Drop by for a moment to wish everyone Happy Halloween!

Hello, I’m back to my blog for a moment, for a short while to wish my blog’s readers Happy Halloween! It’s the last day of October which means, time for Halloween! Hope that I can enjoy a Halloween celebration somewhere in near future! I think it would be a nice experience….suddenly, I recalled last year that I did participate on setting up a tunnel that scares people that are going into the Hall of Fame of my campus, and I sneaked in there, concealing myself while scaring the people in the darkness. Haha…that is fun, looking at their expression…haha, but some are not scared…

Let me tell you. I have not celebrated this festival before, and I don’t really know much on how does it feels to me. Furthermore, in Malaysia, there is no atmosphere promoting Halloween much, except some small little pumpkins seen in the malls. People here don’t really celebrate it, no grand party or whatsoever…so, the next morning, would be just a usual typical Monday for all Malaysians, going for work or school….and for me, going for submission! Ahhh…it’s design submission, draft for the final. So, this is how Halloween this year turns out to be special to me.

These few days I have been spending my time mostly on my working desk, completing my design works and also just starting my other subjects’ works. Anyway, I do still find some time in between for a moment of rest and online to reduce my pressure. If not, I can go mad easily. As usual, there is special event going on in my Runescape online game which I have not been playing for quite a long time (over a year). I have played that and it’s cool, but I actually cheated it by refering to guide browsed from google so that I can complete the festival’s quest much easier and faster, not to waste much of my time, as some challenges in the quest are quite tricky and need players to think. Forget about it, I already think a lot for my own works. Just finished it, got the reward, and settle the special runefest puzzle (by refering to guide also…haha), got another reward, and log out…that’s it…haha

For my facebook game, Cityville, there is also many quests on Halloween, but I don’t even bother to try on it…must be hard and takes a lot of time. Anyway, I do still change my city’s atmosphere into Halloween theme…and also collecting candies to purchase some special items. This is a bit of fun there, but for those quests…aah….out of my way. If the quests are easy, then I can do it…haha…despite rushing for design submission tomorrow, I still feel lazy at some point…maybe because all my ‘energy’ had just been drained away by the design workload for continuously four days. Haiz…

Ahh,,,don’t spoil the festive mood, especially to those who are celebrating it! Have you trick-or-treat? Have you bought your halloween costumes? Have you freak out your friends with your make-up? Have you carved the pumpkins with those funny or horrific faces? Have you got candies from your neighbours? Have planned your halloween party at night? Have fun! Enjoy Halloween 2011!

Happy Deepavali to all Indians!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Happy Deepavali to all Indians around the world, particularly Malaysians, and specifically to my Indian friends. May you enjoy the Festival of Light with awesome celebration!

Deepavali is the biggest and the most significant day of festival for the Indians. I think it marked the day in legend that a beast is killed by a warrior, and hence light is returned to the land, which represents a sign of celebration. This day is even far more emphasized than the Indian New Year or Thaipusam. Yeah…many of us still do not realize that Deepavali is not actually the new year celebration for the Indians. Their new year usually falls on April, which no public holiday is dedicated.

I think it is unfair for the Indians that are only given one day of public holiday for Deepavali, while Hari Raya and Chinese New Year get two days each. I think it would be fair enough to add another day of public holiday to them, which would eventually add another day of holiday for all Malaysians! (That would be nice and great news to all too). I personally don’t have much Indian friends, and I have attended open house before back in many years ago. It’s a nice experience of learning other people’s culture too.

Well…the Deepavali comes at the right time for me, as my campus has given us three days break, which means more time for me to do my works. Deepavali would be just another ordinary day for me, staying inside my room, doing my assignments. Anyway,..don’t spoil the festive mood first! Before I end this post of greeting, I would like to wish again to all Indians, Happy Deepavali and to all Malaysians, happy holiday!

Three days deepavali break turns out to be a week-long holiday for me…

All I have to say is that my campus is getting very lazy! It is definitely a good news for students that the campus would be closed for three days beginning tomorrow for Deepavali break. It is nothing much happier to me, but still it gives more time for me to complete my works in multiple modules at the same time before submission next week. Hence, I’m still glad for the given three-days break, which actually turnd out to be a week-long holiday for me and my classmates.

