with my mouth agape. I loved Maths a lot, was obsessed with it, but I hated Physics. A rarity because both are usually mutually exclusive. And I continued to hate Physics, Form 5 syllabus didn’t help. It was simply too dull, too mundane, its soporific effect never failed to come in between Physics and me. But when I got my SPM result, everything changed. I realised that despite my efforts in Biology, I couldn’t ace it, but I aced Physics, a subject I despised. That disappointment prompted me to give up on Biology, and because I wasn’t sure what career I wanted yet, I went for STPM, majoring Physics. One and a half year of Form 6 life remains the best period in my life so far, and remains the most enjoyable phase I believe I cannot ever forget. That was the best decision I have made so far. I slowly loved Physics, especially the first term’s. Second term’s is not my area, I hated it. Third term was also boring. First was awesome. And so STPM began the phase of my life where everything centres on Physics. But there was a dilemma. I have always, and still am, a person who is better at language than science. There’s a limit to where the passion in science within me would go, but there is no such limit when it comes to language. When I have free time, I sought to read, write, watch, learn languages but it never crossed my mind to skim through physics-related topics. I am someone who can be more amazed by a columnist’s linguistic manoeuvre than the content he attempts to deliver. The 9 months after STPM presented me a situation where the crossroad I found myself in had no clear directional paths and I had to guesstimate where and which I want to go, realising that there is no turning back whichever one I picked. I had interests, though with different intensity, in different fields that do not overlap. My passion always lies in writing. When time was scarce and a decision had to be made fast, I told myself I can learn language when I am free of my own volition, without guidance, independently online, but I couldn’t possibly, or maybe it would just be incredibly difficult, to learn physics independently online. So I opted for what was then clearly my second choice: civil engineering. Being an engineer was one of the dreams, but not my passion. And so I opted for Civil Engineering, and after countless of struggles, disappointments, frustrations, episodes of no-life and helplessness, 4 years have gone by and I am graduating. I won’t say I do not like Civil Engineering. It is a very fun course and the career is very good. But deep down in my heart I know something has always been missing: a burning passion that would push me to challenge myself more than I can deal with. Without such burning passion, it wouldn’t last. I cannot do something for long, simply because there was no target. There was no motivation. There was no reason to do more than I should. And I personally do not think that should be the case. Whatever you do, I believe a passion has to be there. If there is no passion in your life, then why are you willing to wake up to another day of destitute? No. Whenever you wake up early in the morning, you wake up for a reason. There’s always something you look forward to in the day. It might be shopping, it might be cooking, it might be working for all you know. But there’s always something there. Something that gives you a sense of living. I don’t lack that, but I do find myself in a situation where I don’t get to do what I actually like. I have always questioned the decision I made. I always love to write and read, and I always push myself more than I believe I could, but the same does not extend to what I am studying. The same does not apply to what I will be doing. 4 years on, I still wonder whether it was right to forego my first choice and stick to the second. I don’t hate what I currently am doing, but there is no passion. My loyalty lies somewhere else. It I were given a second chance, to be honest, I cannot tell for sure I would make the same decision.

郭美美【一百種孤獨的理由】

一人生活，洗衣做飯，到處旅行，獨享孤獨：沒有你，連孤獨都開始需要理由。
散落一地的拼圖，想要填滿的是內心漫無邊際的小宇宙，有沒有一種孤獨需要百種理由，讓你的自我不得不獨自維續。郭美美瘦弱而有力的步伐踏出，滑破寂靜的空氣，走進了音樂影像裡色彩寡淡的冷白世界。〈一百種孤獨的理由〉這部 MV 延續了主打 MV〈我會一直想你〉的色調風格和情節銜接，黃中平導演一貫強調色彩和影調個性化的視覺表現同樣突出了歌手的個人氣息。
白色讓世界安靜，白色退卻了世界繽紛的色彩，抽空了身體的靈魂，小宇宙開始變得空空蕩蕩，靜默無聲。 拆散的風扇和缺了零件的單車，影像中無不暗喻著寂寞的崩壞和由此帶來內心的不自由。郭美美在 MV 中為籃球、單車、風扇一一漆上白色，極具生活化的場景在顏色褪卻之後變得游離於世間之外。孤獨裡夾雜著難以言喻的寂寞，當所有的事物都失去了顏色，或者回到最純粹的顏色 , 更顯單純的情感生活 , 及重新出發的勇氣。
孤獨其實並不可怕，獨自的生活依舊精彩，走出去，往往只需要一個小小的契機，就可以走出內心的孤獨的牢籠。

