Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Goodbye Brunei.

I can't believe I'm a high school graduate.

The flimsy pieces of paper that certify I've completed my secondary education and that it's time to move on to bigger and better things.


I can't believe I attended my own senior prom, and that the best night of my life to date is over. The photos, however, will last a lifetime.

Hair: Ebelle Salon, Kiulap. Makeup: Self. Nails: Self. Dress: Treats, KL. Earrings: Sister's. Lenses: Freshlook Illuminate. Shoes (not pictured): Summit, The Mall. Chioness: God My makeup skills. LOL!! Ok ok I kid.
Yay, I've always wanted a "wearing what" caption ala fashion mags! *thick skin*

(Things have been sooooo hectic you-can't-even-imagine, I wish I had time to blog about all of the above but sadly I don't. I promise I will when I find the time though! Meanwhile, if you're my Facebook friend, there's always Jia Yee's Prom 2010 album.)


Above all, I can't believe right now that I'm having so much fun, I have to excuse myself and leave the party so abruptly. I'm Cinderelly and the clock has struck 12.

Ok my metaphor is becoming a bit warped, lol.

I really wish I didn't have to. I'm going to miss you so much, Brunei. The past 15 years have been amazing and all the people I love and places I went that I now have to leave behind, I will hold so dear and never ever forget. Please don't forget to remember me.

If you're coming to the airport tomorrow (I love you in advance!), it's 8 am, latest. Bring tissues and cameras. I can guarantee you I will be crying and I will try my best to make you cry too.

I guess this is it. Until we meet again...

Oh! I wonder when I'll get to get behind the wheel of a car hehe.


Wednesday, November 24, 2010

All About Romance's Top 100

Every few years the good people at my go-to site for romance ask their readers to submit their Top 100 romances and then compile a definitive list.  The last list was in 2007 and the Top 10 of the Top 100 was:
1) "Lord of Scoundrels" - Loretta Chase - 1995
This is a book people love so much, but I barely remember it, and honestly wasn't at all impressed at the time.  It's number one ranking has made me wonder if it was the setting where I read it, (Rock House) or if I just don't care for the novels of Loretta Chase.  I doubt it will hold the number one spot again.  
2) "Dreaming of You" - Lisa Kleypas - 1994 
I also love this book,  my favorite of all the Lisa Kleypas keepers on my shelf, and I have quite a few!
3) "Pride and Prejudice" - Jane Austen - 1813
I predict P&P will top the 100 this time around.  Everyone loves Darcy and Lizzie, and I think confusion came from whether it was acceptable to vote for a classic novel, placing it at Number 3.  
4) "Outlander" - Diana Gabaldon - 1991
This is a crazy cult favorite, number one a few lists back.  I read it once and liked it, but never read any sequels or developed a devotion to it.  It is the only romance a librarian has hugged while checking it out for me though!
5) "Flowers From the Storm" - Laura Kinsale - 1992
Another one I've read only once, but really liked.  It's biggest downfall is Fabio offering a flower to the reader on the cover, but thankfully it's been reissued...
6) "Slightly Dangerous" - Mary Balogh - 2004
My favorite (and everyone else's) of the "Slightly" series.
A twist on P&P and the best cold hero in ages.
7) "Devil in Winter" - Lisa Kleypas - 2006
A keeper for sure, but I believe it's high ranking came from being a recent release and fresh in everyone's minds.  I'm curious to see where it will fall, but my money's still in the Top 20.
8)"Bet Me" - Jennifer Crusie - 2004
My favorite contemporary romance of all time.
9) "Welcome to Temptation" - Jennifer Crusie - 2000
Another good one, but not quite a comfort read.  I've only read it twice.
10) "The Viscount Who Loved Me" - Julia Quinn - 2000
My favorite Quinn, first read when I was new to romance and she was my favorite author. However,  she's been putting out some real crap for about 5+ years, so, we'll see how she's fallen in the ranks!

The Top 100 was a great way to discover keepers and older releases I might not have discovered on my own.  For a while I was attempting to read all books on the lists - the reason why I read one (and only one) Nora Roberts and "Dream Man" by Linda Howard.  "Dream Man" made me realize I left a love of romantic suspense (a la "Mary Higgins Clark) behind me in the 7th grade, along with khaki pants and my natural hair color.  I don't have time to read authors I know I don't care for - I'll try one, and that's it.  Once again I ran out of time before submitting my personal Top 100 - it's an overwhelming task for me, plus some books I had from 2007 I don't even remember!  I'm excited to see the 2010 results, and hope to get my list counted next time around.  


"Dead Man's Cell Phone" by Sarah Ruhl

    Picture on found on Facebook, I'm not sure which audience member took it, but thanks for posting and thanks for coming.  This production featured not one, but two of my winter jackets (both looked better on Maggie, by the way) many yards of gold fabric, mod hair, cosmic pipelines, - and a handmade kidney lamp - I broke out the sewing machine for the first time in months.  Also, glitter drop.  Oh yeah.