Deepavali, the Festival of Light for the Indians would be on this Wednesday, 26th October 2011. Extra holidays are given on the eve and the day after that. I had no class on Friday and hence, I could enjoy the break continously beginning tomorrow until the next Monday which is the day of final submission for design. Terrifying! Actually, the break for me had already began now, on this Monday’s afternoon…and that is why I can call it as a one-week break, which is not a break for us.

It is the most crucial time or weeks for me and my classmates to complete the assignments, especially the most heavy one, on design final submission with presentation board and models. I have to plan the time well on this week, so that I could finish the works on time, and in satisfying level, to myself and most important of all, to the lecturers….but still, I can sense laziness in myself. Have to get rid of that and start working up, on these last few weeks before the end of my final semester, and above all, before my graduation at the end of this year which is approaching soon.

It’s been rainy days lately and it’s serious flood reported in Thailand, particularly at the capital city of Bangkok itself. Rainy days resulted in a cloudy and moody atmosphere which is perfect for sleeping but not good for doing assignments. Haiz…the comfortable bed is seducing me at every second I am reminded of its presence just beside my working desk. Bed, you are just lovely…but for assignments, please get away from me!…but still I have to deal with it in the end….what to do…that’s the life of an architectural student, especially on his final semester which must be the busiest and deadliest one…haha…(gone mad already)!…

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion listed as one of the world top ten greatest mansions and grand houses by popular tour guide, Lonely Planet

This appears to be quite surprising to me, and even to my friends too. The famous Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion at Georgetown, Penang is one of the world top ten greatest mansions and grand houses listed by a popular tour guide called Lonely Planet. Such ranking is definitely very subjective as everyone has their different perception towards the ‘greatness’ of a certain mansion. Even until now, I’m still wondering how the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion could even get to the list?! This is weird. No doubt it is a beautiful heritage structure, but…uum…

I have been to Penang many times and I had visited the mansion which is popularly known as Blue Mansion due to the result of mixing lime with natural blue dye made from the indigo plant. It is built in traditional Chinese architecture with mixture of vernacular adaptation and British influential styles (Art Nouveau and Gothic). It is built by a rich Chinese merchant, Cheong Fatt Tze at the end of 19th century which has 38 rooms, 5 courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 timber louvre windows. It is now a private residence used for partly hotel and partly museum dedicated for tourism, while still maintaining almost all of its original essence.

The mansion is no doubt a symbolic historical structure for Penang and for the whole Malaysia, but I still can’t believe it could be listed in top ten of the world. There is even no need to compare this mansion with many other much better mansions around the world in many aspects. For me, yes…Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is rich in heritage value expressed in architecture and culture, but if compared to many others around the world, the mansion is way far behind for the competition. I guess that it can be listed in top ten due to the person who created the ranking have had a good time visiting the mansion.

Anyway, it’s still a good news for Malaysians as one of our structures get well known around the world after the ranking is published out. The only other Asian mansion that made to the list is the Kolkata Palace in India. The other mansions listed are  Villa d’Este in Italy, England’s Castle Howard, Chateau de Chambord in France, Catherine Palace in Russia, Fallingwater in the woods of Pennsylvania, Beauport House in Massachusetts, Werribee Mansion in Melbourne and Powerscourt Estate in the Wicklow Mountains. Out of all the 10 mansions listed, I only have known the Fallingwater designed by famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright besides than the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Fallingwater truly deserved the ranking due to its strength in combining architecture with its natural surrounding to form a picturesque space of living. It is an iconic symbol of house for the Americans.

Only one Chinese-styled mansion is listed and that is not located in China, but in Malaysia, which is the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. I guess it is very hard to find thousand of great mansions there in China and pick one, so the one who created the ranking just pick the famous one in other countries with Chinese people, and so Cheong Fatt Tze came to the top. The mansion is no more than an ordinary double-storey Chinese courtyard house, with just an addition of its distinctive blue colour facade.

