I Harry Potter-ed with BMT mates. Thankfully I won't miss the movie this year, cos there's company to watch with. Imagine how sad when you wanna watch a movie, but realise friends had already watched/had plans to watch with other people but you.
But then again, I would enjoy reading the book more than watching a crammed 2-hour movie, with the exclusion of countless important scenes, or at best, bringing the plot together in a touch-n-go manner. Not surprisingly, I dozed off (ONLY 5 MINUTES!!!) in the movie, cos the seats were sooo comfy! Oh yes, Merlin's Beard!, the movie was screened in the very big Grand Cathay theatre, even though it was a noon timeslot. It made all the $6 worth.
It is unexpectedly the 3rd time the BMT roommates were going out in this month alone. I'm already not surprised at the reactions I get from other friends, on learning that there are actually people having BMT outings, 3.5 years since we parted ways. I'm certainly looking forward to a potential 4th outing at the end of the month, to probably exercise the throats again!
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The iGallop meet-up was fun pool and bowling. And a mini birthday celeb for July babies! Kudos to edwin for organising and buying the cool shirt!! It was a good meet-up before having yet another dreadful semester with them, very very very very soon.
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And 07/04 reunites! It's the fullest attendance, apart from JT's absence. Bbq-ed at CM's Penthouse! She has a private alfresco jacuzzi! How cool is that!
“我(也)要一所大房子,有很多的落地窗户。。。阳光洒在地板上,也温暖了我的被子。”
I always enjoy hearing them with their updates and stories, though I seldom has any to share. And though we're meeting up only twice or thrice a year, it feels just as family as ever. As wild as ever, and sometimes, as 劲爆 as imaginable. They're the reason I enjoyed my JC days!
人生是黑白的.
4:43 PM <3
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This entry on Miri is overdue! This was already the 4th time I flew to East Malaysia, across the South China Sea!
The 7 of us from OCIP2004 embarked on this trip on 5th July 09, and had great fun! I kept looping 孙燕姿's songs during the trip, as part of preparations for the concert. And so, her songs became the theme songs for this trip.
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Day 1: 5th July 2009--Touchdown at Miri/Massage Experience/Surprise Birthday Celebration
12:30pm: Our flight was from Senai Airport, so Royce arranged for our transport from Bedok to Johor. 
6:20pm: The initial part of the flight was turbulent, probably cos of the stormy weather. But it was scary enough! IMAGINE hearing SCREAMS within the plane, when there was FREE-FALLING for about 1.5 seconds. No, I did not type out the name of the carrier.

6:50pm: This Australian eye-candy picked us up from the Miri Airport, and drove us into the city, where our hostel was. A part-timer at the hostel, she drove us out for some day trips.
8:15pm: Our first dinner was ALREADY a feast. At first I was thinking, "What if we overspent! It was just the first meal!". But the concern was unfounded. Even though we ate Cereal Prawns / Steamed Fish / Hor Fun / Venison / Kangkong, and risk having 胃下垂, the sumptuous dinner cost us just S$7. "值得!"

9:50pm: If YS did not keep yearning for a full-body massage, we probably would not have come into this 黑店。Jeab/Royce/YS went for the full-body massage, while the rest of us opted for the foot alternative.
Speak about the foot massage first. Personally I wasn't pleased, cos the '1 hour' treatment lasted just 30 mins for me. And I didnt really feel much from it. The RM35 cost was totally 不值得!
The full-body massage was worse. YS had a harrowing experience, which was too much for the 'PG' rating of this blog. Haha!! As for Jeab and Royce, both were talked into extending another hour, and paid a total of RM96.
1:10am: Back at the hostel, they threw a surprise belated celebration! The 太阳饼s were a genuine surprise, but the party hats weren't exactly, cos I sensed their secrecy at the shop where they bought those at, after our dinner. In fact, I totally wasn't suspecting anything, until they hurriedly hid the plastic bag (of party stuff), and gave an excuse that one of them bought back for mum. Ha, if they had 'behaved' normally throughout, I wouldn't have bred any suspicions.
Check out the messages written on the box of 太阳饼s!
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Day 2: 6th July 2009--Lambir Hills National Park/Taman Selera

9:30am: Our first breakfast was so-so wanton mee.

1030am: We were horrified to find out that the bus we're supposed to take, has a frequency of 1hr 30min! But come to think of it, majority of the people drive, don't they? Anyway, we gave up trying to wait, and opted for the Hostel's Transport.

12:25pm: We were finally outside Lambir Hills National Park!

We trekked a bit, passed by this suspension bridge, and 2 small photo-unworthy waterfalls, and finally................................
We reached the highlight of the park: Latak Waterfall.