                              
                

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Jerudong Park, a treasure trove of memories.

Like I said in my previous post, I went to Jerudong Park with Munibah on Friday evening, just after exams ended (still can't believe they have!!).

For those who don't know, Jerudong Park used to be Brunei's #1 biggest tourist attraction and hotspot. The largest and most expensive (to build) amusement park in South East Asia. EVERYBODY went there, ALL the time! 

It's the combination of a massive playground, an ampitheatre (where the king of pop himself Michael Jackson played a FREE concert in 1996. Lol every Bruneian is so proud of that!!) and a theme park with zillions of free rides that was originally built for royalty but was then opened to public like... 15 years ago? 

I don't think I can explain in words just how amazing JP used to be. As a kid, taking the long drive to JP on weekends was like the BIGGEST treat. It was the most wonderful, magical place in the world. Brunei's very own little Disneyland.

More than a decade later, it's only a shadow of its former glory, with only like 10 rides operating and you've to pay. But I still felt like I needed to go back there one last time before I leave *tear-filled eyes*

It says "Know Our Country". Well, it's not my country, but after living here for 15 years, I like to think I know it pretty well.

Say hi to Mun looking all professional with her DSLR!

At what used to be Snakes & Ladders (a massive board game painted onto the floor) near the entrance of Phase 1 (Phase 2, with the rollercoaster and all the other exciting rides has been shut down).





HAHA WTF I look like I just escaped from an asylum!!

Wheeee we can has be Arabian princesses!



I LOVE this backlit photo!! The soft dusky light gives it such a dreamy, almost vintage appearance *joy*

You can't tell but I was holding on for dear life! So scared I was gonna hit my head/lose my balance and fall off. All while managing to take a nice photo! Dunno why it didn't occur to me to just SIT on the swing like Mun.

The carousel was our first stop! My fave ride as a little kid. I used to be damn scared of the horses that bobbed up and down though hahaha.



I can has white horsie with pink reigns hehe!


Love this photo! Feels like everything is moving except her.




Pretty paintings on the inside roof of the carousel.

A drove, a string, a troop, a herd, of horses! (There's also like goats and lions and strangely, rabbits.)

Mun while waiting in front of the bumper cars. That a dinosaur's ass behind her!

We had to wait AGES for the bumper car uncle to come and switch on the ride for us.  From daytime it became night T_T

I swear my bumper car was faulty!! Suai I had to pick the one that started rumbling and shaking as though it was gonna explode whenever I accelerated fml. And Mun and I were the only two cars there, fol. After we finished, a whole group of maybe 8 ppl started lining up. Double FOL!!

Observe Munibah posing calmly in her bumper car while I proceed to happily ram mine into the side.
My neck hurt for days afterward cause I got minor whiplash one of the thousand times that Munibah banged into me. I guess it serves me right for not bothering to put on the seatbelts. I somehow thought they were unnecessary cause I didn't think the jolting would be THAT violent D: Then when I saw the other people after us all putting on their seatbelts, I was like, "Wah! So kuai one!" I bet they didn't get any whiplash.

A colourful but thoroughly unexciting spinning ride.


I was really afraid that it would spin really fast and the chairs would lift up at kuazhang 90 degrees angle, so I kept making my mom ask the ride operator if it was scary and he kept having to reassure us that it wasn't and then looked at us as though we were nuts. 

Turns out he had reason to! It spins slowly and the chairs just go up and down a bit, e.g.:


After that ride, we still had one more ride left on our tickets (the shooting game I initially wanted to play was closed for some reason *grumble*) so we went on the kids' Pirate Ship! For "kids", mind you...

BUT HOLY MAMA!!! That was the scariest ride I've sat on in a LONG time!! Knn the ship flew up so high at such a steep angle I thought I was gonna fly out of my seat!!!! Somemore no seatbelts one! Me and Mun screamed through the ENTIRE thing HAHAHA!! SO MUCH FUN. Not even exaggerating.

If anybody is going to JP anytime soon, you HAVE to go on the Pirate Ship. My legs were wobbly for quite a while afterwards *satisfied*

After that it was like past 7 already, stomach rumbling like mad and I was so exhausted (I'd only slept like 4 hours the night before), so excuse any constipated facial expressions in the photos we took on the way out.

All these taken in front of the paddleboat fountain on the bridge that leads to the carousel. Very repetitive lol sorry.



Hahaha I look super rotund and pear-shaped in this photo!! Must remember never to pose like that ever again.
Me and my mommy ♥


Photos of the Crystal Arch and the fountain at the entrance to Phase 1.

I've always thought the crsytal looks like the solitaire diamond on expensive engagement rings! I can just imagine some giantess bride's finger fitting snugly into the lubang under the arch.





I love this photo!! If only it were more focused :(
Me and my mom in front of the Crystal Arch.