Movie review: Real Steel (2011)

It’s already been over a month from the last time watching a film in the cinema. It appears that I have been inactive on my interest on watching new movies lately, mainly due to heavy workload from the assignments. Finally, today, another chance for that has came, and the movie chosen is ‘Real Steel’ after several consideration and analysis into the film’s ratings and reviews. In the beginning, I don’t have that interest on watching ‘Real Steel’ because basically, I’m not the fan of robot-fighting movie, and also that the trailer looks not convincing too.

However, after I have watched the film, all I have to say is that the film is brilliantly made! Whenever Steven Spielberg is present as the executive producer, the movie must have some sort of quality that reaches a very satisfying level, and this film is no exception. Everything is good in the film, from its storyline, the casts’ performance, the characters’ development, the visual effects and the editing, etc. The story sets in 2020 where people used to have robot-fighting games controlled by people. The framework is there, but the theme that binds it up perfectly is the family value between a dad and his son (whom are the two main characters of the film portrayed by Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo.)

Eventhough there are many claims that the plot is very predictable and the script is kind off too ordinary, I find that these two conditions do not ruin the whole quality and intensity of perfection of the film. The space beneath the plot allows for sufficient development of characters without going too much, which strengthen the emotional aspect of the film. This is what makes this film stands out from the other typical robot-themed film, including Transformers. A good portion of emotional impact is seen in the film that drives audiences out from not just watching robots fighting emotionlessly but also telling them on the bonding  that matter the most.

The performance by the characters are very well and convincing, especially for Hugh Jackman, and also particularly the young boy, Dakota Goyo. The young kid must have a bright future ahead as a star due to his ability to perform well in character like this. The visual effects on this film are definitely not as great as those we have seen from Transformers, but still arguably satisfying to a level that conveys the technological advancement of robots in 2020 (the time of the setting of the story). The editing of the film is also done brilliantly, where certain amazing effects or scenes are emphasized in creative ways. The final moment of the film can be considered one of the best or most memorable scenes of the year (the scene of the final stage of the robot-fighting competition) and that is the part that caught me holding my breath for such a high level of excitement. There are still several hilarious parts in the film that would keep you entertained behind all these serious stuff like those competitions and family issues.

The whole film is very interesting, far beyond my expectation, and climbs beyond the boundary of typical robot-themed movies. For Transformers’ fans, sorry to say, but Real Steel is far better in many aspects. I came in to the film with less expectation but leave with big surprise and lots of entertainment. ‘Real Steel’ is definitely one of the best films of the year, and I would give quite a very high rating, 8 out of 10. Only very few films could get such a high rating from me. ‘Real Steel’ nailed it; it is truly an outstanding film of its genre.

Design submission again…model-making for the site!

This afternoon was another design submission again! The last interim crit (pin up in studio) before final submission and completion of portfolio. This last interim is on Part C of the housing proposition assignment which is on design development. Part 1 which is on conceptual and Part 2 on schematic proposal were over last few weeks. Today, is the time for last part, design development.

Due to the lack of time, I can’t complete much of the works required. I only managed to draw all plans, 2 elevations and 3 sectional perspectives (nicer and faster, combining sectional with perspective drawings together), and a rough blow-up section. I can’t build the model for my design at this short period of time. Anyway, I did compose all the new works and the previous ones into 4 A2. I think what I lack is a truly compelling image for my final, which I am still thinking for.

There is not much feedback today, which is weird, and we are required to pin up again this Thursday…I think there is a bit of time for us to improve. So, maybe I can sort out the compelling image. Model? Ahh…for scale 1:200, it’s very hard and time consuming, and there is too much openings for me to cut…so let that be done only when final submission approaches…which is I think two to three weeks from now on…before end of semester! Last few weeks must be crazy!…before the end of the semester and of my degree study!

Very tired lately…I certainly had not enough sleep for the past weekend for the design submission. Hopes everything was fine and feedbacks are satisfying. That is what every student hopes for…By the way, during the reviewing session and even until after the studio session, we spent the time doing the site model. This time, the boundary is covering quite a smaller portion (A1 size) compared to previous site model for the past semester. It’s nice to see quite a beautiful site model of scale 1:200 constructed out in less than 5 hours.

