Le voyage d'une vie

Friday, February 29, 2008

shakespeare, my thoughts are not running smoothly. please let me make sense of what u're saying...

*tearing hair*

Thursday, February 28, 2008

i can't believe it, i'm halfway through the semester le... now is week 6... basically about 6 more weeks of school. except i have a month of holidays in between. muahaha... time really passes fast though... jus gotta accept it. it's been fun so far... :)

Labels: reflections

lol, i noe rach u're thinking like wth is that title about. haha... sorry la, i'm jus about 2 go crazy with my essays, especially the one i jus completed that's about titles. I HATE TITLES!!! officially, from this moment on. kidding. *bipolar*

ok ok, yeah, finished one essay *cheers n applause*. 2 more 2 go. shakespeare's not so bad. fictions of fallen women will b pretty interesting.

jiayou racheal!!! jiayou louis!!! jiayou chrystal!!! :D

Labels: mad ramblings

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

haha... not exactly hidden, but an annexe of the library. it's so cool... haha... like some department of mysteries. full of olde books n cool stuff. rows n rows of shelves. claustrophobic ppl can't go in there :P

see the 3-wheeled thing? u turn it, n e whole shelf moves left or right!!! so amazing... lol. i noe, it's not exactly the most advanced of technology, but it was fun turning 2 get e shelves i wanted. :D

example in action: i turned the wheel of the shelf on the left

the shelf moves as i turn the wheel, so i now have space 2 access the shelf on the left! voila!

i actually am suffering from stress overload by my essays, so forgive my digressions n mad blabberings. trying 2 release pressure through healthier ways than stuffing myself with food.

Labels: mad ramblings

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

'In Shakespeare's plays Justice is a far wider issue than mere human judgement; indeed the latter can often be a crude parody of the former'. Discuss.

Main texts i will use: Measure for Measure (m4m), Merchant of Venice (MoV)

Main idea: ideal of Justice as divine justice- perfect, absolute justice from God. notions of judgement day come into mind, where God is the ultimate, perfect judge. judgements made on the basis of human justice is flawed, just as man is, or perhaps because man is. it is a narrow, crude, imperfect version of God's justice. in Sh's texts like m4m & mov, we see the act of human judgement and justice in action. it is flawed, with questionable points and not wholly satisfactory endings. however, i would say that human judgement (in sh's texts) not so much crudely parodies Justice as much as undermines the biblical simplicity of perfect Justice.

M4M:
1) title of play is taken from the bible verse (Matt 7:1-2)- significance of sh drawing from a biblical sense of God's perfect Justice, placing it into the fallen, flawed human world and its system of justice.
2) angelo as a judge- the mistakes he makes
3) duke vincentio as judge- he judges, and appears to right all wrongs, and punish the right people at the end of the play. yet upon reflection, the ending seems to bring us right back to the beginning of the play. nothing has changed. and if the duke, as the ultimate figure of authority in vienna, can judge everyone, who is to judge him? us, as the audience.

MoV:
1) justice seems to prevail at the end of the play, yet the means by which justice is achieved is questionable: portia having to dress up as a man to defend antonio; helping to overcome shylock's aggression by mere technicalities; 'persecution' and punishment of shylock

in both plays:
1) tragic impulses are very much present; at any point, the play could end up in a tragedy. all the more, the 'happy', comedic endings are problematised. every problem appears to be solved way too easily, and the judgements meted out appear fair only on the surface.
2) issue of marriage as a resolution to both plays. is it fair for the women? marriage as part of human judgement undermines Justice.

ok, brain dead here. will refine n add more reference to it soon. please, if u'd like 2 help me, feel free 2 comment :) lol
paper is a 1700 word essay due fri

Labels: work

taken at 6pm outside the uni's main building, parkinson building, while waiting for my bus.

i've forgotten what singapore looks like at 6pm. somebody please tell me?

Labels: monday blues

Sunday, February 24, 2008

hiya, i haven't been updating in a while, sorry 4 those who've been waiting...

i went 2 bronte country with michelle (who came up from london 2 visit n travel :D) ytd, and it was a wonderful trip. physically exhausting, challenging, but well worth it! we walked about 7miles on the moor. so tired... n my body is aching today (after not exercising 4 so long, lol)

anyway here r e photos i took. more r uploaded on my facebook. for those who wanna noe, bronte country is near where the famous bronte sisters (writers) lived during their tragically short lives. top withins is said to have been an inspiration for charlotte bronte's wuthering heights.

two words to describe the landscape of the moors: desolate n bleak. yummy! :P

anyway we 1st arrived at keighley rail station

it's really much smaller than the rail station at leeds, being a tiny town.

we took a bus 2 haworth, to visit the bronte parsonage museum, which is the house where the bronte family lived in. very nice n small, but photography inside not allowed...

michelle pointed out snowdrops 2 me. pretty!

a church beside the bronte's house (and a cemetary too)

next we got on the bus to stanbury where the walk starts

this is the moor! (part of it, anyway)

nice, cloudy, not too cold weather

alot of steep slopes, we had 2 walk up n down, up n down. plus it rained e day b4, so some parts were pretty darn muddy... a challenging walk, but we took a pace we could handle, n the view is totally worth it!