*楼上文章摘自YouTube官方MV

《稻香》

I'm always amazed by natural talents.

This is amazing. It's a nice song I just recently heard, and this cover version is too awesome.

Historic Victory in Malaysia

GE14 was held last week, and for the first time in Malaysia, BN is no longer the ruling coalition. BN has fallen. That's something I believe all Malaysians, including me, have always wanted to see, but never thought could happen so soon.

I went back to Penang on Tuesday to vote on Wednesday and came back to Kuching on Thursday. When that stupid EC put the election on Wednesday, which was a stupid idea which I believed angered a lot of people and thus brought people out en masse to vote BN out, I quickly bought my air tickets and tell myself it is time for me to be part of the society to topple BN.

And damn well I did. My first vote in my life is part of the historic vote that toppled BN.

It's something really incredible. I was very sceptical BN would lose, because Pakatan needed at least an additional 25 seats to be the government, and I just didn't think the people's uprising is enough to swing that much from BN to them.

I was wrong.

Pakatan Harapan is now the government.

Malaysia is reborn. Malaysians received the news with stunning elation.

Anyway, it remains to be seen how PH would govern the country. I am sceptical of how long they could hold, as PPBM is basically an UMNO 2.0 that fell out with UMNO.

But at least now PH is given a chance to govern, voters can judge for themselves whether PH or BN can rule better, instead of relying on BN's ridiculous words that PH cannot govern even though they were never given a chance to prove they couldn't.

Anyway, GE14 is historic, and all Malaysians should remember the day. I'm happy.

Just Out of Curiosity

This question simply comes from someone who is supposed to be sleeping but still refuses to go to bed.

Sometimes I just wonder, would anyone be sad or miss me if I die?

Why Avicii's Death Was So Devastating For Me

Avicii passed away one week ago. His passing sent shockwaves across the world, especially within the music industry. Many artists were simply flabbergasted. Devastated. Many who were close to Avicii were crushed. Avicii was 28. He was still at the peak of his career. He simply stopped touring but it didn't extinguish his flame of passion to generate crowd-dancing music that brought people together and celebrate the beauty of life. His passing and death were very sudden, cruel, and downright sad and were promptly treated with sombre.

I never particularly like Avicii's songs. I never enjoyed EDM. But his passing still hit me hard. You see, I first knew Avicii is because of this one particular song - The Days. The Days is a beautiful song and the melody is just so catchy, it forever lingers around after the song finishes. 4 years have gone since I first the song and this song still remain one of my favourites. In fact, there are less 10 songs which I gave full ratings in my playlist, and Avicii's The Days is one of them. It is rare. I am seldom this generous to give five stars. But The Days was exceptional. Part of the credits should be given to Robbie Williams for his vocal, but without Avicii skilfully crafted melody and his guidance on voice navigation, this piece of music wouldn't be able to liven me up whenever I am down. It is a cheerful song with inspiring lyrics that, whenever I listen to, lifts me up from the abyss which I am often thrown into.

From that time onwards, I searched for a number of Avicii's song. His trademark music - Levels - isn't the type I live. Wake Me Up is nice, but I dislike the melody. Like I said, I did not particularly like EDM. Hey Brothers was fine but it simply didn't stick around. Waiting For Love's MV moved me to tears but the song didn't move me enough too. The Nights' lyrics is beautiful, really a work of an angel, but I hate the melody. Too noisy for me. Without You is the second on my list, it is really nice and beautiful and I could listen to it all days. Lonely Together is the third. And my list stops there. As you can see, I am not a quintessential fan. I like only a few of his songs, and obsessed with only 3.