Good job done, that’s the AS302 (our class) spirit eventhough only less than 20 people seriously participated (out of over 60 students in class). It is not a beautiful developer’s model but it’s gonna be our testing and working site model for our further exploration. Whatever it is…I’m done with it….and plenty more of things to do….and also not to forget other subjects! Ahhh…wait….My eyes now cannot open fully already…time to sleep…

I sense last few weeks of the semester is coming! Stress!

Don’t know why but nowadays when I try to sleep as I’m already getting very tired lately after the first ten weeks of my final semester is gone, my mind always think of; ‘I still got plenty of assignments to finish up!’. Ahh…stress! As usual, and as expected, especially in this final semester. Even our lecturer told us to sleep for only 2 hours now onwards for every night until the end of the semester. That must be killing me! I definitely couldn’t do that….that would kill my health seriously!

Even nowadays, I can’t really sleep well. I slept with stress for almost every night, worrying on unfinished assignments, and approaching deadlines for many submissions coming very soon. The last few weeks of my final semester had arrived, and that indicates that many assignments need to be completed, especially the big ones that carry a lot of percentage. I couldn’t give up at this point of time as it is already my last semester before my graduation, and I have already stay strong to it for almost 4 years. I have to seriously maintain my working mood, not to work hard but work smart, and eliminates my laziness (which is something almost impossible to achieve). Haha…

Luckily, there is a little form of entertainment for me, in reducing my pressure. Thanks to movies (downloaded ones which I watched a little portion over and over again when I’m having my meal on my working desk to stay away from assignments for a short moment) and also thanks to TVB for having its’ anniversary production, Forensic Heroes 3 starring now, which I have been anticipating for quite a long time. At least I can watch new episode for every night now on weekdays, as a relief to the time in stress up for the heavy workloads. May everything went smoothly and successfully for the last few weeks of my semester!

In memory of Anita Mui

Today I’m a bit curious on why classic songs sang by the late Anita Mui are being played in radio station, for quite a few times. Then, I was informed that today is her birthday, 10th October. If she had not passed away in 2003, she would be now 48 years of age. It appears that it is very easy to remember her birthday (the date can be read as double 10 for 10th October), as well as the date she passed away which is on 30th December 2003, two days before new year.

She passed away at a very young age of 40 due to cervical cancer. She started her singing career after winning the inaugural new talent singing competition in 1982 at Hong Kong. Her twenty-years of stardom career began, which included acting in films and contributing in community works. She is regarded as the cantopop diva in 1980s, with her fans’ presence throughout not only Hong Kong, but also whole Asia including my country, Malaysia. Even my late mother likes her songs too. Besides that, she also received other nicknames like ‘Madonna of Asia’ as her concert in London was also even a sold-out and being lauded by the West.

It is too pity that she died at such a young age. She contributed very much to the cantopop music scene based in Hong Kong, becoming the idol to many artists, and example to cantopop queens in 1990s (Faye Wong, Sammi Cheng, Kelly Chen). Her best friend, Leslie Cheung whom is also a prominent figure in cantopop music, also passed away in the same year, on 1st April 2003 (April Fool Day) due to suicide caused by depression. Hong Kong singing industry had terrible loss that year.

Eventhough Anita Mui’s popular years are way earlier than my generation, but I do like some of her songs. She portrayed her very own character, style and voice on her songs, which is very good and iconic; something that represents her as the cantopop diva. Her ‘Song of the Sunset’ is a big hit, and also not to forget ‘Fate’, her duet with the late Leslie Cheung. I got the opportunity to watch some clips of her performance on her farewell concert on end of 2003 before her death, and I have to really admire and respect her due to her hard conditions at that particular time, which are almost impossible for her to hold her farewell concerts, knowing herself would be dying soon. But she did it! She wanted to share her final moments with the fans by her songs, and she made it.

She is truly a legend in Hong Kong entertainment industry. Who doesn’t know Anita Mui? Eventhough the youngsters like us are not familiar with her songs, but we still recognize her. She had also acted in over 40 movies, which the one that is still fresh in my mind is the ‘Wu Yen’, starring with Sammi Cheng and Cecilia Cheung. I can still remember that my parents were shocked by the news of her death in 2003. Her wide-spread contribution to the entertainment industry would never be forgotten.

