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Bouldering at Dairy Farm
Originally uploaded by Minas Morgul.

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Dear TomHa,
Whoever that said that year 4 students doing FYP are very busy should be shot... I am as free as a bird!

Haha.. Check out this series of photos where I attempt to convert very rainforesty photos to those with a 300 color tone. Woohoo! as learnt from Photoshop user tv podcast of course... haha...

King K-Wee

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Dear TomHa,
Check out this site for some cool apps! For now, let me indulge in my new found fame...

Stuck in a moment you can't get out of.....

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Dear TomHa,
There is a photography volunteer program in the states that attempts to take some sorrow and grief out of parents who had sadly, lost their child at birth. These photographers served as a medium to help them take down lasting images of their child and their parents could at least some form of memory to keep with them. The pictures and stories can make you cry... Here's the link

Gone in 60 seconds...

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Caught this from Dave Cross' blog and thought this was extremely well done. Catch Steve Jobs 90minute keynote presentation in 60secondshere!!

Sigh... another weekend with nothing much to do.. think i'll go little Guilin to crimp around...

Had my life evolved into something that cannot survive without tutitions???

You Do Not Know What You'd Lost Until It's Gone...

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Dear TomHa,
Yesterday, Junjie told me that Mrs Nair had passed on, as Bernice had picked up the news from the Orbituary section in the papers. Well, yesterday was her burial date as I found out today and I guess it was a case of too little, too late.

Mrs Nair Chor Eng was my form teacher during my Sec. 2 days. I would not say that she was very close to us and vice versa as somehow, during those puberty, hormone-filled days of teenage years, under the influence of my peers who somehow did not like her way of teaching for reasons I still could not fathom, I just remained as I was, another student in a rather boisterous class who joined in the jeering and putting down of her in those free canteen times. Very hypocrite, yes I know, but oh well..

In fact, my memories of her were just a simple "She was my form and Geography teacher" kind of thing. In fact, I couldn't even remember that she taught us English! What a terrible human being I am...

However, despite the hazy memories of her, still, I must thank Mrs Nair for instilling in me a deeper interest in Geography than what her predecessor, my Sec. 1 geography teacher whom I can't even remember her name, did. Somehow, I enjoyed Geography under her, perhaps because I managed to get better grades in this subject than what other teachers might have given.

This renewed interest in Geography is perhaps the catalyst to me taking up Geography in my Upper sec years and then in my A-levels, and finally, perhaps, my interest in mountaineering and the great outdoors, which, I enjoyed greatly, really. I had been a 3-minute fervor kind of person all my life, but surprisingly, this interest in Geography, of the clouds above and the unfathomable tectonic movements below the crusts stucked with me ever since.

Thank you Mrs Nair, and may you rest in peace

Sir Edmund Hillary

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My Honour...
Originally uploaded by Minas Morgul.

Dear TomHa,
Yesterday, a great man had passed on. He is Sir Edmund Hillary, who, together with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent on the summit of Mount Everest, Chomolungma, 8848m. A legend, an inspiration, a man who despite his achievements, remained a modest and 'ordinary' man.

His passing affected me somewhat. Perhaps it's because I had been rather actively involved in the activities of mountaineering. Perhaps it is because every boy needs a hero at some point of time. When we were young, when we learnt about the geographies of the Earth, Everest would always be pointed out together with this remarkable man by the teachers.

But how would the achievement of one man, who resides in a country 10hours' flight away from you, whose achievements went back to 55 years' ago affect me, who live in the 21st century?

I guess it is because everyone needs some inspiration. To conquer the summit of Everest, the tallest point on Earth, a place of unimaginable conditions, is a testament to the human endeavour, that we, humans, no matter how evil or little in this wide wide world, can still surmount a feat that is so unfathomable yet so pure and inspirational. Putting one feet in front of the other, bearing with the pain of the cold and altitude, overcoming the fear of the unknown realms. It is pure pain, but the gains were inspirational.

Everest and mountaineering might have evolved into a tourist activity for the rich and ultra fit, but no one in the right frame of mind should belittle the pioneering achievements of this remarkable man. He was an explorer. He was a pioneer, he did things that no one had imagined do-able.

May he rest in peace...

Hehe...
Originally uploaded by Minas Morgul.

Thought this cheeky/naughty/mischievous girl looked cute.. haha..

Happy New Year!!!

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Day 1 climbing site
Originally uploaded by Minas Morgul.

Dear TomHa,
I know I know... it's a little late, I know... but hey, there's still 355 more days to be even more happy! So, Happy 2008 to all readers of this pitifully ill maintained blog. Thank you guys and girls for all of your continual support. Really appreciate it.

So 2007 had passed. Would say that it felt like a really short year. For one, Mohan was tucked nicely in some god forsaken US place, out of range to disturb us, and then, he is back and disturbing us, with a newly grown stash of beard just under the lips, like some Dracula thing. Eeewww...

Lol...

This year, I do not suppose that I would commit myself to some lousy resolutions that I would never keep anyway. Neither would I do any reflections of the year that passed. I do not really mean all of them anyway. Hence, this blog would only detail some of my recollections of the past year and some projections into the future.

Well, 2007 was a year when I finally sat down and learn Japanese really seriously. For one, I had gotten to a level where I can actually eavesdrop and understand some Japanese conversations in Kinokuniya. To add to that, I even went to Japan with the Indian and Malay and spoke with those local Japanese! Woohoo! Asking for directions, asking about the weather, and to the best of my ability, order the most halal thing that the Japanese cuisines can offer! All these things just fill me with so much pride and satisfaction that are pretty different from climbing and reaching the goal. Of course, trekking in Hokkaido was fun. Cooking and trekking with nothing but a few pages of Lonely Planet's Hiking in Japan. Add to this, the typhon and the earthquake in Niigata that spoiled loads of our original plans. Way Cool! Arguably one of the best trips I had ever gone to.

Academically wise, there wasn't much improvement as I am still the slack like no one;s business student who do not really care what come out of my University education as the dust had pretty much settled on what I would be getting at the end of it. So, ya, nothing much to talk about. Except maybe that I noticed this girl in my robotics lecture last semester and she is really cute. Short straight hair and very demurely poised. But the damn thing is her boyfriend never seem to leave her alone, attending the robotics lecture even when he is a chem engin student. What dedicated love. I was left with no chance. But then again, so what if there was a chance??

As I walked around school, aimless and nothing much else to do except to go to my lab to watch more youtube and crunchyroll and all sorts of streaming nonsense, I started to think of many more excuse on why I am single. At the end of the day, I chose 2 which like suits me the best.

1. I am still a very selfish, self-centred guy who would not put my partner's interest on top of mine. So unless I can correct this character flaw of my, better don't cause any trouble.

2. No one wants me.

2. seemed like the better explanation, as some people might want to point out. lol

Then at the end of the year, I followed Kim Boon, together with Weisheng and Shuangru to Sichuan and did some ice climbing. The climb was very relax, but very enriching. I learnt loads of technical skills, which, I think improved my climbing skills a lot. My climbing improved, at least I think. No longer falling like no one's business.

Well, there are still loads of things to write about, but I am just plain lazy, so until next time, and
Happy 2008!

oh before i forget, do check out my flickr page for some of my china photos!