2012, the year that was.

Before I begin this post, let me wish you a “Happy New Year”. May this year be filled with awesome and so much more. *hugs*

It had been at the back of my mind to finish up on my backlogs of posts from 2012 and also, to blog about the highlights of 2012 for me. I have been meaning to, but somehow I never got to it until today, the 1st of January 2013. I did try to start on it a few weeks back but then, my mind drew a blank as I thought through the months, beginning with January. To put it simply, if I cannot remember what I ate last Sunday, how could I remember what happened in January. Either nothing much significant happened, or I have an fish’s memory.

So, I decided to take a different approach. I am just going to chunk in whatever I remember from 2012 into the post, beginning with the freshest memory.

* * * * * * * * * *

Went to Miko Hair to get a new hairstyle before the new year kicks in, now my hair shoulder length when it’s wet. But when it’s dry and the curls bounces, my hair poufs up. I love this new hair nevertheless. Also, I love how the stylist was friendly and didn’t try to hard sell their other products to me.

When I finally decided to keep my curls mid of this year, it was one decision I never regret but it was a tough choice to make nevertheless. I have had straight silky hair as a little girl, all through kindergaten, I think. But then my parents thought having a long hair for me was troublesome and that changed the texture of my hair. It got curly and frizzy that my hair poufs up. As a kid, I had no choice then but to keep a very short hair. Then, as I grew up, I started growing my hair out hoping the texture of my hair would change. But it didn’t, it was still huge and frizzy. Then, I made the decision to rebond my hair and I done that every year without fail, spending 5 hours at the salon to have flat, straight hair. For 4 years, I did that. 2012, I finally decided I wasn’t going to do that anymore. So, hello super duper huge curly hair. :) I’ve been blessed with curls, so why try to change that?

Had a Christmas Potluck party with the college mates, so nice to see everyone again after so long. Exchanged gifts too, and had a mini epic BBQ after that.

Went for a shoot for the CLEO magazine because they were going to feature my story on how to happy socially as part of their “How to Be Happy” feature for the January 2013 issue. :)

And here’s the story I wrote and the picture they chose from the shoot. :) Thank you Ruz for hooking me up on this and to some of my close friends who helped me proof read the story.

Published in Seventeen in 2011 and one year later, in CLEO. Life have been great, haha, Did I change after one year?

Had a photoshoot with the extremely talented portraiture photographer, Joe and Pearl, an awesome make up artist. This was my first time doing a creative shoot and it was definitely an eye-opening experience. I have always been curious to know what and how shoots are like and now, I know. Btw, this was a collaboration and the nails for the shoot was done by me.

Went to shoot with Alex, wanted to shoot at some city ruins but ended up getting our best shots at the coffee table in restaurant for breakfast. Just like how his best shots of me are often at restaurants over food.

Had my first hand experience of shooting portraits with the sister being my subject. I have yet to post more pictures of her, I keep delaying that post. Anyway, I seem to find joy in doing portraiture and am leaning towards getting a four thirds camera to shoot. This year, I’ll get my new baby. :D

Volunteered to model as a live mannequin for Change Your World’s Human Trafficking campaign, “I Am Not For Sale”. It was held at the Offline Blogshop in Sunway Pyramid, where they had various volunteers to portray different ‘victims’ of human trafficking. I was portraying a prostitute, hence the super thick make up and skimpy outfit. Read more about the campaign here.

My tired face after the event. By the way this was how thick the make up was. But, it was so flawlessly done that when the make up artist was done, one of the guys just went and said, you look so beautiful.

Saw my all time favourite boy band, Boys Like Girls play live in Rockaway Festival Showcase. I was so close to them, it was an awesome concert, dream came true. To top things up, I got to attend a pre-listening party for their then up-coming but is now released album, Crazy World. Got a chance to interview them at the party, and even chatted with them online before the party. :DD Read my post here. Too bad I don’t have a picture with them. I also saw Avril Lavigne, when she was in Malaysia and I’m telling you she sings awesome live.

Celebrated my 20th birthday with a surprise from the college friends, who came all the way to my place. Super sweet of them. :) My 20th birthday was really memorable, it’s one that I would always remember. Blogged about it here. :P Go read it, the details there.