Men with No Shadows….a TVB production that appears to be interesting but turns out disappointing

Men with No Shadows (不速之約) is a latest Hong Kong series by TVB that had just concluded with its last two final episodes aired yesterday. It starred Bobby Au Yeung, Tavia Yeung, Raymond Lam and several other supporting casts. The story which is believed to revolve around a demon planning to destroy the life of a doctor whom he wanted to take revenge for. It is very new for TVB to produce such an interesting series based on supernatural theme: demon…but it turned out at the end that no demon existed at all! Huh…

The development of the story can be said quite surprising (surprising doesn’t mean interesting or exciting). There are many sudden twists in the plot that I find illogical, weird but typically seen in TVB dramas nowadays. The story made us believe that the demon (portrayed by Raymond Lam) do exist in the world, but finally, he is just an ordinary human. The most annoying part is the same music used over and over again, the same style portrayed in the scenes where Raymond trying to show he is a demon. Anyway, I guess people especially his fans like those scenes a lot because that reveals his ‘chok’ look once again. I am fully confident that many people watched this drama because of Raymond Lam, especially for those girls aiming for boys with look like him.

Forget about it. I find his acting in dramas nowadays very boring, and feels like being ‘fixed’, with woody appearance. Nothing much interesting can be seen from his performance, and hence, no breakthrough, but I’m sure he is going to be nominated for best actor and most favourite male artist end of this year somehow for the TVB awards. His popularity and look win! Huh…Tavia Yeung and Bobby did good job with their characters, while on the other hand, I disliked the girl portraying the younger sister of Bobby in the drama. I think now, more attention is given to supporting casts like her, but I just feel she does not have that quality to jump further for more screentime, like in this drama. While for the pairing, I find there is no chemistry at all between the couple portrayed by Bobby and Tavia.

The beginning looks very promising, the middle looks very ordinary with issues on human life only without stressing much on the existence of the fake-demon already, while the ending appears to be very typical and boring. I find that all the TVB series for this year had their standard dropped obviously. All series that I have watched this year are not that good, as compared to those in previous years. Men with no Shadows is not an exception. Nothing much is good or exciting about from this drama. TVB should start to think again and produce dramas, considering much on the quality, not on the quantity. This 20-episodes long drama turns out to be quite disappointing despite with good casts. Out of 10 points, I can only give it 6.5.

Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc. (Father of ‘I’) passed away

What a shocking news! The co-founder of Apple company, who responsible for invention of I Phone, I Pad, I Pod as well as Macintosh (MAC) and had until recently only passed on the work to Tim Cook as the current CEO, due to deteriorating health problem, had passed away on Thursday morning (late Wednesday on American time). Steve Jobs, counted among the greatest American CEOs of his generation, died at the age of 56, after a years-long and highly public battle with cancer and other health issues. He had also served as chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios, a member of Board of Directors of The Walt Disney Company, and became executive producer of Toy Story (1995).

In current era of advanced technology especially on telecommunication products, no one would not recognize Steve Jobs. He is the man that brings us I Phone, most notably, carefully developing the product every year to serve for the customers on latest way technology can achieve (from I Phone to I Phone 4). Yesterday, the new I Phone 4S (not I Phone 5 as predicted) is introduced to the public by the new CEO, Tim Cook whom are being questioned on his ability to do the job as good as Steve Jobs, due to the lack of improvement on I Phone 4S. The latest product received not a very good feedback after all the hype of it.

Steve Jobs was definitely a professional in his working field. I Phone is the product that captured the attention of the whole globe, with many people now owning I Phone, knowing its wide variety of advantages. I personally didn’t have an I Phone, because I’m would prefer to stick to my usable phone by Sony Ericsson. Even of that, I do recognize the impact of I Phone production that Steve Jobs had brought  to us in telecommunication, networking, and entertainment purposes.

Steve Jobs had just resigned from his job as CEO of the world largest technology corporation on last August (two months ago), and it’s sad that he lost his battle to his health problem. His legacy would remains with continual development of his founding products for the benefits of the modern society. May he rest in peace, and condolences to his family. Today, the world had lost one of the greatest man in technology of current era.