It is Avicii's life which is why I like him. I don't merely like him. I admired him. I revered him. I respected him because he was someone I looked up to. He and I are similar in many aspects. We were both inherently shy. Just like me, Avicii loved what he did. When inspirations come, he could build a fort around him and he could immerse himself so deep he couldn't pull himself out until someone intervenes and tells him to snap out from his own hallucinatory room. When he is devoted to making music, he, as a typical perfectionist, could spend hours and sacrifices sleep to perfect a piece of music. He was particular on details, and I guess that was what made him so charming. I can understand that feeling because I am also somehow a perfectionist. There are things I simply do not care, but those things that I care, I am very particular about them and would spend money and time to correct minor mistakes so that the piece of work achieve what I consider a perfect level. Like him, I often am willing to sacrifice time, sometimes entertainment and sometimes even social life, just to hone what in other people's eyes are already a masterpiece. This is actually very tiring. It is very stressful. I know because that's how I treat myself. You cannot possibly or realistically achieve a masterpiece without a hint of stress. It simply is impossible. Being perfectionist isn't as admirable as many people tend to think. Being perfectionist is very stressful, because you get bothered by minor disturbances. It probably is a mental disorder, and I am probably confessing to having one, but right now I see no reason why I should cease to be one. Yes, I give myself a lot of stress, but look at Avicii - without such stresses, can there be success? No, people like me and Avicii, we derive happiness, satisfaction and understand the meaning of life from such success. We generate and create our own happiness, and we are proud of that. Often, people don't understand why we get turn on by such small issue. What elated us was the investment we made something work actually became fruitful. People don't understand why we got so happy over such a small achievement, but it's only something the performer of the action can understand. And like Avicii, I understand completely.

Like me, Avicii was a person who had dreams, but like me, he was an introvert. He was shy. He shunned spotlights but he enjoyed making other people happy through his work. Like Avicii, I am an introvert. I hate crowds. I despise going out with a group of people because people like me we don't grow up socialising. We grow up learning to be responsible for our lives. We grow up learning to create our own happiness. We grow up learning that other people will not always be there for us, and we must learn to support ourselves because that's how we are going to survive. But, like me, I believe Avicii learnt how incredible it was to make other people feel good through what we do. Because I feel great if my friends like what I do, or becomes happy for what I do to them. I don't need the credit. My friends don't even have to know it was me who did anything that lightened up their day. Just looking at the look of their smiles on their faces, and knowing that I have the power to make other people happy, is a reason I can be happy enough for the rest of the day even if the recipients of my actions do not know who I am or who was the giver. It did not matter. For people like Avicii and me, we cared about what we felt. We feel good helping others, and we do it, and so we become happy. We didn't care whether they know, because, as mentioned, we have learnt to be responsible for our happiness. As long as I am happy, it did not matter what the other party feels or knows.

I guess like me, Avicii was not an expressive person. I am not expressive. I am never good in expressing myself. In the whole of my life I have gone through shits and hells and because I was still a little kid, I never learnt to voice them out, to share my sufferings, in fact I was so young, I didn't know what I was going through was not normal. There was no internet. There was no awareness. The only way I can express myself is through writing. I went through my shit and I grew up and I became who I am today. I am very quiet around people I do not know, and it takes a long time for me to warm up with people. I am an introvert and submissive person, and that's also the kind of person Avicii was. Like what his parents said, he was a shy guy who did not enjoy there he was. He loved his fans but shunned the spotlights. I can totally understand the pain he went through. People like us, we did not enjoy the public scrutiny. We need a private space of our own. Going out and always surrounded by people for a whole day can be very, very tiring for people like us, let alone being surrounded by crowd all the time, all year round and have no privacy whenever he went. It was mentally exhausting. And the sad part was, I can feel his pain. He must have suffered a lot, that's why he decided to take his own life.

