Tuesday, January 03, 2006

2006 Kelabu

I am back, dead tired and now officially sick. To add to the misery, was told a shocking news this morning and it totally adds weight to my dislike being here, Singapore in general. However, I must admit, being back home this time around did show me some of the things that I really don't like about home, the things that really make me wanna go away. Still, I don't wanna be here either. I am seriously lost and totally not at peace and alarmingly unhappy. Dewi has admitted of being worried about me. Infinite depression. Detailed account of the holidays will come soon with the pictures, hopefully I will have time to do it before next week. Thank God for the public holiday next week. Thank God! It's only a few more weeks before I go home again and yet, yesterday I felt like crying in the airport. Oh the melancholy. I don't know if I am gonna survive 2006. Was reminded time and time again that my Chinese sign will go bad in this year. Signs have been appearing. On a happier news, a friend got a baby boy. Too bad the dad is an ass for not giving some time for me. Oh well...Later peeps.

:) eKa @ 4:50:00 PM • 0 comments

Friday, December 16, 2005

Goodbye (My Lover?)

Considering the day I will be facing tomorrow, it is quite late right now and I should get to sleep. But (Honestly I don't think it is grammatically correct to start a sentence with a 'but', is it?)...anyway, but I couldn't possibly go without saying goodbye and leave a few last message.

Tomorrow is home. Truly excited. Well, always excited about leaving Singapore but the so many things in here add to my eagerness to leave. It has been one tough week this week. For each of the day of this week, someone did something moronic to make me upset. I thought I was gonna be okay today and yet a moron felt the need to piss me off such early in the morning. I think I will be the moron tomorrow. Me, gonna hinder myself. So many things to do and yet not much time. I hope I can be cool because if I lose it, I'm gonna do a lot of things wrongly. Hence the need to finish this post soon and sleep. Bear with me, I will not be writing for some time. Well, not going to be online at all, I suppose. No checking of mails, whatsoever. Part of going home is to be really get disconnected with Singapore completely. To be isolated and alone in my immortal comfort zone (remember I am anti social)

A holiday is planned for the last week of 2005, all thanks to my mother. Am so excited about it and I can't wait. As usual, I can already imagine my sadness and me being depressed and all when I have to get back to Singapore again, when I have to take that taxi ride and passed through the beautiful Singapore river at night *sigH*

Okay, I am digressing now. The most important last message that I want to tell you all is...well it is the only one that I can think right now. Please pray for Arsenal victory against Chelsea this coming Sunday. Please...please...please. I will be praying and hopefully watching. The (I want to say moronic) sad Arsenal is number 6 in the league right now, if I am not mistaken. They need to win, seriously. I am getting worried that they may not qualified for the next Champion League (seriously doubt that they will emerge as champion in the current one, though I will still be supporting them). Anyway people...We need your support and prayer, please pray for Arsenal, thank you! Okay, now that I have written my final words, I can leave you all in peace. Have a great life people. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year . Watch Pride and Prejudice people, it's nice! Lastly, what Christmas should be all about...

Jesus, Jesus
Oh what a wonderful child
Jesus, Jesus
So lowly, meek, and mild
New life, new hope, new joy He brings
Won't you listen to the angels sing
Glory, Glory, Glory
To the new born King

:) eKa @ 11:01:00 PM • 0 comments

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Pride and Prejudice

Went to watch Pride and Prejudice with Vivy last Saturday. Initially she wasn't interested. I don't really know what changed her mind but it's a good thing that she was interested because she helped me finalize the movie plan and made me really watch it before I run out of time

Pride and Prejudice is so good. We were so satisfied. Well-played I think. Everyone delivered their characters finely. Keira Knightley received a lot of praises for her character, Elizabeth Bennet. I guess people are just surprised such a fine beauty can carry a character like Lizzie Bennet so well. I think she did look less beautiful in this movie, I guess they really tried to make her so. One thing for sure, she is so skinny for the eye. Notice that in Bend it Like Beckham and she is still very skinny. She really needs to eat more. The story in the movie really followed the book exactly and it is really good. For those who don't read, you can really watch this movie to increase your knowledge on classic British literature. The people in the cinema seemed to be really enjoying and following the story despite the thick British conversation (it wasn't really hard to follow). It was funny at times, thanks to Mrs Bennet and I think Mr Collins also carried himself quite nicely. I feel I need to point out Judi Dench who played Lady Catherine. She was so intimidating as Lady Catherine, that I feel I wouldn't want to be in her presence. She is really a good actress. We hate her as Lady Catherine