Started dabbling with taking self portraits of myself, it all started out with an idea, an inspiration. Looking back, I had taken quite a number of self portraits. It almost saddens me to look back now and think how I have since lost inspirations to create more shots like that, :s But I ought to be happy because most of the good portraits were driven from disappointment, which reflects in the pictures right? So, yes I am happier now and I guess this actually helped me expressed myself in ways I couldn’t. May I be able to find inspiration through happiness instead. :)

Bought a Groupon deal for 100 prints, and decided to use them to decorate my wall with a photo collage. Seeing my pictures in print, really is one of the best feeling ever. To have and to hold them, admiring them up close instead of only from the computer is just feels so good. Click here to see the animated gif of the process of doing up the random photo collage, it’s really nice. :)

Helped ICAEW organized a Movie Night for universities students, which was a first time experience for me. I know I have been organizing events but I was never one to head it, like really overlooked and took charge. But for this, I did and I have never been more thankful to have worked together with a such a strong team. Like any events planning, ideally it would be great if everything went as planned but the chances of that happening was definitely close to negative zero. We had a few hiccups here and there, and GSC was being an absolute bitch. We booked the whole lounge and they had the cheek to tell us later that we’ll have to share with another event when we had already booked and agreed on the whole lounge. That aside, things actually went pretty smooth on that day. :)

Was roped in to help ICAEW and Sunway TES organize another event called the CFAB Exchange. This time, I was the Project Coordinator (for Movie Night, I was called the Project Director, heh.) I love all this fancy names, but with the fancy names, of course there is responsibility and real stuff to do. This event was a much larger scale and again, I had my team to help me. I called them my core team, and seriously, these guys are the best persons I have ever worked with. Reuben, the man is forever fantastic (like seriously, he is the man), Danny, can be an ass sometimes, but still great, Eugene, always able to make things work. You guys are awesome, I would have been able to do what I did if it wasn’t for them.

Besides handling the details (back-end of the event), I was also the emcee for 500+ students event. Oh dear, it was massive. I have spoken in public, emcee-d before but never to such magnitude of people. We were so busy I didn’t have any time at all to really rehearse my lines, I did manage to write my script which I ended up not using. Started out a little nervous but just after lunch, when it was my session, I actually did the session spontaneously with no scripts! It’s really amazing to see how the crowd reacts to what I’m saying, when you know that they are really interested and definitely isn’t bored out. Best memory from this would be getting the crowd to cheer and chant, following what I say. I didn’t know that would be such an overwhelming experience. Organizing the CFAB Exchange was an invaluable experience, and really, from the way people worked with each other under pressure, you get to see how each person reacts differently. An eye-opening experience nevertheless. ;)

Started dabbling with make up, specifically just the lips. I actually done these designs for a contest, and they were so many other fantastic designs, like one shaped like a crab. I thought my designs were pretty simple, just play with colours (love the ombre one!) and some stickers used. Turns out, I actually won a prize for my designs. :) Am definitely going to continue doing lip make up more often, when I get inspired especially. Haha.

Okay, you can totally call me self obsessed for taking so many pictures of myself but I wanted to see how much I have changed over the year. And I probably didn’t, judging from the pictures I could grown chubbier even. :?/ Gahh. I did change my hairstyle, I have finally embraced my curls, chopped off my rebonded hair and happily sporting a huge pouffy hair. And whenever I look into the mirror, all I think of was coiffure, hair coif·fure.

At times like this, being able to look back at 2012’s nail designs, I really can’t help my beam at the collection of designs that I have done and attempted. All in all, I did about 23 nail designs, in one year. It’s great, but I wished I did more designs. Well, that is what this year is for. It’d be easy to exceed such an *ahem* low target this year. It also helps that I’m on Instagram (@itscarmenhong) so, I’ll never run out of inspirations. Up till now, I probably have save hundreds of nails pictures already. Haha.