Admittedly, the waterfall was a little, disappointing? I guess what makes a waterfall shine, is probably the volume of water flow. This, for one, hits low on that. After seeing this waterfall, we continued on another route, as we wanted to see another waterfall. But we couldn't find it. =/. And it began to drizzle, so we hurried back to the park HQ, and ended the trekking. =(
I guess the trekking part didnt resonate well with some, but I did enjoy the trekking! I guess I'm really the nature+environment person. I love the great outdoors =).

And we caught this very comfy coach back to Miri City. Guess what! It cost just RM 5 per head! But the Cantonese movie they played on the bus was a little too loud.=(

Since it was still early, we carried on with the plans to visit Taman Selera, a beach near the city. The sand's very different from Singapore's. And the entire beach was full of mini holes--CRAB holes! Look at those little sand balls--they were thrown out by those small cute little crabs when digging!!
I really loved the openness of the beach--the way it was so bright and unobstructed. And the strong winds and strong waves crashing on the sand. I must say we derived more fun here than at the national park earlier in the day.
These 2 brought "BaaBaa" to a higher level too--played on a see-saw?!Back at the city, we had an even more sumptuous seafood dinner! Mayonaise chicken+Vege+Fried Rice+Sweet&Sour Fish+12 crabs! YES TWELVE CRABS in 3 flavours. And i suppose each of us spent less than S$10. Uber shiok.

And we chilled the night away at the bar below our hostel. Also abit of a 黑店 it was! They didn't inform that Ladies' Night ended at 10pm, and the ladies' drinks were chargeable in the end. The night ended in a poignant atmosphere. The news was very sudden and it took everyone by surprise. I'm sure everyone was affected by it in some way or another. I just hope it won't come as a haunting memory everytime he goes overseas. Sigh.
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Day 3: 7th July 2009--Niah National Park
After a very late night morning sleep, and an early wake up to send Jeab to the airport, most of them slept on the 1.5-hour journey to Niah National Park. But the view outside the speeding vehicle was just too awesome for me to sleep it away. And so, I plucked in my ipod, looped Stefanie's songs, and just plainly gazed out of the window. The very blue sky + very green greens + the almost empty highway, kept me wide awake. And songs like 逃亡 resonated well.



At Niah National Park, you have to take this super-lame RM 1 boat ride across the river, which has banks that you can already see in the photo. THEY COULD HAVE built a bridge across lor.