Avicii's biggest passion was making music. But the outcome of it is that he became a tool his management used to gain money. He was kept busy by tight schedules. He had repeatedly said that when he stopped touring, he wanted a life of his own where he could do what he want. His dream was not granted. His management was not understanding enough to allow such simple request. Avicii is the prime example why I did not turn my passion into work. Studying engineering is not my first choice. It will never be my first choice. I like making my brains turn, sure, but deep down in my heart I know it is not what I like the most. The passion is simply absent. There's nothing to push me to do more than I should. And it's wrong, because there's something else in my life where I constantly push myself to do more. I often doubt whether I had made the right decision, but after Avicii's demise I think things just became instantly clear: Yes, yes I made the right decision. Passion is a passion. It should be something you enjoy doing. When passion becomes an obligation, it loses its lustre. Being inherently an interest, you cannot ignore its call when it knocks on your door. But being an obligation for it to be perfect for other people's scrutiny, it becomes stressful. The passion wears away. You slowly lose your interest, and you lost yourself in a hunt of an ironic race to be passionate. That's what happened to Avicii. Making music was probably the only reason he was living, but his management labelled him as a money making machine and he had to make songs not because he liked making them, but because his management needs money. Making music was no longer a hobby he could decide when he liked to do. It became an obligation and duty he must fulfil in a never-ending deadline-filled calendar. He must have realised his passion was betrayed. He lost the meaning of living because he lost the ability to do what he liked to do and he lost the meaning of happiness. This was basically what I was worried about and to avoid that I chose to bypass my first choice and went for my second. His death reminded me I made the right decision after four years hesitation.

There simply were too much similarities between Avicii and me, and that's why his passing was exceedingly devastating to me. Because when I look at Avicii went through, somehow I could relate a lot of it and I felt like he was living my life. The loneliness of having nobody understands your sufferings, and the inability to express that loneliness and sought for help slowly ate you pieces by pieces from the inside because that's also what I am going through. Like him, I felt alone. I felt depressed. Yes, it's time I face the fact I am suffering from some form of depression. I have fantasised killing myself and ending my life. I have thought of committing suicide. Avicii simply becomes who I would become had I not controlled myself. People like us, who felt alone and did not know how to seek for help, never display our sadness in public. When we join with crowds, with close friends, we, like all and sundry, can smile as if there's no worry. We could party like we do enjoy the party. But the fact is, deep down, we are broken. All those smiles and happiness simply were a mask that hid them. The damage was still there. People like us actually do need help, but we never learn to seek for help because, for one, majority of people would not understand what we are going through because depression is still a stigma and people don't understand how it affects us, and for two, we simply never learn to share our feelings. We keep everything to ourselves, and that's how it eats us from the inside until we decide to do something to end it. Avicii simply showed me how I would have become if I don't decide to turn my life over now. Yes, this is a post of me crying for help. I need help. But like Avicii, I simply never learnt to seek for one, because I did not have the privilege of going through joy-filled adolescence like most of my friends did, and none of them could possibly understand the hole in me. I am depressed. I am lonely. Like Avicii, sometime, all I need is one person to be by my side and tell me things would be alright. But like Avicii, I guess it simply will not happen.

Don't worry, after what happened to Avicii, ending my life simply is not a decision I will make. Avicii simply taught me that people who smile very often could very well be the person who needs the most help. I have no idea how many of my friends who often wear a smiley face are actually broken deep down. Come to think of it, it must have been more than imagined. If you need help, say it out. I understand the loneliness. I understand the pain. I understand the worry people may not understand what you're going through because people often think depression is often the patients' fault for their narrow view of the life. Maybe they're right. Maybe they're wrong. I don't know. Avicii's life bore too much resemblance to mine and whenever I read what we he went through, I felt a personal relationship. That's why his death was so devastating. It seemed to be foretelling what would happen to me, because I am walking the same path Avicii was. I guess it's too late to turn back. I'll just have to find a way to cope. Avicii's death was a blow to me personally. Avicii, you were very strong and led a respectable life. I'll forever remember how tough you were in the face of challenges, because in you I see myself, and I vow to live on with strength no matter how difficult it is. Rest in peace, Avicii. If you can read this from above, I hope you can finally realise that there is someone who understands the pain you went through. You were never alone. And you'll never be. RIP. I'll forever revere you for who you are. You'll continue to serve as an inspiration for me that no matter how tough life becomes, there's always a way to live through it.

