Friday, February 28, 2014

The One That Got Away

1.


一段感情中最挣扎得时分,无非就是当理性与感性失去了平衡感的时候。
我想,越是快乐的人心里藏着的悲伤越是沉重,
因为他们背负着的,不仅仅是自己的失落和眼泪,
同时还得顾虑周遭的人会怎样评论,或是担心。

作出决定的时候有多艰辛我们旁人不懂,
有些话也可以选择不多说,解释得愈多,也不见得伤口会更快痊愈。
能跟你说的是,有我在,需要我的时候跟我说,
我会奋不顾身,为你。

到你吐下最后一口气之前,你那时做下决定的勇气会否就这样凭空消失,
像歌词所说的,In another life I would。
这些我们都不知道,
可当下你已经看到了你想看到的笑容。
起码,他们少了一些担心。

如果你说,你深爱他们,那就别给他们造成伤害。
虽然他们曾经也给你带来多少的伤害。

唱这首歌的时候满脑子都是你,希望有一天你会笑着说,
我无悔当时的决定与坚持。
虽然一路艰辛。

勇气,会传染吗。







2.


开始了第一学年的第二个学期。
离开的时候,我记得这个地方仍是潮湿的雨季,
那时我的行李箱还长了霉。

回来的时候,天气已经热得不行,
从洗衣处走好几步路回到房间,往往都汗流浃背,
做什么事都提不起劲。

天气热想偷懒真的不是借口,
还记得再次回到校园的时候我的朝气蓬勃指数仍是爆表的。

学期制或许就是有这个好处,
每个学期都要重新选科,面对不同的教授,
跟着不一样的时间表上课,
让人觉得每个学期好像在开始新的学年一样。

那个朝气蓬勃的几率可以一年发生两次。
而面对自己的惰性却无能为力的次数也增加为两次。

唉,我的 #resolution 什么时候才能付诸于行动啊。






3.


#22days

决定在开始彻底忙碌的生活前录下这首歌,
有点想念那个在储藏室里一个人看着电脑荧幕里的乐谱弹吉他的自己。
因为两个月没有触碰它了,有些生疏,
勇绍说,你太专心在吉他上了,声线有些跑调了。
呵呵,一语即中,不好意思到 :P

真正不好意思的故事在今天之后发生。
戏剧组似乎即将火力全开地展开练习以筹备一年一度的中华文艺之夜的到来。
虽说,跟二十四节令鼓鼓队和武术等其他的小组比较起来,
这段时间的我们显得轻松多了,
还真有点惭愧的说。

接下来会以什么方式进行重点培训我就无法想象了。
台词都没背熟,练习也只有一次人齐过。
很害怕。
要在这么大的舞台上做自己不擅长的事,还真是第一次。




4.


大学终于成立了弦乐团,
我咬紧牙根打算自己花钱买一支 Clarinet 来陪我度过接下来的大学生涯。
所以啊,要买 DSLR / 手机 的春秋大梦又要暂时延后啦。

或许这一次的投资,无非只是要延续中学时期的梦吧。
每天早上睁开眼还有一股热诚在燃烧的感觉我有些想念。

跟爸妈提起想买乐器的事,妈妈反应很快的『啊』了一声。
我说,我只是暂时跟你们借着些钱,
我打算接下来的两个月假期去做工。
希望一切顺利 :)





Sunday, February 23, 2014

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. @ Sunway Pyramid, Bandar Sunway

The day right after I returned from the Langkawi Trip with my Bojio Gang,
woke up in the morning and started packing luggage to prepare for my 9 p.m. flight back to Uni at Kelantan.
Aunt invited me, Bro and Mom for lunch with coussie Song Ling,
but Mom had school replacement that day so the four of us ended up at Sunway Pyramid.



I live in Puchong, well, supposingly I'm qualified to call myself a city girl - 
who knows well on where to shop, where to have the best food.
Sadly to say I'm not even familiar with Sunway Pyramid at all lol.

