Category: Events

Durham Lumiere Festival 2013

Durham Lumiere Festival 2013 – I find that I am quite lucky to visit the Durham Lumiere Festival last week because this beautiful light festival happens only once every two years. I am here in the UK for only a year, so I shall not skip this festival in Durham which is just so nearby to Newcastle.

On the second week of arrival in Newcastle, I went to visit Durham and the Angel of the North, it was during the day time; visiting Durham after sun goes does gives a different feeling. The small little town with beautiful old cathedrals glows at night at this Durham Lumiere Festival. Instead of getting on the bus, we took the train to Durham and it takes about 15 minutes only! Train ticket was just £6.70 return (£4.45 with Rail Card), so that’s cheaper than the bus!

Arriving at Durham at a different place (the train station) actually tried to test my way-finding skill, but luckily we met a friend who lives in Durham at the railway station who then brought us into town. A huge swamp of people was heading toward the town too, where the main venue for the light festival was. The light installations spread across various part of the town, first thing first we went to the information counter to get ourselves a guide-map.

Best green curry I had in the UK

We couldn’t really start the exploration then because we were hungry and we went to an Asian restaurant for dinner – Fat Buddha. Well, I guess that’s the best Asian food I’ve ever had since I came to the UK. Awesome green curry and awesome salad wasabi prawn. Energy recharged and we started following the guide map to the light installation.

Music visualizer on a building!

Water + Bleach = Light. Interesting.

Desserted circus.

The aquarium in a phone booth.

The feeling of wandering the Durham town at night was pretty interesting. Light installation was somehow not as surprising as I thought, they were somehow smaller in scale, or simpler than I thought. However the image projection on Durham Cathedral was just uber cool, as well as the huge elephant projected at the castle gate. I like the light installation of plastic bag lanterns along the alley which is so colourful. The British-signature red telephone booth which turned into fish tank was interesting too!

We didn’t really get to check out all the light installation as the time passes quite quickly, moreover we were like chit chatting and walking slowly. Haha. Nevertheless, it was a great night, not a large scale light festival, but I just enjoyed the evening with crowds and Durham. Lastly, we spent an hour at the rail at 3 degree celcius waiting for the next train! Oh my.

November 24, 2013
BUPA Great North Run Is A Fun Marathon!

BUPA Great North Run Is A Fun Marathon! – Happened on the first weekend I arrived in Newcastle, I’ve got a chance to witness the Great North Run just right at the middle of Northumbria University campus. I actually knew about this quite some times already and initially thought of taking part too! But later then I thought of saving up the money and no one wanted to come with me, so ended being a spectator instead of the fun runners

It was a chilly and wet Sunday morning and there’s a huge swamp of colourful runners running along the freeway at about 12 degree celcius temperature. The atmosphere was so happenings and you can hear cheers and laughters floating the air. The dull and cloudy Sunday morning became cheerful again. I was at the 1 miles point where the runner passed by the bridge at Northumbria University.

The running trail was very long as tenth of thousands of runner passing by. I didn’t get a glimpse of the frontline, nor the end of the line because it’s just too long. Imaging 40k people passing through.

The fun thing was the whole freeway was flooded with colourful and funny attire! Runners were having fun; Mickey Mouse, man in suit, Minions, Superman, Spiderman, cow, monkey suits were all around, making it a happy run!

I was thinking, if there’s a group of people initiated this fun thing in the Penang Bridge International Marathon, I am pretty sure it’s gonna be happy and fun one and later turned into a human parade. LOL.

I didn’t get to the finish line which is about 13 miles (20.9km) away at South Shields, but it was a good one being at one part of the marathon route, cheering for the runners!

October 11, 2013
MOVIDA Birthday Bash

MOVIDA Birthday Bash – Free food, free (good) music and free flow were what to describe my Friday’s night. ‘There’s no free lunch in the world?’ Yeah, but there’s free dinner, at MOVIDA, Sunway Giza. A bunch of happy friends of interior designers, a couple pints of free beer, a little good food, and a night of club hits, brought the weekend to life.

Not really a club person, but I like club hits, and of course, free or cheap drinks (Carlsberg at RM10/pint that night)! Happy weekend!