Avicii - Without You

Another song by Avicii which is extremely captivating.

I still mourn his death. For the sole reason he is the first person who I admired and died.

His death is a blow for me because he is an inspiration that shows you can make a breakthrough in a saturated market with mundane and garden-variety genres. His passion in music was very inspiring because such dedication and psyche were very, extremely rare, and I respect and revere him for that.

But he is gone.

And I personally am devastated. Truly devastated.

Rest in peace, Avicii. You will continue to serve as an inspiration for me, until the day I will join you on the other side of the blissful world.

RIP Avicii

Avicii passed away at a young age of 28. The cause of death is unknown.

I only admire very few artists. I enjoy only Lady Gaga's, Avicii's, and a few Chinese star's songs.

And now one of them is dead.

The very first artist I respect that has died.

I have no words to say. I am heartbroken because I never had an idol that died. He's the first.

Just let us all mourn his death. He is a great inspiration and truly talented DJ.

He'll be missed. At least by me. Rest in peace, Avicii.

Apps Uni Student Should Have

After 4 years studying in my university, I realise certain apps really are indispensable and could really make your life easy. I won't be sharing apps that are meant to aid studying, but I'll instead share some apps that I am currently using which I find really useful for daily lives.

1. SPENDING TRACKER

Spending tracker is an awesome app that could help you manage your budget. It allows you to key in your monthly budget, and then track the expenses of your month. Of course, you'll have to manually key in every expens you made. What's awesome is that it even allows categories: eating out, shopping, fuel, travel, holiday, entertainment etc, and you can add your own categories if you want. It is an awesome app that helps track your money flow, and it's useful if you have a tight budget.

You usually don't really know how much you've spent until you meticulously track all transactions. Record down all money you've spent, regardless how small it is. For fuel, for drinks, for food, for printing services, for rent, for internet, for washing et cetera, and you'll realise you have always spent more than you imagined because all these small transactions, when accumulated, actually exert some pressure on your finance if you trace them properly.

2. MYFITNESSPAL

Okay, I don't use this to track my exercise because basically, the only exercise I have is walking. I walk a lot while I study because I am not a richass and I have no car. So wherever I want to go, I'm dependent on my two legs. This app could track how much exercise you've done in a day, and for those who are obsessed with weight-lifting, this app would be helpful too, although you probably would need to subscribe it to get better features.

However, this app is good for watching your calorie, and that's the function I'm using. Living outside, sometimes, you just cannot resist the temptation to splash your money on some fancy, high-end food in some restaurant after you've submitted some heavy assignments and projects. However, these food really come with heavy calories, and are often packed with zero nutrients. 

This app could help you watch your intake. Of course, it's only an approximation but it's enough to help you watch your calorie. It'll also warn you if you have exceeded your daily salt or fat intake. You'll have to create an account (it's free), and key in some information like your height and weight, and whether you decide to gain, maintain or lose weight, and it'll help approximate how much calorie you should be taking in a day.

You will get to enter what you have eaten in a day, and the app helps sort it by breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack. It used to send an alert warning when I forgot to record what I ate for lunch previously, but this notification hasn't appeared for a while.

On the main page, it'll show how much calorie you've gulped down, and how much calorie is left for you to take in for the rest of the day. I don't record how much exercise because it records only walking, and walking is very subjective. If you wanna know how much you have burnt by walking, I advise you to use walking tracker instead. It'll even suggest how much steps you will need to have a day.

You can input what food you've taken. Just key in some key words, and as shown above many options will appear. You can also record how many servings you have taken (1 plate, 2 plates, or maybe half a plate) to more accurately record the calorie you've taken. Of course, as these all vary, it's only for approximation purpose to warn you that you probably have overeaten.