#momisnotashopperholic #thinpurse




Had no idea what to eat at first as me, Bro, and Coussie fingered through the directory,
was amazed by the long list of fancy-names-restaurants.
Have always wanted to pay Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. a visit ever since I watched "Forrest Gump". 

But was afraid if the price would be off the bills, told aunt that I was okay with anything.
(Well basically I AM OKAY WITH EVERYTHING, imagine food back at USM #limited #disaster)

Bro somehow read my mind and requested Aunt to bring us to dine there.



OH MY FOREVER LOVING FORREST GUMP.



Starred by Tom Hanks, my most favourite actor of all times.
A film with a simple plot but with a moving emotion that was portrayed with depth by Tom Hanks.
A 1994 film (Yay it's my year!) which had won Oscar. 



Just in case you still can't get a picture of how good/famous this film is, 
look at this quote:



Better nuff? :')




Okay I really can't stop with how much I love the movie,
do watch it when you have the chance you knowwwww!
Make sure you don't miss its soundtrack as well!
One of my best song in my forever playing playlist :)





Okay back to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
It's a shrimp company that actually existed in the movie 
and they have this restaurant set up with all the movie posters, clothings, car plates, Forrest's quotes etc.




I really shouldn't be blabbering more already or else I can't make it to sleep in time tonight.

#noedit #iphone


So madly nervous to step inside!






Brilliant idea to be using a ping pong bat for the children's menu.
*Forrest loves to play ping pong in the movie*






Another new concept that I really love about this themed-restaurant.
This flipboards are on every dining tables.
Once you get yourself a seat, the waitress will approach to ask if this is your first time dining at this place.
The instruction to use this is rather easy - just flip on to the board on the right, which says: 
Stop Forrest Stop
 whenever you want to order food, or call for billing - when you need assistance from them.
After their service, you can just flip back to the 
Run Forrest Run

*Quoted from Forrest's mother during a scene when Forrest can finally run by himself*


AWWWWWWW.





Right after we got our orders done, me and Bro went to tour the place.
Pity his ears to hear my yelps every few seconds 
(He eventually complained about my high-pitchy-ness when our "tour" was about to end hahahahahaha)

100 marks for the ambience! 





All over the walls you can see photos from the movie scenes.




















MY TOM HANKS.







And Forrest's quotes.












Among all, this is the quote I love most.
Hit me hard on the spot.












 Old bottles and cash.











There's a room that mimicked Forrest's house in the actual movie.
The wallpaper is so vain I'm gonna die!
Guess Wenyi'd love to spend some time taking photos here as well :')






Foodie time! #finally

One thing I'd really like to comment about Bubba Gump's Menu is that though the choices are quite limited (if compared to other Western restaurants),
they focus mainly on shrimps and you can't really find a whole long list of chicken/beef/fish servings.
They serve shrimps as their main spotlight 
(looking at the restaurant's name pretty explains everything haha).




Shrimp Spaggheti ordered by Bro.
A new dish in the menu 
and again, I was too busy exclaiming for the food and forgot to snap a photo of the price.


As we passed by a table during our "tour" earlier, 
Bro was rather disappointed seeing that this was being served in a small portion.
But turned out it was really tummy-filling and imagine the blend of shrimp with cheese aroma.
Gosh my salivary gland is actively secreting saliva already.
*gulps* 





Salmon and Veggie Skillet ordered by Aunt.
RM 37.90


You really can't imagine how tasty it is! 
*That's when you close your eyes and feel the salmon melting in your mouth and forget about the bill that you're going to pay later*

It was served with a reasonable portion of Jasmine Rice, 
a big slice of grilled salmon, 
with carrots and some other veggies which I failed to name, in Garlic Herb Butter Sauce.
With a slight squeeze of lemon juice and an unknown herb, 
superbly appetizing and healthy dish it was!

Aunt loved it so much that she kept on praising until I forgot how many times already :D

#heaven




HAHA MY TURN.