The main highlight at Niah National Park, was this Great Cave. This was taken from inside the cave. You really have to be there to understand the sheer size of the Great cave.
This empty house stood inside the cave.
And we took silhouette shots against the light outside.
We ate at an restaurant for our 3rd dinner! It was quite affordable too.
And we hopped to Secret Recipe immediately after dinner! Cakes were at RM6.50 only!! It was too much of a steal! SO we risked 胃下垂 again!And we drank the night away back in the hostel room! 10 cans! =)
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Day 4: 8th July 2009--Movie/Back to SG.
Our last breakfast was Sarawak KOLO mee @RM2.50 only! It was damn nice too.And we watched ICE AGE 3 at just RM 6! It was interesting how the movie prices dropped after each day. Heng we didnt watch on the first night! BUT with that kinda price, you get THAT kinda returns--mosquitoes. But apart from that, and probably the lack of surround sound, the rest was ok. =)
And Secret Recipe again! Cos we knew we wouldnt get that kinda price ever again in Singapore.
And then, it was really time to say goodbye. Goodbye, Miri, I'd probably see you again, if I decide to come back for Gunung Mulu National Park. ANyway, if you're a random visitor who found this place because you googled Miri, DO CATER A LONGER TRIP TO GO GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK.
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And I must say I enjoyed the trip with the fellow OCIPians. We had much to laugh about, and of cos, mourned about in the trip. They're a good company and hopefully this trip wouldnt be the last.
人生是黑白的.
6:26 PM <3
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好棒的一场“答案是。。。孙燕姿2009年世界巡回演唱会”!
我们见证的,是一个天后巨星的舞台魅力、一个国宝级歌手在自家里的完美演出。
我听到的,是首首感人肺腑、又引起广大歌迷共鸣的超级强歌。
我确确实实,对 燕姿的现场演唱实力 完完整整地 改观了。相信现场的10000人也有同感。
以后她的演唱会,我去定了。
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演唱会的舞台,机关重重,结合了高科技与灯光,以及让观众前所未见的“全像术”(Hologram),让大家惊喜连连。对于整场演唱会,如果只以“非常精彩”来形容,根本无法让没到场的朋友体会到它的震撼。
演唱会中,贯穿了一个主题:就是带领大家一同寻找生命中的各个答案。
对于曲目的编排,我有着这么样的解读:从开始的梦幻,到寻找爱情的答案,之后体会生活的快活,最后是以积极的态度面对失败、挫折,勇敢地奔向前方,做回自己。
不知道其他人是否也从中领悟到了什么?
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关于照片,我也不想再废神把它们放在这儿,若想看看,能上Facebook。网址在 这里!!
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以下是演唱会歌单与观后感想:(按照顺序)
第一阶段,燕姿演唱了《梦游》、 《神奇》。 我想,她想传达的意境,就是一个梦幻、虚幻般的开始。之后的《梦不落》,渐渐地将歌迷带入演唱会的热闹气氛。只见荧光棒随着音乐的律动摇晃着,大家也渐渐的进入佳境。
在大家暖身后,燕姿却以一首《我的爱》结束第一阶段。这首歌,是演唱会的第一支抒情歌曲。在安静的伴奏中,大家听出了感动。其实我觉得,她在演唱这首歌时感情丰富。在那瞬间,我被她深深地吸引住了,只因为,我从没听过那么棒的诠释。真的。
第二阶段,以《作战》开始。我对这首并不熟,所以也没很High。之后的《懒得去管》 及 《咕叽咕叽》再次让观众热了一下。可能也因为我能几乎在不用看歌词的情况下跟着唱,所以是蛮享受的。
我非常期待的《同类》在此刻响起了!背景是个灰暗的城市图形,看上去,真的有一种灰沉的寂寞感,非常搭配这首歌的意境。看来,广大的歌迷群也和我一样,被这首歌吸引了。大家也跟着燕姿一同大合唱,那种感觉如同梁静茹演唱会的实况。
燕姿之后也选唱了一首Billy Joel的英文歌《And so it goes》,献给“听不懂华语的人”,相信是指男朋友。这首英文歌的感动度很高。 《逃亡》这首歌也充分地表现出她高亢的声音,完美地结束了第二阶段。
第三阶段,主题应该是生活中的快活吧,关于乐活的歌曲一一出现。《累赘》这首,我也只是在为演唱会做准备时才第一次听过。《完美的一天》这首,它讲述了我对生活的渴望--要快乐是可以很简单的。《说不出的快活》是个小惊喜,如果你不知道是什么歌,它就是那首复古的JaJamBo。演唱会的最高潮,非《第一天》莫属。只见几乎全场都站了起来,边跳跃着,边高喊歌词,简直是High翻了。
演唱会的第一位特别来宾是当年发掘了燕姿的 陈彼得。他与燕姿合唱了他为她创作的《眼神》。
演唱会的第二位特别来宾是年轻爵士Jazz歌手 Nathan Hartono。他呈献了《Moondance》后,赏脸翻唱了燕姿的《爱情证书》,只不过带点洋腔洋调的诠释,不太符合我的胃口。
第四阶段,要表达的意境,应该就是遇到挫折的时候。燕姿从高空中,乘着一个巨型的水母,飘过舞台,在半空中自弹自唱了《爱从零开始》、《我不爱》及 《我怀念的》。这几首可谓“国歌”,是大家都会跟着哼唱的强歌。燕姿也让还未推出的新歌《愚人的国度》曝光。我个人被这首新歌的旋律吸引了。歌词也不错,原来燕姿自己也有份填上哦!非常期待这首歌尽快首播,也希望新碟能赶快问世。
超级“国歌”《遇见》被唱出时,观众的大合唱声四处响起,可见这首歌有多么成功!
这时,燕姿从舞台一方离开,可不一会儿,大家看到的,是换好另一套服装的她,从舞台中央缓缓升起,演唱着《风筝》。随着这首歌,我们进入了第五阶段,应该就是表达着一个积极的态度,面对所有困境。奇妙的是,在唱最后一段副歌前,她从舞台完完全全地消失了!1秒钟后,她又在舞台另一方出现!原来,演唱会运用了Hologram技术,将她立体的身影呈现在舞台中央,不过真实的她,却在另一个地点。
这阶段的歌都比较疗伤,甚至是鼓励大家要勇敢向前走。“国歌”《我不难过》再次听到全场的团结,之后的《超快感》及《奔》,我们5个人也站了起来。这两首歌的编曲有了些许的变化。前者的开头先是以比原曲慢的速度演唱,到了副歌,却是比原曲快。
唱着《Stefanie》时,燕姿站上了旋转台,以励志的歌声,将演唱会带到接近尾声的阶段。
以《天黑黑》作为结束,大家也一起合唱了这首让大家认识燕姿的歌曲。
Encore #1 部分,唱了《绿光》及 《逆光》。之后又是说再见的时候。
在一些观众开始离席的当儿,仍有“Encore” 声不断。不一会儿,燕姿再次出现!
Encore #2 部分,唱了我非常期待的《The moment》!好庆幸她唱了这首歌作为结尾,要不然我真的不满足!总觉得这首歌非常有意义,所以当初就很爱。这首歌道出的,是道别的意思。有种说不出的隐藏型忧伤。作为闭幕歌,没有其他歌比它更合适。
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听燕姿现场演唱,好像是第一次。不过,这绝对不是最后一次。
好满足啊。
人生是黑白的.
10:37 PM <3
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