3. FIND NEAR ME

Find Near Me is an awesome app if you're studying in a foreign place. This app, which I believe is dependent on the public's contribution, would use your current location and show you what's around you. You can get whether there's ATM, Bank, Restaurants, Cinemas around you et cetera and it's very helpful. If you need an ATM and you're not sure where's the closest one, this app can show you all ATM close-by, and you'll be surprised where you can find an ATM.

Worry about what to eat and don't know what options are there? This app could solve your problem too.

As you can see above, you get to choose what you find to want.

For example, I wanna see what restaurant are around me currently, and this app shows me what restaurants are around me. It even shows ratings given by other patrons.

To me, this is an awesome app you must have if you're studying in a foreign place.

4. GO VEGGIE MALAYSIA

This app is for all Vegetarians. I am not a vegetarian but I am now leaning close to eating less meat. I cannot go meatless just yet - meat is irresistible, but I acknowledge that eating too much meat is unhealthy and since I'm not into bodybuilding, I don't really have to eat a lot of meat. I try to be less meat and this app could show me all vegetarian stalls around me. 

This app depends on the public's contribution as well, and it has a Facebook page. In the Facebook page which are embedded in the apps, you can see where is the stall, you'll have its GPS coordinate to input in your navigation app, and it'll also show you the menu and its operation hours. It's a must-have app for all vegetarians because, seriously, there are many freaking vegetarian stalls hidden in corners of many kopitiams.

You also get to pick whether you want a budget meal or a recommended meal. You get to choose by selecting whether you want to eat in the morning, afternoon or at night, and the app will show you stalls that would be open at the time you want to eat.

 5. TONTON

Let's admit it, living outside is boring, especially if it's a suburban area or a remote area or within a forest and you've little entertainment around you to kill your time with. Ya, Netflix is helpful but you need to subscribe it. There's tons of illegal websites to stream your favourite drama but not all of them work all the time. And if your university censors a lot of websites, then it really would feel like you're in hell.

Tonton helps me a lot. Tonton is live-streaming app of local dramas and television stations, and it allows you to stream TV3, NTV7, 8TV and TV9 live. Hence, it provides some entertainment to some people who have no other alternatives. Personally, I like NTV7 and 8TV because they still host a number of good shows, and hence TONTON is one of the very few entertainment websites I'm still surfing. What's even great about it is - it is free! There's ads though, but the most important thing is it is free! Else, you can choose to subscribe, for RM10/month or RM96/year. 

Of course, some apps are necessary. Grab comes in very handy, though I used to enjoy Uber more. Now, MyCar is gaining momentum so there's still some show to watch. But Grab is something you might really want to use for now.

That's all for now. If there's any better app I'll update here.

Uber Pulls Out From Malaysia

It's very unfortunate that Uber is sold to Grab in Southeast Asia. I like both, but for now I love Uber more. When Uber gives promo code, Uber tends to be sincere and the code is yours. You can claim it anytime you want, anywhere you want. When Grab gives promo code, you'll have to fight for it because it operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, which means most of the time I fail to claim the promo code given. On the other side, for every payment u made, Grab offer reward points that I can use to redeem a range of stuffs, while Uber doesn't offer point collection. Because I'm a student now who is basically unemployed, I love Uber more, because I can have many free rides.

It's sad that Uber is sold to Grab. This is not good for competition and definitely not good for the growth of e-hailing service in Malaysia because there is a dominance by a party. But there's nothing I can do. I'll just have to use Grab until I graduate and I do hope Grab can improve.

Lauv - I Like Me Better

The instrument part (the chorus) (p/s I really don't know the term) has been an earworm and bugged me for weeks.



It just stuck in my brain because of its tune and tone. I didn't know what's the name of the song, and I couldn't recall a single line of the lyrics to google. I tuned into Fly Fm to try to maybe hear the song again - I didn't even know when it got stuck in my brain and when I first heard it - but Fly Fm didn't play it.