Fish with Lobster Butter Sauce.
RM 29.90


WOAH yea I woah-ed at the Lobster Sauce part as well,
wanted to order aunt's earlier but was shocked by the price so I opted for this,
not to say cheap but I find it reasonable for a fine fish dish.

Love the mash potato that blended in well with the soft texture of the fish along with the not too buttery-creamy-sauce.
Aunt, who doesn't fancy milkish butterish, loved this as well.
Ultimate happiness and heart shapes popping in air whenever I took a bite of it.





Coussie dined here before and she ordered this before.
She said it's one we shouldn't be missing so here it is, one from the Bubba Gump Specials!

Shrimppin' Dippin' Broth
RM 36.90



Served with a hot pot of shrimp broth (or soup we call), Jasmine Rice, and French Bread.
Would be a fulfilling dish for big appetite people, well maybe not too-too-big-appetite.
Sadly to say the French Bread that was being served was ice cold at the first serving and we requested to change another slice.
The waitresses were nice and got it served again, with a heated pot of broth and re-structured rice
 but the same mistake occurred again :(
The bread was still cold inside.

It was a happy day so we were quite okay with it and requested for another.
As for the third time they finally got it right, 
and this time it was being served by the Manager himself!





As we were exclaiming on how tasty the broth was, 
the Manager appeared with a plate of this.

Chocolate Dream Cake - Vanilla Ice Cream
RM 15.90

As a gift of apology of something.
 HOW LOVELY AND HAPPY


Hot outer layer with dark chocolate lava flowing inside,
the moment when the lava streamed out when you cut it from its heart :')

OHMAIGOD I REARRY LOVE THIS PLACE.



And I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her.


Had a lovely photo with my loves before we left that place.




Definitely a place to return despite its slightly higher price.
Looking at the quality of its food and service and the ambience, totally worth it I'd say :)
ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS I'VE EVER BEEN.





Bubba Gump Shrip Co.


Location:
OB. K2, Oasis Boulevard No.3,
Jalan PJS 11/15,
Bandar Sunway,
46150 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.

Contact:
03-56384559 / 03-56353559 / 03-56376559 (Fax)










Saturday, February 22, 2014

《祥音。音缘》佛曲创作分享会

首先首先,
就要从加入丹州理大佛学会 Persatuan Pelajar Buddhist (简称USMKK PPB)开始讲起。



那时刚踏进这个校园,一心想着的就是要跳脱那个『总是以学业为先』的束缚,
反正都跨进了大学的门槛,算是人生中非常重要的一项
Achievement Unlocked。
开始迈向理想中的大学生活模式——搞活动。

进了大学后才发现原来大学里头的课外活动方式与中学不同:
大学里参加的譬如说乒乓学会、吉他学会,
都会有考试,而考出来的成绩/等级会算入年底的总平均里头的。

报名名额也非常的有限,报名的那一天你会看到上课讲堂里多半少了一堆人,
都留在房里开着电脑准备进入网站跟别人争抢一个位置。

不像以前那样只要有兴趣,参加就行了。



机缘巧合之下,成了佛学会的一员,
还加入了筹委会,Junior Exco。
参加了几次活动后,突发奇想,变向主席副主席建议说,
嘿,不如我们来办个佛曲创作分享会,如何?



于是,被钦点成为这项活动的负责人 :D

跟晓芬努力到临晨三点的海报!


自小学二年级至中一,每年学校年底假期都会准时到大智图书馆的佛学营报到。
或许还称不上是学佛,但那个地方让我学会了很多东西,音乐人生。
大大地启蒙造就了今日的我。

所以一想起佛曲创作,
我就想回了大智图书馆,和那里的一位老师——发耀老师。
几经波折,打了好几通电话后,终于成功与老师联络上了。

之前没有什么邀请别人担当主讲者的经验,
所以这次要与老师安排活动日期的时候就出现了小小的紧张历险。
很庆幸,在老师的迁就下,
活动能够按照之前所设想的日期进行。
非常感恩。