April 27, 2013
4th MY Astro Music Awards (MY Astro至尊流行榜颁奖典礼) @ Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium

4th MY Astro Music Awards (MY Astro至尊流行榜颁奖典礼) @ Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium – The tickets were free, who doesn’t wanna go to a free concert anyway? It’s a local produced music awards for Chinese songs by Astro and it featured a lot of Taiwanese and local Chinese singer, somehow it’s more like a concert to me.

Happened on last Sunday at Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium where most of the concert are held and it’s my first time checking out the place! I really got to thanks the gang of friends helping me to get the ticket from Seremban. Anyway, the whole thing started at 7.30pm and we were there about 6pm. Lots of fans were there earlier than us. Initially our tickets were Rock Zone’s but later we switch to Free Seating’s because we were just not excited to stand all night, afterall those singers are not my favourites.

What’s interesting was the stage set up, very professionally done for a local event, but what’s dissapointed was the turn up of the crowds despite the entrance tickets were free. It’s good that our country produce such event, somehow it’s the problem of the producer that the music award not excited at all, perhaps no presence of Hong Kong’s singer. Haha.

It was a long 3.5 hours show, a bit of fun, a bit of enjoyment and a bit of tired. Well, since it’s free, I couldn’t expect more. Anyway, I can see that Malaysia will has a good Chinese entertainment industry in the future. Yeah.

Wah! So many people was earlier than us.

Very awesome stage design.

Wow! The blogger Nick Chan!

A group shot before going home after a long 3.5 hours of concert. Yeah!

April 19, 2013

1M4U ReachOut Concert @ Taylor’s University

1M4U ReachOut Concert @ Taylor’s University – 1M4U, or 1Malaysia For Youth, a volunteering organization for the youth under the brand-name of 1Malaysia. Well, it’s another thing by that Najib, trying to create a good image of giving back to the communities. Oh, I don’t know, I just don’t really like ‘1Malaysia’ slogan, as if there’s so many Malaysia? 2 Malaysia? 3 Malaysia?

Me, Connie, Hua Mic and Jason!

Don’t wanna talk about politics here, it’s frustrating, energy wastage and complicated. Let’s enjoy the free concert and see the Youtube stars I would say. It was a free concert, thanks to that Najib again, and the stars of the night that I was anticipating were the 3 Youtube stars all the way from the States – Jason Chen, David Choi and Chester See! Well, there’s Estelle and Taboo of Black Eyed Peas, but I was not that crazy about them.

This guy, a helper probably was trying to shoo people sitting on the stairs and go fill in the space in front of the stage, but no one bothers. Sitting on the stairs has a better view! But ass pain sia.

Put your hands up. OK.

Peoples on the balcony.

Decided to go take a walk, grab a drink during some loud rock band playing. Sunset, oh lovely.

I know, I know supporting the local musician is good, but the whole session before 8pm was filled with loud bang of rock band of Malaysia. It’s just screwing up my ears a lot, and rock band is not my type of thing. With some exception, Narmi was one sweet music group with nice vocal and music.

Everything before 8pm was just hot, boring, sweaty, stick and ass pain sitting on the stairs. Everything turned wild and crazy after 8pm where Jin & Ryan of Hitz.FM, Jason Chen, David Choi, Chester See, stormed the stage with uberly-awesome music and crazy shouting screaming like siaolang crowds. Ah, David Choi has a very shiok voice that I like.

Jin of JinnyboyTV is on stage, MC-ing, welcoming Jason Chen.

I was just pretty far away, but yeah, it’s Jason Chen on the stage.

Right after all 3 Youtuber performed, that Najib and Rosmah came on stage for a little appearance. O.o

It was fun until that Najib and Rosmah came up to the stage for a little appearance. Wa-really-piang-eh! Just, skipped that part and went for dinner. You know, the feeling is like when you are very high (anything that you can high, think yourself), then suddenly people come disturb you, that’s the feeling.

Rave party all night long. Awesome.

The party didn’t end that early, the Taylor’s University ground was turned into a rave party venue for the whole night and for the first time, Taylor’s University feels like a university to me. LOL. Yeah.