Until today, when I tuned into Hitz Fm and this song was played. Finally, I know what song it is and to be honest, it's a great song! So I'm sharing it here for you guys to listen to this amazing piece of music (to my standard, it's awesome).

First Job Offer

I applied for a job two months ago. For weeks there were no replies and suddenly, one day, the director of the boss called me for a preliminary interview. I was flabbergasted, stunned and momentarily speechless.

First of all, I did not expect them to reply at all. I didn't meet any of the criteria they spelt out.

Secondly, it had been two months and I have given up.

Thirdly, damn, the director's the one that called!

Well, the boss offered me the job but due to varying circumstances, it isn't what I am expecting and he's arranging something else for me. It's not exactly a bad offer, but it's not a safe take.

Interview is in July. I guess I'll decide then. In the meantime, I have applied for another firm, and I'll wait and see if there's any replies.

RIP Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking, the famous physicist, who is a legend in the world of Physics, has died yesterday at age 76.

His death is a sad news to the world. Rest in peace, Stephen Hawking.

p/s Sheldon Cooper is going to be very sad.

范瑋琪 悄悄告訴你

有些歌，听了就是很有感触，很感动。

本少爷是没谈过恋爱啦，错过爱情的滋味是怎样的我是不知道啦。可是这首歌真的就是一级棒。百听不厌。

就是喜欢这类型的歌。感情丰富，几乎没有杂音噪音，简简单单就靠着歌手自己的感情去唱出一首充满丰富感情的感人歌。赞！

Making Decision

I'm in a dilemma, and I have to make a decision in four months time. If you have been reading my blog, you would have realised I have expressed interest in working in KL.

I have to leave my comfort zone, meaning I must leave Penang. I love my hometown, but the longer I nestle in my comfy environment, the lazier I'll get and as appealing as it sounds, I refuse to have a life in which all I need to worry about is how to enjoy myself. I want to suffer, to some degree, because that's how I can get a memorable life to remember when I'm old. And I want to have achievements I can be proud of, and not to immerse myself in materialistic properties which I have little appreciation of.

Nothing is wrong about working in Penang Island, but because of its proximity to BM, I am expected to go home to visit my parents during the weekends, meaning I'll still be returning to my comfort zone, which I really want to avoid. I love my parents, and though our relationships haven't been extremely well, they're still my parents but there comes a time the little bird would have to learn to fly solo.

I want to move to KL, but the thing is, KL is a whole new environment for me. It's a much bigger city from where I live, it's a much busier and more advanced cosmopolitan environment than where I stay and it is very, very scary. The notion of moving there alone sends shivers down my spine. Plus, I am not familiar with the environment. I have no idea how's Damansara, PJ, Cheras and other KL cities and that's a problem because, being a civil engineer, travelling is an inherent part of the job, and if I want to move to KL, I must know the place like a taxi driver with the city map imprinted in his mind.

If my job is office-based where travelling is just a routine issue that brings me between home and work, I have no hesitation to face because I already know what decision to make. But because my job requires travelling, it scares me. The thought of horrible congestion along the LDP, Sprint and Federal Highway already repels me.

But the purpose of leaving my comfort zone, is to suffer to some degree, right? So, is moving to KL going to be a good decision to make?

Year of the Dog

It's the time of the year again! The time for food-binging, and the time where all your one-year worth of gym workout get washed down into the drain. It's the Chinese New Year!

It's the year of the dog, and this year it doesn't seem like things will get much better. But that is beside the point. The point is, during CNY, all you can do without much guilt is: eat!

Well, the truth is I don't enjoy food-binging anymore. I've reached an age where I should begin to control my calorie intake else my tummy is gonna take the shape of a ball soon. I'm starting to be a little health conscious now - I'm trying to cut down eating meat, but so far I cannot resist tidbits and kerepeks. Those are damn hard to resist, but I've got to learn.

Anyway, happy Chinese New Year guys! Do remember to hit the gym, or resume exercising now!