由于这次需要老师和另位朋友会特地从吉隆坡搭飞机前来出席活动,
新年假期的时候,天性不是太过乐观的我一直在担心倘若出席人数不理想的话怎么办,
非常不想场面难堪,而且这确实是一个不可错失的机缘。
于是,在假期的时候下载了这个叫做 VideoScribe 的软件,
自己弄了一个宣传短片,希望能够让多些人知道并出席这个活动。







左上角看起来很清秀骨子里却有点可爱 siao siao 到爆表的晓芬,
右上角的好男人们 Ah Chris 和 Kien Ting。




海报上是写着 7 p.m. 正准时开始报到,
在口头宣传的时候也一再提醒活动在 7.30 p.m. 准时开始。
看左下角,是 7.30 p.m. 的现场情况。

我们USM 学生迟到的这个风气真的是......
由佛学会副主席 Yi Ying 成功邀请到的吉兰丹大学 UMK、
师范学院 IPG 和吉兰丹佛学会 KBA 的人都陆续到齐了,礼堂里属于 USM 的学生没几个。

想必大家还在为即将来临的 CCN 表演武术和二十四节令鼓练习吧。

唉,我在礼堂外头穷担心 :(





这次活动最大的遗憾就是没有强制摄影师用 DSLR 拍照,呵呵。
#ipadlooksokay #but






The Early/Punctual Birds。
你们真的无法想象当我看到他们的时候心情有多激动来着。



那时秘书要呈交活动策划书的时候才发现我们之前的安排遗漏了主持人这个职位。
临时临刻找上了系友欣怡,后来再找到了丽婷(欣怡的室友)两人搭档。
不但默契好,临场表现也非常的棒,
最值得一提的是,她们的主持稿子都是由丽婷一手写的,
几乎不需要我操心。
有她们在,事情都好办许多。






第一环节是由发耀老师开始分享他小时候开始接触佛教的个人经验,
还有音乐创作的点点滴滴。
很喜欢老师说的一句:“其实也不要说我是在教你们写歌啦,我自己也在学习。”

分享会开始没几分钟而已就逗得全场大笑。
发耀老师依旧是我记忆里的那个他,
说话风趣又亲近观众,开的玩笑不伤大雅。
印象很深刻就是他一看到我们原先给他安排的椅子那副惊吓的表情,
大叫:“我不要坐 AGONG 的椅子!PANGKAT 还没有到!”

那时的想法是说要让嘉宾的座位(那种大的单人沙发)看起来体面一些,
哪里知道原来老师比较喜欢坐普通的椅子。
结果把椅子给换了的时候,老师全场都站着讲,
说方便走动。

麦克风出现了问题,老师就即兴说,今晚他与麦克风无缘,
全场不用麦克风,用嗓子跟大家说故事。
事后老师说他其实在严重感冒,听了心里有些愧疚,
是自己安排上的疏忽。


虽然延迟了些许才开始活动,不过出席的人数很显然多了很多。
大家的笑声起起落落中,
我的 Diet Cantiks 们和几位 Diet 学长有些害羞地走进了礼堂,
一路跟人说着,啊我们还没有冲凉,不要坐脏草席。

她们一脸倦容和豆大的汗珠一直从发梢滴下来,
一定是鼓队练习一结束没有回房冲凉也没来得及吃晚餐就来到现场给我支持了。
心里感动到一塌糊涂,很想给她们大大的拥抱,
可大庭广众这样做太矫情,只有把那五颜六色的情绪收起来了。
谢谢你们,真的。






有点可惜摄影师没有拍到 Food Department 的筹委们用心煮薏米水的样子。
大家在短短的几分钟内来个小休,有橙汁、薏米水、和香蕉蛋糕。

这时现场已经坐满了人,Yi Ying 为了让大家坐得舒服些,
打了很多通电话千方百计去向基督学会借了多几张草席。
客套话我不多讲,不过如果没有她,
整个活动会是一团煮糊了的米,难看又难吃。
(同是 Dietetics 的,要食物一点的形容词)



