National Day

Happy (belated) Birthday, Singapore!

I spent the first half of National Day waking up at 1pm, bathing and afterwards doing nothing but surfing the web until around 5pm when we were supposed to go to our cousin's apartment to watch the fireworks. The fireworks thing didn't happen though because maybe we're not close enough to Marina Bay to watch it or maybe it was because of the huge stadium right in front of the flat that was blocking our view. Whatever, man - I'm happy as long as I get to eat!

Today, however, I'm afraid it's time for me to get started on that pile of homework. :(

But it's okay! I'm going out to have dinner later with friends. Can't wait to eat baked rice. Yum!

The Flowers in the Garden

Two of my friends and I went out yesterday and our first stop was the recently finished Gardens By The Bay. Being the poor college students that we are, we couldn't afford to go into the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest Dome (both of which are air-conditioned conservatories) so we had to stick to the "free" parts of the park which were still quite breathtaking and beautiful.

One day, I'm getting into those domes I tell ya. Unless I turn out to be going for the Harry Potter exhibition at the ArtScience Museum in the next few months, in which case I will be broke soon after. Especially the flower one. (I have this obsession with flowers, you see?)

Till then, I'm pretty sure I can occupy myself with things like...oh I don't know. Studying for tomorrow's maths test, perhaps? :(

xx

Langkawi

The hotel room

Kilim Geoforest Park

Houses & hotels along Pantai Cenang

Me, parasailing. Thanks to my sister who took this photo. :)

I spent about a week of my holidays in Langkawi, Malaysia. I had so much fun there - how could I not?! I tried so many new things - jet-skiing, para-sailing, and banana-boating.  "Just keep swimming" is about the best advice I've ever been given when trying to avoid getting bitten by the fish when snorkelling - thanks Dory! 

Of all the places in Langkawi I've visited, I think I'll miss Pantai Cenang the most. The beach was utterly beautiful and that's where I did a lot of my water activities. Besides that, there are restaurants along the road next to the beach as well as the small quirky shops which make me wish there were such things in Singapore.

Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I'll let them explain the rest.

Korea Part II

After our first few days spent in the countryside, we headed back to the city to do the thing most of us were looking forward to do - shopping! One thing I will never forget about our vacation to Korea was the amount of walking we had to do while we were in the city area. (Take note that this is in the viewpoint of a Singaporean.)

There were loads of shopping centres, and they stock a lot of branded goods. Naturally, I couldn't afford those (being the poor student that I am) so instead I tried my very best to look for stores which sold actual souvenirs, which, to my surprise, were rather difficult to find. We did, however, go to a street market that had many stalls selling clothes, and there we stumbled upon a stall which sold " t-shirts for tourists" as I like to call it. You know, the "I love X COUNTRY" kind? My family and I bought a few for ourselves and other close friends.

While we were in Korea, we also managed to go to N Seoul Tower, where we got a fantastic view of the city. I have to say though, climbing up the slope which led to the tower took a lot of effort and I'm not even exaggerating! Oh well, another few kilos gone, so it's okay. At the top of the tower there was a souvenir shop and a cafe. That was where I got some of my other souvenirs.

On our second last day in Seoul, right after the visit to the National Palace Museum of Korea which was located in the Gyeongbokgung Palace, it suddenly started to snow. We were utterly thrilled, because for the most of us, it was actually our first experience with (falling) snow. Some of us even started dancing right there and then.

I miss Seoul dearly. The last memory I had of our vacation was during the plane ride on our way back home, when a Korean I was sitting beside had offered me his ice-cream which was given to passengers as a dessert. Haha, it was really nice of him and yes, I did accept it.

xx

Korea (Part I)

It has been 4 days since I came back from my week-long vacation in Korea. There's not much to say except the obvious - I had a great time. The best part about the trip had to be when I got to ski for the first time. Despite being out in the cold for a long period of time, falling into the not-so-soft snow with almost every attempt but one at skiing down an albeit gentle slope, and having a most difficult time carrying the skiing equipment back up the slope as well as just taking them off - I loved the adrenaline rush, especially since I had no idea how to stop myself before I crashed into someone (hence, the final resort of falling into the snow). Did I mention that looks can be deceiving? As much as the slope is gentle, when you ski down that damn thing you feel like you're going at a hundred miles an hour (well, that's what I felt like anyway)!

The photos above are not the ones I took at the ski resort I stayed at (where, by the way, I also got to sleep on a heated floor for the first time in my whole life, which was truthfully, an interesting experience. I didn't think sleeping on any floor would be comfortable until that day). The first photo was taken during the ride up the Sorak Mountains which is found at the Seoraksan National Park. The next two were taken at Nami Island, where a part of the filming of Winter Sonata took place.

On Korean food - let's just say that the Koreans sure do know how to make vegetables taste tasty. I admit - before the trip I seriously needed to change my diet such that it includes more vegetables but I was utterly stubborn and reluctant (I hated eating vegetables since childhood). Now eating vegetables doesn't seem like the end of the world at all (Yes, I used to think that when I was younger).  Also, Tempura - where have you been all my life? Sweet potato tempura is undoubtedly my favourite.

Yes, I realize I have been missing out on a lot of things in my life. xx

Lightbulbs.

I do quite love the displays local shopping centres set up even if I don't celebrate the occassion. I mean - look at all the pretty lights! To those of you who do celebrate Christmas - well then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! xx

Insta.gram

Looking through photos on instagram makes me feel envious. How I wish I were there to witness every photo that has ever been taken.

(sources x x x x x )

Singular Hue.

I love the hue(s).

(sources x x x)

In the car, on the move.

Viennese biscuits from Marks & Spencer when in the car, and soon-to-be in my mouth. Yum.

I fail in film photography. Wanted : HELP!

Look at the previous post. Now focus on this one.

Is it now very clear that I need help with my Diana F+? Please, I'm desperate. I don't even know what the last one is supposed to be. These are the only shots that are developed.

Where is the picture of my macaroons!?

Rina xx

Clueless, as usual.

I went out yesterday with the purpose of using my Diana F+ for the first time. Completely clueless, I was. I had no idea how to use the thing, and I realized eventually that I missed one shot out of the 12 I could have taken with a roll of 120v film. I wanted to create some multiple exposure shots but I wasn't even sure how. So I played with the thing (that clicks when you turn it) and sometimes try to take pictures in between the numbers that show on the "screen". I don't even know if it will appear on the film but I think I screwed it up really bad. So yeah, I'm going to admit that I was a total nOOb while trying to use the Diana F+. I sincerely hope my thirty bucks didn't go to waste though (I have this absolutely horrifying feeling that the pictures are going to come out all washed-out).

Painstaking effort was made to ensure that I don't get it wrong, which I'm pretty sure I did anyway. I even brought the ever-so-confusing manual with me. I don't get it! Can someone please explain to me how to use this Diana F+ of mine? From square one, if you would.

In the meantime, here are a few photos taken on film that I so greatly admire. I'll probably post my failed attempts at film photography when it's finished being processed. It'll be finished in the next two weeks, I was told.

(sources are click-through)

I'm sincerely sorry. If I weren't so tired, I would've posted more. 

Rina xx

Mr. Pink is my new best friend.

I got a Diana F+ today as an early birthday present from my parents! I'm a happy girl right now!

Rina xx