The highlight, best thing to have happen to me in 2012 would definitely be winning the La Senza’s contest. :)

* * * * * * * * * *

2012 has been the year of many ups and downs, somehow it feels like there had been more downs. Of course, I remember the happy times; someone who could make me smile and laugh when I didn't know how to anymore and really, over the littlest possible thing.  That was such a blissful time, one that I will cherish and appreciate.

And then, there's someone who could put up with all the crap I throw at him, after it all is still my close friend and so much more that. Here's to many more years to our friendship.

Of course, then there is this other person who would do so much just because I asked, because it meant a lot to me. You've been an awesome friend and a bro to me, I'm glad to have known you and I know things have been rough for you this year, (I do hope I've been there for you) but next year, it'll be better.

And this other person who could make me smile silly at my phone, reading those messages. Thank you for keeping me company with your humour, love you to bits. May our friendship always be frank, open and hilarious. Also, who cared for me so much more than what I deserved. Who still accepted me after the mistakes I made.

And here's to another, the one who had to put up with my constant annoyance for the past few years. Who have nothing but patience for my nonsense, who have listening to all my stories, who watched me make the same mistakes again and again but still stood by me after it all.

Just as she did, here is to another who been there for me at my lowest, who feels so much for me and who unwittingly makes me laugh over the crappy issues in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It hasn't been a great year for you, but as much as you have been here for me, I want to do same as well. If you to talk or a shoulder to lean on, I'm always here.

And to all my friends, thank you for everything, thank you for making my 2012 amazing. To my readers, thank you for reading my blog, even if all I write is nails, life, make up and occasionally food. To my family, thank you but I can’t thank them enough. There is never enough, for family.

* * * * * * * * * *

I have learnt that happiness is only temporary but then so is disappointment. And life is what you make out of it. Oh, also, nothing is ever what it seemed to be.

Unboxing on Boxing Day.

 Shot by Alex | It’s the end of the year, I tend to get bit more emotional. Bear with me, kay?

So, I’m sitting down and I’m painting my nails. That was something I used to find tremendous joy in doing, so much that it gives me peace and it calms me from my busy schedule. But back then, busy was when I have loads to study on and a pending test or an exam that I’m unprepared for. For those times, doing my nails was my escape.

Now, things are different. What problems I used to have, now seemed so trivial. I think so much more these days, I also doubt myself even more. What if I’m doing it the wrong way, what are people talking about me, do they think I’m awful, am I dumb, why do I keep doing things that makes me so unhappy. Frankly, I’m tired. Tired to the core.

Every working day, it’s the same schedule. Maybe, it is because of the quiet time, that I feel going to work becomes a routine. But come 2013, the dreaded time comes and with all that I’ve been hearing I may need more than courage, willpower to stay together. It doesn’t help that the things I look forward to now, will not be there next year. I’d almost feel like I’ve lost something, something that is seemingly unimportant. And when it’s gone, it’s not so easy to move on, especially when you’ve started getting used to it.

So, yes. I’m tired. My thoughts are fragmented and scattered, just like how my physical state is. My room is in a mess, mom’s been nagging to clean up. My to-do-list is never done, stuff just keeps getting piled on. I look fine, I seem okay, I laugh and smile but truth is I’m crumbling down inside, slowly and surely I will break down. It’s just a matter of time.

The worst part is being consciously aware of what’s happening but yet feeling so helpless about it. To know that you’re drowning, to know that you could swim if you try hard enough, but yet despite that you are still struggling.

Maybe I’m putting too much pressure in starting anew with 2013. The clock’s ticking; it’s less than a week to New Year’s. It’s less than a week to get my shit together and sorted out. From the bottom of my heart, I wish no one has to go through what I feel, to be so helpless.

Happy Boxing Day, even if all that I’ve unboxed are sorrows of my past. It’s a brand new day tomorrow, and think about it, I could start ticking off my to-do-lists tomorrow.

Back to December, again.

Shot by Alex | Overexposed, it’s been a year.

I stumbled upon this post; Back to December (Alex took that picture of me, too) which I wrote last year when December came. Reading it again, I realised how little has changed. Last year, I was trying to move on and get over that heartbreak. Close to one year later, I have since moved on from that heartbreak. But I find myself now, trying to move on from another disappointment. And, I have yet to come to terms with how things are. The sudden change, I guess it just screws up the whole balance I thought I finally had. But I was wrong.