Now for my Mr. Darcy. I love Mr. Darcy. The actor who played him wasn't amazingly handsome but I just love him, I don't know why. Honestly, the character Mr. Darcy is not really the kindest male character ever written in any story. He is at times pretty rude, unnecessarily rude. Yes, he did go all the way to make everything better for Lizzie but he also had such a pride. When he first professed his love to Lizzie, he didn't forget to say that he loved her despite of the inferiority of her family and every other bad things. Goodness!!! He is deserving of a hit in the head. What is it then that makes us fall for Mr. Darcy? Maybe it was the fact that a guy like him, with such a pride as him was willing to get rejected and yet stayed true to his feeling and be honest about it. He got rejected at first and yet he was still trying to make everything better for her, because he loved her. Isn't it sweet? Admirable guy! Or maybe we love him because he is just so cool. I feel he is actually kinda being over-shadowed by the rest of the characters. Maybe because as Vivy said, he was always looking so gloomy, maybe also because he had to keep his aloof composure. Whatever it is, I love Mr. Darcy

I read from someone's blog that actually Singapore get the US version instead of the UK version. This person totally hate the ending that we were adviced to leave the cinema before the movie ends. He was kinda true. The ending was so Hollywood and unnecessarily silly. I don't understand why they felt the need to customize it for Hollywood. The ending was actually kinda sweet, but when you multiplied it five or seven fold, it was seriously unnecessarily cheesy. Still, I really like the movie. It was good, and I think it's the best romantic movie ever came out after Love Actually. For guys, relax, it is not as lovey-dovey as Love Actually. Go watch it people.

On weekend news:

Tell Laura I Love Her. Last Saturday was the last meeting with Signora Laura. I really like her. I hope I will be so lucky to have her with us again

Arsenal, again lost. Bloody Hell

:) eKa @ 7:30:00 PM • 0 comments

Friday, December 09, 2005

Is Saying Bloody Hell Rude?

I've been using the phrase Bloody Hell a lot after hearing Ron Weasley did that. I think the phrase Wicked! is also cool, but apparently things these days sucks, so I can not really use that. Surely Bloody Hell is not really rude? I don't say the F word. Not yet, at least.

Morons...oh Morons!!! I have been deadly furious and angry for these 2 days because of morons (blood pressure is soaring). Not just with one moron. I don't think I will be okay. Oh well, new people on my I-don't-speak-to-you list. I wonder how it is allowed in this world for morons to give such pain to people who have to fix their moronic acts. I guess, everything happens in this world. Every thing that you may not have imagined. Why are morons clueless? And stupid? What am I talking about, they are morons. How come they can not see that they caused such trouble to people around them?

Oh well, stop being mean I suppose. Actually the reason for writing is to tell you the most interesting thing I saw today. There was these 3 people, I supposed the husband, wife, and son. The husband is an old man, a westerner, the rests look Asians. Okay, the relation between them is my own assumption, I don't know if it is correct. I think today is the old man's birthday. So they decided to celebrate it. Guess where they celebrated it? On the steps of S17 or now it is called SOC1 in NUS. So there were these few small steps in S17 before going to the main door. The old man just sat there and there was this cake, which looked pretty big and tantalizing. They took pictures of him and the cake. Me being, across the road, didn't hear if there were any birthday songs. Then they cut the cake. Big cake, and only 3 of them. So as they were enjoying the cakes at the steps there, they shared it out with some of the (I think) Indian workers there. "How interesting!", I thought. I would never have the nerve to celebrate my birthday in the steps of S17 but the uniqueness of it all was kinda warm-hearted for the furious me. I think one should really has his/her birthday uniquely. I remember my birthday jelly. Loved it so much and the people who came, especially that guy who made the effort to walk all the way to my room. Gosh, those were happy times.