March 3, 2013

Pasarian Interior Design Graduate Showcase @ Annexe Gallery

Pasarian Interior Design Graduate Showcase @ Annexe Gallery – One fine Tuesday evening, after my work at the interior design studio, I went to the Annexe Gallery at Central Market, Pasar Seni to check out the Pasarian, a graduate showcase by my seniors of the interior design school of Taylor’s University. As far as I know, it’s the first ever interior design graduate showcase from Taylor’s University. What’s about before? I don’t know. Haha.

I’ve seen my seniors’ works before, so I was there to give support to them and perhaps bid farewell since I won’t be seeing them in midnight studio anymore like last time. I felt that they did a very good job in making this graduate showcase which I see is a success and everything was just good. How I wish that when I graduate later this year, I get to participate or organize something like this together with my classmate, but it’s not an easy one with them as my the people from my class are not as enthusiastic and unite as the Pasarian. Lack of luck I guess for me not meeting a good bunch of people. Hopefully, there will be a graduate showcase for me too? =)

Anyway, it was a good night with some chattering, food, arts, and laughter. The show is still on until this Sunday, 13th January 2013. Do check out at Annexe Gallery, Central Market, accessible via LRT at Pasar Seni station.

Hua Mic, one of the senior who helped a lot.

Bunch of seniors who helped a lot, and the lecturer CK.

By the way, Pasarian – people of the Pasar (market) represent the noisy bunch of girls and very few guys in that class.

January 9, 2013
Big Bad Wolf Books Fair 2012 At MIECC Is Good

Big Bad Wolf Books Fair 2012 At MIECC Is Good – Cheap books! Cheap books! Cheap books WARNING!!!! If you are in KL, you will know about this Big Bad Wolf Books Sales at MIECC (Mines International Convention Centre). They are still on going until 23rd of December 2012!

Yeah, the canal with boats that not many people hop on for a ride.

Prefer The Venetian @ Macau. =D

Well, I went there today morning, GPS was the one who brought me there as I haven’t been to The Mines for don’t know how many years. I only recalled that there’s the shopping mall with a canal connecting to a big lake with boat cruising along. I was like younger than 10 years old that time I guess that I had a boat ride at there.

Yeahhh! The world’s biggest book fair!

Here we are, at the MIECC – Mines International Convention Centre. Look old and not so much of good maintenance. Hmm.

Of course, I started a walk in the mall – The Mines Shopping Mall and lunch there before heading to the MIECC for the Big Bad Wolf. Didn’t really recall much while walking around the mall, and to be honest, the mall is kinda old and not very fun for me, I prefer some other mall, or perhaps a refurbishment will make it better.

Books #1!

Books #2!

Cut the mall crap, get to the 4th level and there’s a connection bridge to MIECC and at there I was not surprised with the number of people at there, all book lovers, and not. I don’t know what I am, I love books, I love the idea of reading, but one book can take me some time to be read finish; lazy, and slow, yet interested in it. Weird huh?

Comparing with Popular BookFest, I prefer this one, cheap books mostly around RM8-RM15 and the books are like 3-4 years old. Nice part is there’s plenty of design and architecture books from RM18-RM30. You can find almost any books there, and the best thing is no entrance fee. Why Popular wanted to collect entrance fee at KLCC last time?!

Books we bought.

Bought books of course, some self-help books, entrepreneurship, design and Clarice got herself a book about romance. Well, it’s just a few but not as much as those bookworms out there, I know I will read very slow, so I did not get much. =D Lovely book fair for book worms, do check it out.

The Lamborghini! Not very into car, but this one is old-school and very cool!

Awesome attraction at the books fair, another Lamborghini. I want one too!

So here’s Clarice and me after the book fair.

By the way, OCBC credit card holder gets an additional of 5% discount. WOAH! Not me. =.=

December 15, 2012
DETA – Dulux Emerging Talent Award @ KBU College

DETA – Dulux Emerging Talent Award 2012 @ KBU College – Only 4 person from my class, another 6 from the degree’s class and 5 of my senior went to the Dulux Emerging Talent Award on last Saturday. It was supposed to be more than that, in fact my lecturer invited everyone to go but all of them were lazy and has no passion of it. I told myself, since it’s my final year in Taylor’s University, so why not? Just go for fun, get some inspiration, experience, foster friendship and play.

Funny that the lecturer actually booked 2 bus but ended only 10 boarded the bus. Haha. So sad for them.