So here I am again, back in December with a broken heart.

Today’s Blonde Moment.

Are you sure you're not blonde? #ThingsIGetAlot

I had one such ‘blonde’ moment today, a first in many weeks (but then again, the past few weeks have been dull and colourless). This happened when I was talking to A, my best friend. He was telling me about how he wanted to start blogging again, after so long. He had given me his blog address before but me, being the blur forgetful person I am, I had somewhat forgotten about it. But I did remember it was something with the words ‘skies’ and ‘blue’. I’ll let you read on;

Like I said earlier, I remember it was ‘skies’ and ‘blue’ and A told me it was in Wordpress. So, easy peasy I went to Google the three keywords I had and to my convenience, skiesblue.wordpress.com came up. Clicked on it, scrolled down and I saw pictures that I had no idea why A would ever post! It’s not porn, but it was this…..

Em, yea. And more and more of pictures of this guy…. Obviously, something weird was going on and I had to ask A!

And that was what A told me!!! I mean, wtf, at that point I scrolled through two pages and it was that many pictures of that dude I just believe what A said. I mean who would joke about this kind of stuff, right? Obviously, he did and thinks it was funny enough to troll me. HMMPH.

It turns out that his blog was skiesblueS.wordpress.com. I missed out by one ‘S’ and that made all the difference. Meh. Anyway, A beat me to blogging about this, so if you want you can read what he wrote; meme style! Link here; http://skiesblues.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/skiesblue-4life/.

* * * * * * * * * *

I thought I’ll post a little more about how I’m doing and feeling lately, since I haven’t been updating much. Well, I, (hmmm) haven’t been the best I wished I could be. In fact, some days were pretty horrible. “There are good days, and there are bad days. And then, there are days that you feel so awful that you wished a sink hole would just swallow you in.”

Then, there are those days that you just want to drop everything and just leave. Run. Let time heal everything, while you disappear.

It’s really hard to deal with this, when suddenly all that I thought to be wasn’t what it was. I thought I was stronger, I told myself I could get through this. But frankly, I don’t have a clue. All I know is that despite everything, I keep looking back to the what had already happened. Sometimes really, (I don’t know if anybody will ever be able to feel how I feel or at least relate), when everything is lost, you find yourself missing and longing for it/them. You want to turn back the clock, you want to do things differently, you want to change. But you cannot. I cannot. And, it just hurts to be so helpless.

People change, but memories don’t.

21 days, the bro said.

If I told you I missed you, what would you do?

I miss my best friend(s). I know best, means having one only but I have so many friends that they are all my best ones. I really do miss them so much, and I’m really thankful for those who stuck on with me despite how insufferable, stupidly annoying and dumb I could be at times. Thank you so much, and I want you to know, that, it means the world to me. 

The Best Thing.

to be honest, i haven’t been doing so well. i am going through another difficult phase in my life, it’s not easy.. but as each day passes, i am getting much better. i have faith, things will get better. i am also very thankful for this thing to happen to me, i wish to say that i am not posting this to boast. i blog about things that matter to me, and hope in future, i can remember these things better, by reading my posts.

I have been meaning to blog about this, but somehow every time, I’ll decide to publish / work on another post instead. So this thing that I’m supposed to blog about is actually the best thing to happen to me, which by now, is already been a month since then.

Do you remember this post where I blogged about my love for platform boots? You can read it here if you missed that post. I posted some pictures which I mentioned were actually behind the scenes photos for a contest I joined. I don’t usually go all the way to shoot and edit my pictures but for this one, it was something I was very much interested in and so, hours of editing, shooting and some minor bit of brain storming.. has resulted with this.

I am too shy to post the full blown picture of my work, so you’ll have to bear with this from La Senza. The contest mechanics was rather simple; create a fashion inspired photograph. I could have easily done a Polyvore set for this, I did think about it but then I didn’t quite like the idea of using pictures that are not mine. And so, I used my own pictures. Well, they (my pictures) were the ones who gave me an inspiration to create a photo layout, much like a scrapbook.