:) eKa @ 5:36:00 PM • 0 comments

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire : 2^nd Viewing

Went to watch Potter again on Thursday night with Vivy. Okay, I think the movie is quite nice. I must say that Ralph Fiennes was better than what I said about him in the previous post. He was good but I think he can be scarier. Maybe it helps it his followers were scared of him, especially Wormtail. I still don't know if the story is clear enough for non-readers. Vivy was asking me questions after the movie. I suppose it can be quite confusing and not too clear. Overall, it is not so bad. The re-birth of Lord Voldermort is so cool that despite of it being slightly horrifying and all, it was my favorite part of the movie. The effect was so cool Oh yeah, forget to add this in the previous post. Was it foam that was flying all over the place during Priori Incantatem? How silly is that?

On other news. Arsenal lost. AAAarrrrrgghhhhh Bloody Hell!!! Such a disgrace

On other contemplation. Friday, I saw him again. I thought I wouldn't see him, considering where we were sitting, but he made his way and passed our table, imagine that! The person who I wanted to show him to, thinks he was nice Anyways, the point is, how amazing it is for me to see him like that. Coincidence? Was thinking about this yesterday and had a dream this early morning which left me thinking. It couldn't be a real coincidence. Yes, it does seem that we always cross path, but only within a certain compound. It's not like whenever I turn in Singapore I see him. Only within that certain environment, which actually in itself gives high probability, isn't it? I mean I know he will most probably be around this place during this time and so I just go there and see if I can see him, which I did. I mean, it's not a coincidence when it is like that right? I make that relation towards him because I want to see him only, while there are perhaps so many other people that I also see and yet I don't take notice of them. I can not really argue this reasoning. It's a fail maths if I want to make it seems like we are always linked together because I don't add in other variables. There I say it and it kinda make me feel sad.

After I saw him, I told the Mr. Told him something, which apparently was shocking that he straight away bounced it back to me. Yes, it was shocking. I tried hard to refrain myself from saying it a lot of time and in the end I did put it blue and white (in msn). I wish I could retract it because it was silly. The Mr however said something which in a way comforting to me. He said something like imagine how he feels that after all this time you still hold this feeling for him. I said, he most probably gonna freak out. It is kinda sweet, isn't it? Ah...It's just me trying to justify myself. I seriously feel I need to be free from this feeling. It's been too long, way too long.

:) eKa @ 6:53:00 PM • 0 comments

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Here you go, my review of the movie which I finally watched today, but before I launched myself to all the comments, I will tell you a few things first. I managed to finish reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire yesterday, took me 1 week plus. The cinema was totally full, just when I thought the rest of the world might have watched it by now. I almost didn't get a place. I feel like watching it again. I feel like a purist, can I say that? I mean, I hate it so much that so many things are different from the book. Honestly speaking I feel rather disappointed with the movie. The picture itself is literally dark. I know that it should be gloomy and all, but must it be so dark? Can't fear and evil exist in such a bright place? Well, I suppose when you are told to draw something depressing you will also choose dark colour.

I don't feel the movie is telling the story of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It's more like an adaptation of the story. So many different things, things which I feel are so crucial because it tells how brilliant the Potter world is. Really can not rely on the movie to know the whole story. I feel that for Potter lovers (readers) the movie didn't really satisfy our imagination. For non-Potter readers, I don't know if you can understand and appreciate the movie and find it enjoyable and amusing. I tried to watch the movie as a movie itself but I failed badly because my head kept on finding differences from the book. So many things were expected and yet it wasn't delivered nicely. Quidditch World Cup was such a let-down. I'm sure I am not the only one who actually want to see them play some quidditch. I wanted to see more dragon and yet there was only 1 and I feel it was rather small. The second challenge in the water, well, not that impressive for me. The last challenge, the maze, oH my God!!! Was it even a challenge? No nothing, no creatures, no female sphinx, the only thing there were plants and Krum under a spell. It was such a let down. Priori Incantatem could be better. If only they just followed the book and really lifted Harry and Voldermort of the ground. The ending...What was that? What was the climax? Am I dumb? They interrogated Barty Jr and the movie slowly ending with...I don't even know if people are happy with how things end. If you think that was the end of my review, then you are wrong I will now review them based on characters to make it a bit different than what I did for Azkaban. Please stop reading if you don't like Potter.