Acting on Impulse

I did something I did I will regret, but I did it on impulse anyway. The truth is, there is no way I can decide now. There're pros and cons of it and I don't have enough information for me to make a sound decision, so I did it anyway. In a few weeks time, I'll know the outcome, and I'll know whether my future will thus be officially charted. Fingers have got to cross, I guess.

【那些年，我們一起追的女孩】電影主題曲《那些年》

7 year on, this song is still the best Chinese song I have ever listened to.

Legend would always stay as a legend.

Dr Chen and His Romance

Well, the show was entertaining (at least for local film standard), and I wasn't willing to watch one episode per day until the end of the month. I hesitated, and I actually decided to pay RM5/month to be Tonton VIP member. Being a subscriber, I could watch the entire series before they're aired. And shockingly I have finished the series! Well, since it is still being aired on 8TV at the moment so I'll not be spoiling anything here, but my comment is that, while the show is indeed entertaining, the conclusion seems a bit rush and I am not very happy about that. On Instagram, from what I read, it seems like 8TV is going to make short films as alternative endings to the show, and it should be interesting how it is going to be. Else, the current ending seems a bit sloppily done. It definitely could have been better. Plus, it seems all characters get some plot about them, but Dr Chen has none. Which is a bit odd. Usually, the main character gets a self-centric plot. I was thinking there might be stories like Dr Chen fainted or got into an accident and Xiao Xian got worried or something a bit cliche, but there was none. Nonetheless, as a Malaysian product, it's a great show. And I like it very much, especially since no local-produced series have caught my attention for years.

Rita Ora - Your Song

I don't know why but this song has become sort of an earworm for me.

It's catchy and nice to listen to. And it certainly is a nice song to indulge in.

The Ugly Side of Civil Engineering

I'm now voluntarily involved in an internship in a civil engineering firm that is relatively small. It has less than a dozen staff and handles small projects compared to where I did my mandatory internship previously. The thing about small companies: significantly less workload - too relaxed to the point I am sure this is not what I want in my life, so my experience effectively helped me a made a choice: after my graduation, I will not start my working life in a small company. Well, at least not this small. There is no design work now. Even the drafters are quite relaxed. The only thing keeping them busy now is the paperwork for submission, which isn't something I can do because authorities submissions require delicate handling and I obviously am not prepared for that.

I also learn quite a lot of insights in the world of civil engineering. To sum it up: ugly. When it comes to land handling, constructions and when it intertwines with politics and finance, everything goes very ugly. This is a world where political interference is dominant and omnipresent, and political ramifications from a very little mistake could become national news due to its fragile status. That's why, like the Ir in my firm says, young people refrain from entering civil engineering. It's ugly. It's tough. It's not respected. And it certainly isn't worth spending too much time in.

But I am already in this world. I'll stride on. And I'll survive.

Dr Chen's Diary

I chanced upon this local produced television programme few days ago and have been following it since. It's now only at its fourth episode and I do not know how many episodes are there left. So far, what do I think? Well, it's a bit retarded. But in a comical and flavourful way. Obviously, without much mentioning, Malaysia's local programme has lots of room for improvement, but at least in this television programme we see something authentically Malaysian.

For a long time, we finally have a drama series that features actors speaking in a true Malaysian accent, despite how inaccurate or unpleasant they are to our ears. They don't pretend to speak in pure Mandarin like how the Singaporeans tend to do, and while it reflects our substandard Mandarin in the world, it reflects a very real Malaysian situation. We Malaysians speak that way, just accept it and forget that we don't speak as great and pure as the Taiwanese or Chinese. Trying to speak like them, like how the Singaporean dramas are scripted, is just a little pathetic and make the entire show unnatural and unrealistic.

The acting is a bit poor and the story, like I said, is retarded. It has a lot of illogical and unrealistic scenes and some which appear to be comic/anime-like, but other than that the story is itself quite entertaining. So far, it has accurately portrayed an actual Malaysian life. I know it's unusual in our local entertainment industry to do such a thing, but I like it and I don't think it's bad. It's just an embracing of our local demography and society.

So far so good, will keep watching until the end or I cannot afford to continue watching. (Working life is picking up pace sigh...)