And what did I win? :)

A (much needed) new phone! It is the first version of Samsung’s Galaxy Note. I was actually saving up to get either a Note (cause I can scribble/draw on it) or an iPhone, so you can imagine how ecstatic I was to win this contest. So far, I am totally loving this phone, since it is quite a huge upgrade from my Nokia 5530. The camera, is pretty good and with a front camera… you get the idea. Haha. Also, I’m finally active on Instagram, so if you want to follow me, my username is @itscarmenhong.

I am also totally in love with my pink metallic cover, so much that I went back to buy a spare one. Bought pink earphones too, to match my phone. Suddenly I love pink so much, when black has been my default favourite colour. I have to admit that this phone seems for like a mini tablet but hey, I am not complaining. Only thing is that because it’s so huge, when I shoot with my own camera, it feels like I am holding a toy. Everything else that used to be or feel normal to me, is now toy sized. Like damn.

About: Project etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really haven’t been able to work out a schedule or a way to balance my work with blogging (and about every other things I love to do), yet. Hence, updates can be really rare at the moment until I manage to balance between that both. Actually work hasn’t started for me yet, because I am still in training. But I’m caught up with something else, I call it my project and it’s known as etc. 

So what is this project about anyway? If that picture looks familiar to you, chances are you already know what etc. is about. etc. was started purely based on my passion for fashion, also dressing up, and my love for shopping. I was an avid online shopper, always browsing for clothes from the many many blogshops they are available on the Internet. And then, I realized that it’s kind of difficult to find unique pieces online anymore because everyone is selling the same sh*t. Seriously, it can get so boring and I even know of a blog set up purposely just to compare the prices. Link here.

This was when I started sourcing for items, really unique piece of clothing where you basically don’t see them anywhere. And I’ve been able to find some interesting pieces, fall madly in love with them and made them mine. Then, I somehow came to a realization that I’ve actually harboured a secret desire to become a shopper/buyer for fashion companies all this while. It hit me, one day but I was contemplating on whether I should open up a blogshop; especially when the market is too saturated with so much competition.

However, if I didn’t start it now, I’ll never be able to do so… I’ll be so pre-occupied with work and I just won’t have time. I did end up setting up etc. (only in September, where midways I start on my full-time job) and since then, we have done about four batches of pre-orders. :) 

If anything, I do hope that etc. does take off successfully (in time) and gain more popularity amongst the online shopping community. Of course, that would be my dream for this humble little project of mine. But at the moment, I quite like how it is turning out. etc. is slowly building up its base, (I hardly publicise or promote it, although I ought to. I’m just relying on the review sites now.), and at the moment I can still juggle it between everything else.

If you like what you see here, do hop over to etc. at http://etc-etcetera.blogspot.com/. There are a lot more lovely pieces there, (didn’t want to spam my blog with more pictures + driving traffic there, heh). I update it almost every week, so do pop by there and email me at etc-etcetera@live.com.my to order.

And best part of this whole project etc. is, (since I’m the boss, hee) I can give you, my readers and my friends a discount of 5% on your orders (excluding postage). All you need to do is just include the keyword; “itsmylife” when you place your order. :) So, shop away?! :D

Photo: Here comes September.

Before I know it, August flies by and September is here again. The last week of August have been pretty sucky for me; there are issues that came up and I needed to go through them. But it’s September now, a new month and it’ll be the start of new beginnings for my personal and my work life. Frankly, for work I know what to expect so I won’t say I’m thoroughly excited, but more like I'm feeling bittersweet about it.

Starting work means I’m another step closer to graduating and if there is any goal I have at the moment, it would be to graduate as soon as possible. With work, I don’t know if I can post as often as I wished but I will commit my time to still blog. :) Probably more pictures, less words? Anyway, here are some random self-portraits I did which were over-exposed on purpose (in case you’re wondering).

I’m 20, two decades old.