Harry Potter. Cheryl wrote in her blog that she thought Daniel Radcliffe still couldn't cry properly But I actually shed some tears when he managed to get back with Cedric, despite of him not being able to cry properly I always feel that Harry wasn't the best character in Harry Potter movie and I still think so. I enjoy watching the others more.

Ron Weasley. I will always love Ron, but this time around, Fred and George stole the limelight in the funny department. Still, I like Ron the best. Ron and Hermione, I wish the tension was more visible.

Hermione Granger. Move over Keira Knightley, here come Emma Watson. I am sure I echo the hundred thousand of people out there who say Hermione is so pretty, she IS. However, I don't really like the way Emma played Hermione this time around. I feel she was over the top in everything, over anxious, over worry, over-scared, over angry (the fight with Ron). She's very emotional in this movie. I just think Hermione has a cooler head. Also, what's with her and Harry. For people who don't read, they may think that Harry will end up with Hermione.

Albus Dumbledore. Aaaargh...This is the person who people think can beat Voldermort, the wizard Voldermort ever feared. This is the person who Harry feels safe with and yet, Dumbledore showed fear and distress. He wasn't cool. He was also emotional. I think he faces the same case as Voldermort. Saying too much things and in a manner that didn't really show charisma.

The Dark Lord, Voldermort. There were fine moments by Ralph Fiennes but there was just so many wrong things for me. The movie start with Harry's dream of him and he sounded anxious and worry. Again, this is the dark lord, who suppose to be so scary that people don't even dare to pronounce his name and yet he wasn't that scary. He didn't command or give such charisma that made us fear him. Wormtail and the death eaters didn't show much fear. A case of you should talk less, so that your every words mean a lot. He is scary but not scary enough, not commanding enough. He didn't show reason why people should fear him

Cedric Diggory. He was so handsome, truly as the book said he would be. I thought I was gonna cry when he died but I didn't. Why? I suppose because not much connection or story being told about him. We didn't know much about him, did we? Aside from the fact that he was such a pretty boy, there just wasn't anything. Not when he died, not when he asked his body to be brought back. Still, I really like this pretty boy

Wormtail. Fear...Fear!!! I want to see the timid and coward Wormtail and he wasn't really so

Professor Snape. Small role this time around, but I have to mention him because I love him. After reading Goblet of Fire again, I really really really feel Snape is not evil, despite of the so many people who said he is. Dumbledore trusted him so much and I don't think he could be that wrong.

Neville Longbottom. He is actually taller than Harry but so skinny. I wish he could be fatter, he was the right way in the first movie. I wonder if his teeth are really like that. But man, this is a person who really made the best out of his character. So much sympathy for him. I think people will really fall for him in The Order of the Phoenix.

Draco Malfoy. Tall and skinny and being potrayed as a bit stupid Him being skinny make me feel that he is in the right state to do The Half Blood Prince. Can't wait to see more of Malfoy.

Mad-Eye Moody. He is okay, I think, but I just felt he supposed to be more fierce. He's an auror whose principle is "Constant Vigilance". I don't think he should be that comical.

Viktor Krum. Aaah...I actually feel that at some moment, he was pretty handsome He's cool. Didn't feel that Hermione should be falling for him that much. But if they kissed, I suppose there was some chemistry between them. The students from Durmstrang were pretty cool, though. Despite of the cheesy entrance, but the Beauxbatons was cheesier

Fleur Delacour. When I first saw her in the trailers, I didn't feel that she was pretty enough. She is pretty but for someone with a veela blood, it's not really that captivating. Don't see her being so bitchy too, so I don't know what kinda of Fleur we will have in Half Blood Prince.

Cho Chang. The highly anticipated Cho Chang, I wonder if we were that happy in the end with her. She is quite pretty, I suppose.