第二个环节(大家等待已久的歌唱环节!)
由发耀老师的朋友——Billy 老师一起加入。
 

有幸邀请到来头不小的 Billy 老师全是一个设想以外的惊喜。
(有多『来头不小』你可以再 scroll 去这篇博文的第一张照片 - 活动海报右下角查询)
要在不计较通告费的情况下邀请他来到这里,实在难得。

那时在电话里头我问发耀老师,问他,我们需要准备什么乐器,或是扩音器给你吗。
他说,应该不需要,因为他本来没有打算在现场玩 live。

说真的当时有些小失望,因为我距离 2007 年没参加佛学营以后,
鲜少有机会看到台前的人玩 live 而自己在台下跟着一起唱歌的感觉,
印象中佛学营里最开心的时段无非就是唱歌的环节。

后来发耀老师说,
噢好吧,如果你们的 budget 允许的话,
我可以问看我一位朋友是否可以一起来,我们比较有默契。

#YAY




现场唱了老师写的《三好奇侠》、
周杰伦的《蜗牛》、
和王力宏粉丝唱的《爱因为在心中》。

大家的歌声真棒。
从一开始要老师大呼小叫地叫我们提高声量,
到后来有同学主动要求老师在活动结束以前唱多一次那首旋律非常 catchy 的《三好奇侠》。
歌声都很嘹亮。很热血。很清纯。很青春。




#youseeeeeeee #ipad #haihh

佛学会主席 Chun Jie 颁发纪念品给发耀老师。
字是由文楚的外公题的,『禅』字。

Chun Jie 瞬间变老了许多对不对 -____-






颁发纪念品给电到现场很多人,号称『瘦版吴彦祖』的Billy 老师。






#edited #fotor.com


没有他们就没有当晚的活动的一众筹委会与两位老师。







本来预计 60 人参加的活动,现场来了超过 130 个人。







大家与老师们的合照。





这是当晚观众们写的一些回馈报告。
放出来给大家看的用意并非要炫耀当晚的成功或什么的。
只是,能看到大家如此喜欢、享受当晚的活动,当下真的觉得很满足。
感慨最深的,是大家对于佛法有新的认知和领悟,
就像发耀老师写的,
『佛教的世界 不是你们想的那么单调
佛曲也有中国风 也能改成饶舌调』


那种办活动而得到的满足感似乎找回来了一些,
自从2011年学校办了管乐团音乐会后很久都没有这种内心澎湃的感觉。





















希望大家在看到 #excellent #good 的同时,
看到 #准时 #开始得有点迟 这几个字也可以稍微自觉一下,呵呵。



后来发耀老师在面子书率先 add 了我做 friend 
#woah.
看到老师发了这几张照片和简单的几个文字,内心更是波涛汹涌。




—— 受邀爲丹州理大佛學會的學生分享佛曲創作,發現他們真的資源缺乏,但依然那麼用心辦活動,實在很感動,理大同學們,加油!




—— 感謝丹州理大佛學會贈送的紀念品,家中彷彿又增添了幾分文藝氣息,嘻嘻!


除了这两个字,没其他的好说了。
感恩。




以下几首是发耀老师创作和 Billy 老师制作的几首歌。
花了好些时间制作这个有汉语拼音的版本,有时间不妨去听听看噢。
阿弥陀佛 :)





每次听到这首歌就会疯狂地想起家里的每个人。

《回家》






佛曲也有中国风,也能改成饶舌调。

《这一天》






每次要迷失自己的时候就会开来听的一首歌。

《力量》






Friday, February 21, 2014

Umai-Ya @ IOI Boulevard, Puchong

Mom's colleagues dined here before and gave a very good remark for its food quality -
probably the reason why the food price range was above average *coughs*
So usually people would go for its ala-carte style buffet instead, 
rather than picking sushi-s from the belt like how we usually do in Sushi King.
  



Aunt told me in the phone that she'd bring me here for my post-birthday celebration.
She bought this Meccha Goodo Coupons to dine-in with big discounts, for us, 
she isn't a Japanese food fan actually.