The week before my birthday, has been one of the worst week I could have ever lived through. It was terrible, truly horrifying because whatever I was going through was very much different from anything I’ve ever been through. It was worse than failing my exams because if I failed my papers, I could do-over. But not for this, I cannot reset. I cannot start over. It felt pretty much like I’m stuck at the bottom of the well, with no way to escape. It really wouldn’t been so bad, if only I could figure it out. But I can’t, I don’t have a choice. A friend once said, “You always have a choice.” I do realise I have, but I don’t have the courage to go to such lengths to do it. Sighs. I’ll be stuck till then. But I am better now, much better. We all learn to cope, live with it eventually. I’ll be stronger, that much I know. :)

* * * * * * * * *

I was supposed to blog about my birthday a week after it, but I have been so busy that I kept delaying it. Plus, I was blogging on a LIFO basis; last-in-first-out. Haha. That is actually an accounting term, if you didn’t know. :) So anyway, my birthday this year was made perfect by the very awesome people in my life. :) My family; the parents especially, my beloved college mates, the close friends and of course, everyone who wished me on Facebook as well.

30.07.12, AM

Dad brought me to have my favourite prawns porridge to start my special day. :)

Nothing beats a claypot full of delicious prawns porridge with deep fried twisted dough-stick (yao char kuey) for an awesome breakfast.

30.07.12, Early PM

After the awesome breakfast, I was off with mom and dad to run a little errand. Nothing much, pretty insignificant. Came back home and thought I’ll pamper myself a bit before heading out for dinner with my friends. So, I decided to do a Japanese hair spa for myself, it’ll take up some time and by the time I’m done with it, I could have lunch and start getting ready for my dinner date. And so, I went to get my hair spa items ready. But while I was at it, my mom saw and she told me not to do the spa treatment because she needed my help in something, so I had to opt for the normal hair treatment. Which I luckily did, because about 10 mins after I was done with my shower + hair treatment, I had a surprise waiting for me at my door.

My so-fake-shocked look! :)

My college mates had came all together with a cake to surprise me! I had no idea they were coming, I was dressed so shabbily that when my mom said my friends were here, I just went running to my room to change into something decent. Plus, my hair was so huge! Haha.

This is almost everyone that was there. :D Almost, because Crys was late as she got lost again. Heh.

Thank you (L-R) Amanda, Desmund, Jia Ping, Carmen, Celia, Danny, Eugene, Reuben, Timothy (Reuben’s guitar) and Crys for making my 20th birthday so memorable. I love each and everyone of you and am so thankful to have you all in my life. Also, Reuben and Danny played and sang “Be Your Everything” by Boys Like Girls for me! <3 Of course, it wasn’t as a proclamation of love, but rather because it was my favourite song.

They stayed on for a while after we cut the cake. Oh, the cake was from RT Pastry and I have always always wanted to try their cakes. Glad to finally be able to on my birthday some more. :) How blessed was I. Haha. After that, we had a mini karaoke session where we got Reuben to play the guitar and the rest of us singing along.

30.07.12, Mid PM

After everyone left, Celia and Crys stayed behind and we chatted for a while before they were to head off to avoid the jam. Then, we had this brilliant idea to help me decide what I was to wear for dinner that night! So, we went through my wardrobe, picked a few outfits (6 actually) out and I was to try them on and they would style accordingly. Haha, that session was really fun. Finally decided on one outfit and they, then left. But before they left, they told me that my gift wasn’t ready. And that they’ll pass it to me when it is. :)

30.07.12, Late Mid PM

Immediately after they left, I went to have my lunch and a shower to get ready for dinner. I only had an hour to get ready before my friend picked me up. Which actually isn’t enough for me, it was a bit rushing but I managed, albeit being 10 mins late and my friend had to wait. But I was late because a weird unknown number called me while I was going out, I had actually hesitated in picking the phone call up because I was in obvious rush. Luckily I did because it was my aunt, calling all the way from UK to wish me. How lovely and sweet of her. <3 We chatted for a bit, and it was great to hear her voice again. I miss her.

30.07.12, Late PM

I actually had a choice between Japanese or Western for dinner, but since the initial plan was Western.. I stuck on with it. Had dinner at a lovely place called Porta Romano, I blogged about it here. Do click to read my review. Food was great, dinner was awesome. :) It ended in the most perfect way I could have ever imagined. <3

* * * * * * * * *

Once again, I just want to say how grateful I am for the awesome people in my life who made my birthday such a memorable one. <3 But, guess what, 30th July wasn’t the end to my birthday. I received my gift from the girls; Celia and Crys a few days later.