Classic jakun-ism tyvm :D

This is pretty much the exact same spot as the next photo, except this one was taken 12 years ago. I'm the little one in the red skirt and that's @ohsuzanne and my maternal grandparents 

The end!

Sorry I can't seem to think of any creative ways to end this post. Bye? I've to go eat dinner now? Lol!

Oh by the way, I graduate tomorrow wheeee! Gonna stuff my skirt pockets full of tissues!!


Saturday, November 20, 2010

Freedom, freeeeedom.

(Backdated November 19, 2010)

'O' LEVELS ARE  OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Toss the confetti, blow the noise makers, scream at the top of your lungs... and crank up that old George Michael song! Can you believe it?! Cause I can't!!

Just like that, the biggest academic hurdle of my life so far is over. A month and a half ago, it seemed so daunting, and I felt like November 19th would never ever come.

Unfortunately for me, I hadn't realized that 'O' Levels are definitely not the only thing I need to worry about this month.

As every single other Form 5 student in Brunei starts to throw their hands up in the air saying AYOOOOO, I have to figure out how I'm going to:

1.) Pack every single item I own (true, a lot of it's going to fall prey to the dreaded black trash bag).
2.) Visit all my favourite places in Brunei (Jerudong Park one last time, all my old houses, Kampung Ayer and the mosques... for the first time mind you -_-)
3.) Survive graduation and prom in one piece (i.e. without crying till my eyes fall out)
4.) Say goodbye to almost all the friends I've ever known.
And 5.) I have to do it all before December 1st.

Wow. That doesn't sound the LEAST bit hard D:

So yeap, that's basically the gist of it. On December 1st, I'll be on a one-way flight to KL. I don't know what else I can say except that instead of feeling free as a bird, I feel so overwhelmed.

Okay enough, I plan to reserve one entire blog post for my whole goodbye Brunei sob-story. Stay tuned, not to be missed. LOL!

Might as well show photos from the last day of school while I'm on the topic of school (and I've something different reserved for my graduation post hehe). It was a pretty emotional day, and I blogged about it a while back.

Out of the 173 pics (yes it was a shutter-happy day!), these are some of my faves! All snapped with Jia Yee's camera and uploaded on her Facebook.

Wanna find out how the world's nerdiest class ever spends its last day together?

Starting with a pic of me trying to act cute *shimmering eyes*


From left to right, my back-of-the-class gang: Aaron Chong, Jia and Maweeyah! ♥

Aaron Chong, me and Mar with a past year exam paper cause we cool like dat B-)


Me and Molly, my best friend and next-door neighbour from primary school.

Proof!! Jia Yee likes to go around examining guys' beards! Hahaha! This is Kelvin, Mr Summertime :D

Me and Munibah, my best friend of so many years I can no longer count ♥

Me and Jesnie, always at the ready to sing Lee Hom songs!

Proof! Jia Yee enjoys doing inappropriate things with people!! xD Here is Vivien getting the "royal treatment".

Nai Ping being a meanie!!

Now that's better :D


Me and Alisa, The Braid Squad!

Me and Lennard taking turns to be jakuns! :D


The Chong Family: from left to right, Jesnie, Aaron Chong and Maria, and Jia Yee on the bottom.

Sze Khai is a womanizer, woman-womanizer~


But his heart belongs to Lilian!! :P

Cawistus!!! The person who had to put up with all my daily grumbling and whining and chattering and abuse and general nonsense for the whole of last year, and did a damn good job of it!


Maria, Susan and I! Gonna miss seeing Susan all the time at Add Maths tuition. For that matter, gonna miss everyone from Add Maths tuition and teacher as well!! :(


Me photo-bombing Josh and Mar's pic! Hehe!

Praveena, my super sweet seatmate for the whole year.

Aaron Chong and Maria reliving their childhood.

WHERE MA GANGSTAS AT?!? 

El Presidente caught on camera acting cute!! :D

And again! Hehehe!

Praveena and Jia Yee, wearing Praveena's extremely long hair!

Mar and Nikki with Josh and Nai Ping airborne, lol!!

*plays romantic music that is not River Flows In You nor techno*

Our lotus flower pose from the Majlis Anugerah Pelajar Cemerlang something something last year! Good times!!

Maweeyah and Aaron Chong sharing a tender moment nomming together, awww.

Our timetable! 4 periods of Maths first thing on Mondays = killer!!

Me and Mrs Manik, my English teacher for the past 5 years and our class teacher! ♥


And there you have it, the Form 5 Science 1 graduating class of 2010! ♥ It's been great :D


*Change of topic*

Also, went to Jerudong Park this evening with Munibah!! For the very last time.

Me and Mun on the carousel. Love this pic cause of the sunset lighting (unedited) and it looks like I just got a V-line Osteotomy (popular Korean jaw surgery)!!


Took a TON of gorgeous photos that I can't wait to post... very soon!