From 8-22 Nov 2013, each coupon is only at RM29.90 for purchase of 5 coupons & above.





I practically jaw-dropped when I heard that I could be there like, finally!
No more peeking through its windows with drooling mouth and glittery eyes anymore :')

Umai - Ya






Forgot that it was a weekend and Umai-Ya has this ala-carte buffet, 
we almost had no table to settle down.
Still, we were lucky enough to get a not-too-comfy-away-from-sushi-belt-table.
But nahh never mind :D


We're genuinely not-rich, really.
It's just that the love my Aunt has for me and my bro is - Beyond every words I know of.
As a government servant, she does not earn that high pay as in private corporates, 
but she's been working so hard, spending a lot of time earning extra income, 
spend little herself, so she can have more for us. 

Never in a life time to repay her.  Never.





#nofilter #longliveiphone #notmine


Bro fidgeting on what to eat.






Alas, he ordered this Teriyaki Chicken Sticks.
Am really sorry that I forgot the actual names and how much they cost again, 
yea again :(


Taste mildly sweet, not overly roasted,
tasted close to perfection with the sprinkle of sesame seeds.
It's like a Japanese style satay, Bro and Aunt loved'em!






Didn't know since when Bro became such a big fan of Japanese food,
still, he's  giving a NO and "yucks" duck face when I recommended him Japanese raw food like 
Sashimis and the Edamame (Green Soya Beans).

Ordered two hand rolls - One Crabstick Roll (and I was like, whattt I can do this for you lah), 
and one Unagi Roll.






Bro's main dish - Unagi Rice Bento Set.

Price for Unagi (eel) has been increasing in the past few months, 
heard from Wenyi that even now at Sakae Sushi and Sushi King 
one small portion of Unagi Rice cost at least RM 39.90 and above.

Great texture with the combination of good Japanese soy sauce, 
together with the sticky starchy short grain Japanese rice 
#heaven






Aunt has a small appetite, 
so she ordered a Mushroom Salad that comes with varieties of colourful vegetable.
The salad dressing tasted a lil sour and refreshing, 
thumbs up for those who wanted something light.







Along with the voucher, we got this for free!
Tuna fish flakes as filing with fish roe on the top, 
dressed with Umai-Ya's thousand island and mayonnaise.
Combination of everything I love 
#droolingagain.





As mentioned above, the coupon's term was to spend RM 100 to get RM 35 off as discount,
so after we finished ordering our main dishes, found out that we needed at least one more dish to hit RM 100 so I ordered this, Deep Fried Salmon Skin Sushi with Teriyaki Sauce.
Very crispy and they tasted better with the spring onion bits.






Ta-da my Grilled Saba (Mackerel) lunch set that comes with a bowl of Japanese rice, salad, Miso soup, fruits and Sashimi!
Price was around RM 30 if not mistaken, 
very worth it I'd say, judging from its food quality and portion.




A close view on the side dishes:


Salad






Plate of Sashimi that consisted of Octopus slices; Salmon; 
White Tuna; and the last one unknown.




Forget about the fruits and Miso soup, couldn't wait to land my spoon and fork on this!


Juicy flesh but not too oily, tasted more awesome with a lil bit of the Japanese soy sauce,
didn't squeeze the lemon juice on top but ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I can feel my taste buds and salivary gland functioning maximally now.



Great day catching up with Aunt,
listened to her catchy and funny stories, 
then finally we left this place with a full tanked belly and lots of laughters.
Will definitely be back, hoping I could treat Aunt the next time
that's when I have more cash in my pocket lol haha.



Umai - Ya's Weekend Buffet.


Lunch .Eat And Drink all Your Can! 
From 11.30am to 2.30pm
Adult – RM58.00++
Children (below 140cm) - Half Price





Umai-Ya Japanese Restaurant


Location:
Jalan Kenari 5, 
Bandar Puchong Jaya, 
47100 Puchong,
Selangor, Malaysia

Contact:
+60 12-341 3535 / +603-7727 7777