Barty Crouch Sr and Jr. Tell me, for people who didn't read. Does it really make sense why Barty Crouch Sr died? I wonder whether there is any importance to make him died. Barty Crouch jr was being shown as evil from the beginning. They should have stayed with the original story, but I suppose not enough time.

Sirius Black. I wonder if Gary Oldman was still being paid to do Sirius when we don't really see him! One may forget that he was also actually being told in the movie.

Ludo Bagman. Disappointment. He looks so old. I thought he still have to look well-built? At least he should be younger?

Igor Karkaroff. I don't know why, I kinda sympathized him, maybe because I know what's gonna happen to him.

Hagrid and Madame Maxime. Well okay, can not say much about them. Tell me, is it obvious from the movie that Hagrid is half-giant?

Rita Skeeter. We don't hate her that much, not that we were given any reason for it

Fred and George Weasley. George and Fred Weasley. Love them. Funny guys. All grown up and I think much better with long hair.

Ginny Weasley. I honestly don't see this girl as being Harry's girlfriend later on.

It has been a very long post and I am tired. I can still complain more but I suppose I will just let the rest go. I just wished more. Dobby, Winky, SPEW, Fred and George, I just wish more could be told. Not really loving the movie that much, but I do want to watch it again.

PS (Added: Wednesday, 23/11/05): After much complain, I think I better say something nice Really thought that re-birth of Voldermort was SO cool Also when all the death eaters apparated to him

:) eKa @ 9:18:00 PM • 0 comments

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Let The Coincidence Begin

As I write this, I am thinking, what the hell am I doing? What am I doing?

He saw me (I think...I'm pretty sure). He finally saw me though I don't know if it dawned on him that it's me, it's me! Anyway, this is how it goes. This is me and (if I can say) him. I see him. I just see him and today more so than the last few encounters.

God, what am I doing?

:) eKa @ 4:45:00 PM • 0 comments

Sunday, November 13, 2005

tWistEd OliVeR

Went to watch Oliver Twist last Saturday. It was kinda a sudden decision. I was actually almost late for it, but I thought I just go and watched it. Bad me, I supposed to watch Io Non Ho Paura and yet I skidded my way out of it to watch Oliver.

The choice of Oliver Twist was because it was one of Charles Dickens' famous work, it was directed by Roman Polanski (still haven't watched The Pianist, I think Felis was the one suggested it) and also because Ben Kingsley was in it. No introduction on Dickens, I guess people have heard of him. Polanski is a controversial director. His crime kinda make me lose interest in him but still he was supposed to be good, so I thought I give this movie a try. Know Sir Ben Kingsley from Gandhi and I also know that he garnered an Oscar nomination in House of Sand and Fog though I haven't watched it either.

I have never read Oliver Twist before but I'm sure that I had watched movies based on it on TV when I was younger. I remembered that they liked to steal handkerchief. Being the young me, I didn't understand why. Now, I think it was just an English thing. I also remembered that when they boys were trained, they were trained using a dummy with lots of bell in it. The boys must be able to take the things out the dummy without ringing any bell. I also remembered Oliver being revealed rich in the end of the story. My memory may fail me.

Anyway, I felt the movie was kinda long, well that maybe me trying to say that it was kinda boring. It was not that captivating. Ben Kingsley looked so different as Fagin. But I think it was more because of the make-up rather than the way he acted. Didn't find him that amusing either, though he was pretty interesting playing Fagin, just not too amusing. Oliver was weak, didn't really made much impact, didn't manage to arouse enough compassion in me. The story is a bit different. I didn't remember Fagin being so nice and after some googling, I was right, Oliver did find his relative in the story. All of these details was not mentioned in the movie. See, I suppose you can't really rely on movies if you are too lazy to read the books. Overall, the movie was dark. Polanski himself may have too much dark side in him. Really felt it's not really for children consumption and if it was intended for adult, then I think it's pretty boring. I wasn't that entertained, that's all.

Unexpectedly saw a few people on Saturday. Saw Vero, stupid me, I needed to think hard to remember her name (which I did in the end). Then Orlando. All these people actually saw me and called me first, instead of me seeing them. I guess, I just wanted to be invisible and carry on with my things. Saw another person in the bus, but this one is not worth mentioning. I was just glad that I wasn't seen.