It was a competition for interior design student held at KBU College and 3 winners get to go to Amsterdam and some other part of Europe for free! Cool right? But it’s not for me as I am not that good, yet. HAHA. There’s more than 10 school participated in this little competition and it’s pretty happenings at there.

So basically, the competition was about designing a space concept for different type of space – Restaurant, Office, Gallery. Each of us were divided into 3 different team and each team get their own type of space. I’ve got office design. We were given a paper box and some paint colour as well as some recycling material, then we have to produce a conceptual design through all the material.

Well, I kinda suck at it, blur at first then came up with a childish stuff in the end. Admit that I was blur and stucked. Haha. However, looking at other’s creative work, it gives me an energy to search for creativity and study on creativity. Yeah! My school has a few person got into final, but then didn’t make it for the grand prize.

The college has notice board for Club and Society. It feels so ‘high school’ to me! =D

Me, Henry, Connie and Wei Shi.

Hanan, Aida, Rasyid and Me! =D

Anyway, it was a fun day, realised that I am not creative, got free food, know my friend from other class more and I told myself to strive hard to look for creativity.

September 14, 2012
Went To Popular BookFest 2012 @ KL Convention Centre

Went To Popular BookFest 2012 @ KL Convention Centre – The eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, not surprisingly, the road in Petaling Jaya was so smooth today, LDP was so nice to drive on. I didn’t drive in to the city centre despite the smooth traffic, I am just stingy to pay for the parking and fuel. I took the LRT, to save fuel and the environment.

Seems like it’s a holiday for those foreign labour worker, they came out in group and ride the LRT together. I don’t really have good feeling for them. Anyway, cut the crap, I went to Popular BookFest 2012 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today and it’s my first time going there. There’s so many people at there, kids and youngster mostly and also lots of parents! It’s very crowded at there.

I was pretty excited about it, but my excitement turned into disappointment when I saw the big banner of ‘Ticket Counter’, then ‘RM2.50/entry’. I was like ‘What?! Why do we have to pay for books fair?!’. PIKOM PC Fair is free, why couldn’t you? Well, since I was there already, RM2.50 is not really a lot, so I just paid for it and went in. Got a wrist tag as entrance and a guide book filled with advertisement.

It’s an International books fair, but most of them are Chinese books from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. I was hoping to look for some design inspiration book from Taiwan and Hong Kong, unfortunately I couldn’t found any. Instead, bought a self-improvement book – 心理专家的说话技巧. Sounds interesting. There’s design book on sale at very low price, but I didn’t get them because it’s quite old.

I was at the hall for quite a long time, not because there’s too many books, but is because I was finding design books hardly. Checked out the stationery section too, not bad, tech accessories are on sale, bought charger for my phone as I’ve lost mine.

Went to Kinokuniya after that and I can tell you that Kinokuniya is still the best! Don’t think I will return to the BookFest next year.

August 19, 2012
A-Mei is AMeiZING! Win & Catch A-Mei in Hong Kong

A-Mei is AMeiZING! Win & Catch A-Mei in Hong Kong – A-Mei is da bomb! A-Mei, Zhang Hui Mei is my favourite Taiwanese singer and she’s super duper awesome! She has been nicknamed as the “Pride of Taiwan” and “Taiwanese Modonna” and is one artist that can really entertain you with her singing, dancing and showmanship!

Well, A-Mei was in Stadium Merdeka, KL last night and the concert was super duper awesome! Celcom gave its users a 20% discount off A-Mei’s concert ticket and it’s really very worth it.

Well, if you must be thinking “Oh crap, I’ve missed it!”, NO WORRY! CHILLAX! BE COOL, because you can win an all-expense paid trip to watch A-Mei’s AMeiZING World Tour LIVE in HONG KONG! Sounds good now right?

All you have to do is make your friends listen to your favourite A-Mei’s Call Me Tones with Celcom. Download A-Mei’s awesomely nice Call Me Tones between now and 15th May, when people call you and they hear A-Mei’s song, than you are getting a chance to go to Hong Kong!

To download, all you need to do is dial *888*# and press “Call”. Check out the song list above. My favourite is Wo Yao Kuai Le. =D

AMEIZING yeah! Head over to The Cube now for more information, you don’t wanna miss it this time! Let’s enjoy AMEIZING together.

May 6, 2012