It was a book filled with photos and it tells a story on every page. It’s really funny and I was so touched when I got it. I love the girls so much, for the time and effort they have put into the doing this. Nothing ever beats something handmade with love. <3

Besides that, I previously told Daddy that I was craving for some crabs and would love to have them for my birthday. But because I didn’t manage to have dinner with the family, so Dad made them especially for me one day!

The uncooked crab, to be steamed. Can you see the yellow bit there? That’s eggs!

And ta-da! It’s done and ready to eat! :) So yummy, my stomach is growling as I type this :P

And now, Daddy just owes me my durian birthday cake and my grilled lamb. :P I ate my celebratory chicken wings at Ah Wah in Jalan Peel. Heh.

* * * * * * * * *

So that is all for my 20th birthday, I could never quite remember my last few ones, hence I decided to put this one into words. I hope my 21st will be even better than this. :)

June.

I’ve somewhat imagined my post-exam holiday to be one that would involve me bumming around the house and em, doing just that. But since the holidays started, I haven’t been able to do just that. Not that I’m complaining anyway, because I have an awesome team to work with. I don’t know what I’ll do without them sometimes, when organizing an event especially.

Despite the busy ‘working’ schedule, I’ve managed to squeeze in a shoot with Alex Leong. Actually I shot with him before, I had famously called that previous shoot a headless one because you couldn’t see my face in the pictures. But then again, each photographer have different styles. This time around, I’d rather him not shoot my face because I had a mere four hours of sleep the day before. My eye-bags were freaking obvious. I haven’t seen the shots, but he did show me one shot that looked pretty good. Looking forward to that. Will post it up once I get my hands on them.

So, June will be ending soon and I’m hoping to make the most out of July since it’ll be the last month before I head off to work. Time to catch up with my friends, shoot pictures and just living now.

Coliseum Cafe, childhood memories.

“Established since 1921” :)

Oh, yes. The cafe has been around even before Malaysia was born. Till today, I could still vividly remember my first visit there ten years ago. I’m not surprise to see that the interior of the cafe still looks the same as it was. And I can bet that it will look just the same if I ever to visit there in another ten years time.

  Meet the Coliseum Theatre. Still standing tall after so long.

As I passed by the theatre, I wondered if anyone still watched movies in there. I mean, were there even movies being shown there. If you’re just as curious as I am, yes, they still do. The ticketing counter and the entrance looked exactly like the olden days shows of Malaya.

The entrance to the cafe. Potential job opportunities. The signage of Coliseum with a city backdrop. 

 There is a bar in the cafe, serving up various liquor. Cocktails is on the menu.

Coat hangers! My, oh my. I was amused and amazed. Looks so Western-ish.

This reminds me of those pubs in the cowboy towns, seen only in movies (since I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Texas?)

 Grilled NZ Lamb Steak. RM 26.90++

Chicken Chop Chinese Style, famously known as Hainanese style. RM 19.90++

Chicken Chop with Black Pepper Sauce. RM 19.90++

Ambience and atmosphere aside, let’s talk about the food there. To be honest, I didn’t like the Chicken Chop as they served chicken breast. I always prefer the chicken meat near the thigh area. But I think the Grilled Lamb Steak is good. Can’t explain in detail as I only got a bite of it, but I can assure it that it is better than my Chicken Chop. As for the Chinese Style, it’s definitely not my type of dish. I never really like tomatoes to begin with and the sauce for the Chinese Style Chop was a tomatoes based one with peas. I hate peas.

Honestly, I can’t help but feel like I’m being transported back in time. They said the same thing about Sek Yuan, but I didn’t really feel it there. Somehow, this cafe feels closer to heart.

My brother. He so doesn’t fit into the whole Coliseum 1920’s look.

It is such a bliss to revisit the Coliseum Cafe. I never realised how much I missed that place. And I have also realised that now is truly the time when I can appreciate a timeless classic cafe like the Coliseum.