Well, that's all peeps. Just felt that I should post about Oliver Twist, a really twisted Oliver.

:) eKa @ 8:03:00 PM • 0 comments

Friday, November 11, 2005

Not Seeing, Not Feeling

This morning, I thought I was gonna be blogging about depressing stuffs. What a morning it had been. Saw something and I was just sad (envious + jealous, to be more precise). Simply put, in a state of crisis. I knew that was what I would feel when I saw it and yet I was still searching for it so that I could see it. So I turned to Ayu, being the only person around. She tried advice/scolding and I couldn't say I felt better but I fully understood her words and so I stopped being miserable so that I wouldn't waste her time. On and on, I could go telling you all the details of this stupid feeling that I have (I'm still feeling it, by the way). But...

...there was lunch. Not hoping. Seriously and honestly, I was not hoping for anything but...there he was. It was just one of those things that happen to me with him (if such could be said), my eyes would just suddenly look somewhere and there he would be (This must sound so romantic, isn't it? Let's just agree that it sounds silly). So I let this girl next to me know his existence but we weren't near so she couldn't see much. However she said the nicest thing when I told her the story. She said something like it's so fated the so-many times I saw him. I hope people will think so also, especially him. I'm not stalking! No, I am not. It's just, I see you, that's all. God, let him see me.

:) eKa @ 5:18:00 PM • 0 comments

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Coelho-ism

I repeat:

You can recognize a warrior of light by the look in his eye. Warriors of light are in the world, they form part of the world, and they were sent into the world without saddlebags or sandals. They are often cowardly. They do not always act correctly.

Warriors of light are wounded by the most foolish things, they worry about trivialities, they believe themselves incapable of growing. Warriors of light sometimes believe themselves unworthy of any blessing or miracle.

Warriors of light often ask themselves what they are doing here. Often they find their lives meaningless

That is why they are the warriors of light. Because they fail. Because they ask questions. Because they keep looking for a meaning. And, in the end, they will find it.

Hello peeps. The excerpt up there is from Paulo Coelho's book Manual of the Warrior of Light. Nice book. I feel connected to the book. I guess that's why I bought it in the first place. So far, I have given one excerpt from the book to Ayu during her birthday this year. I can imagine doing more of this in the future.

Anyway, I bought the book in May and I finally finished reading it this week. Yes, I know it's far too long. Can I use Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince as a reason for the delay? Yes, I know it is not a strong excuse The reason why I finally finished the book, is because just recently I am in the possession of another of Coelho's Book, The Devil and Miss Prym. So in respect to the person who unexpectedly gave me the book, I suppose I should start reading it (right about now). However as I mentioned before, I want to finish The Goblet of Fire before I watch the movie. So right now, I am a bit in a state of confusion on which one I should start first. The Goblet of Fire seems like a more pressing matter but I feel bad if I don't start on The Devil and Miss Prym *sigH* This is awfully silly right? Saw one of Harry Potter's poster for the latest movie and there was Mad Eye Moody in the poster. Truly not as I pictured it to be. I wonder if I read things correctly. How come it is so different than the image that I have in my head. I just hope the movie doesn't turn out to be a let-down. Still haven't figured out the when and where to watch this movie.

On Champions League: Arsenal won, people!!! wooHoo For all the Bayern and MU supporters, I'm sorry I can't say that I am that sorry for Bayern though, I like Juventus better Sorry.

So today is Lebaran. Happy Lebaran to all who celebrate it. Miss home and miss the food (basically just my mom's ketupat, I miss my mom). The holiday this week has been spent in a very boring manner. Well, at least I did clean my room though the dust have come back to haunt me (sneezing so badly now, am I going to get sick again? I can't). Spent some time in Borders today. Not much reading, except for 1 particular picture book which is too weird that I rather not mention it here. Quite abstract but I can imagine it to be quite an interesting Hollywood movie. Did a bit of shopping spree (tiny bit). Christmas is in the air, should start thinking on what to get people. Not much things can be said. My life is boring. What a waste...What a waste it is to just wait for time to pass. I am frustrated.

:) eKa @ 7:54:00 PM • 0 comments