sheep!!! haha... so cute. dotted all over e landscape. they're jus happily eating away all day.

a look at how far we'd come from (we nearly fainted at that sight :P)

look at the plants in e foreground n u noe how strong e wind is

interesting forest in an otherwise flat n bleak landscape...

this is top withins!!! a ruin is here. rather interesting...

so of cuz i had 2 take a photo here :) like scaling a mountain haha...

nice trees huh?

after we reached e top (withins), we went down another muddy treacherous route to the waterfalls. by then i was too tired 2 take more photos so i only took some at the falls. before we could get to the falls we had to go down this steep slope, past the rocks in the foreground. not easy...

rapids. actually we'd been hearing the streams all e way from top withins. geog students would love it (which michelle is anyway). really interesting.

a cute little bridge along the stream

looking back up where we walked down from. scary huh? we had 2 walk back up 2 return anyway.

beside the water fall was this plaque. it's so cool! e top part is from psalm 104:24. wonderful!

the falls (i noe, not very clear, sorry)

some other things tt struck me were the friendliness of e ppl here. we were on e bus, unsure of where 2 stop when this old man behind us heard our conversation, n directed us on where 2 stop. when we were at the museum, this old lady in front of us suddenly turned ard n asked if we were japanese. lol. but she knew we didn't really look japanese. n we chatted 4 awhile. at the falls, there were a few ppl taking some chinese students from preston 4 a day trip. while waiting 4 them, they were chatting with us. one of the ladies actually greeted us by saying ni2 hao3 (how r u). so sweet! so i was really very pleasantly surprised at e warmth of e ppl here. on the whole a very nice day trip :)

Thursday, February 21, 2008

blasted weather

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

very high now, haha... sorry about that. jus so amazing, how God is so creative n wonderful. His creation is indescribable.

i wanted 2 post ytd about the changing of seasons, from winter to spring. so i took some photos.
today, same place, another set of photos. look at the difference. talk about winter to spring... more like spring to winter, strangely enough. haha... wat a difference a day (actually less than a day) makes:

this was hyde park at about 3pm yesterday

and this is hyde park today at about 3pm.

janet n i went a little crazy at e end n took these jumping n running photos. muahaha... it's really cool.

n to add cool to cool, the moscow state circus is in town!!! jus opposite hyde park, in fact. so i'm hoping 2 go this weekend. woohoo!!!

Labels: fell in love w this place, weather

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

dun mind wat i say here. jus emo-ing n moody a bit.

the sax player is playing now. some neighbour of mine whom i have no idea of. not a good player, but beats that irritating techno/rubbish sound that pounds in ur head from the flat beside mine.

but... i miss my music. hearing e player makes me so envious. i wanna buy a flute, i wanna buy a keyboard. something i can play on. i'm dying here. u all noe. music is my life. yes, yes, i can sing, but it's different. u noe.

cindy down in NZ, i read ur blog. dunno if u've decided which module 2 drop. dun drop e music one. but i noe, u can't transfer e credits back 2 inflexible nus. oh well... sad life.

Labels: sad

Monday, February 18, 2008

sam,
u're on 2 a new life le. i'm really so happy 4 u.
i jus sent e sms 2 u, n here i am crying like a baby. haha... can't even see u off. i feel so bad. all i can do is 2 tell u i love u, i'll miss u. like our song.

Samantha’s Song
Verse 1:
E
After waiting for so long
C#m7
Now your dream is finally here
A
Though you have much to fear
E/B Bsus4 B
Just remember we’ll be here

Pre-chorus:
C#m7 B
There’s so much I need to tell you
A B
But it’s hard to say it all
C#m7 B
To prevent us all from crying
A Bsus4 B
We’ve put it in a song

Chorus:
E C#m7
We love you, we’ll miss you
A
It’s hard to see you go
B
But we know you’re not alone
E C#m7
God loves you, He’ll guide you
A E/G#
Jus remember, just remember
F#m7 B E
We will always be here for you

Verse 2:
E
When you feel you’re all alone
C#m7
Just you and all your bones
A
Remember all your friends back home
E/B B
So far we are but still so close

u should see me now. haha... nvm. post on ur blog once u arrive n get settled k?
hugs n muacks!

Labels: friends r friends forever

seriously cute overload! if u wanna die of cuteness jus go 2 this website. aww... it's so sweet u could get diabetes from looking at e pics. :P adorable!!!

http://www.cuteoverload.com/

shows how bored i am, huh? haha... not 4 long anyway, gonna b busy w schoolwork n travels le.

n i miss LSF so much, really. i went 2 church today, but i can't help comparing w LSF, missing u all every moment of e way. oh well... soon.

Labels: if ure bored, sad

Sunday, February 17, 2008

jus found this quiz. do if u're bored. i guarantee lots of head-banging :P
http://www.pressanykey.com/cgi-bin/funstuffmenu.cgi?target=Densa+Quiz
it's really pretty fun. jus b smart, not act smart n try 2 finish it fast. read e qns carefully. start from "The Original Densa Quiz" ba. haha..
enjoy!

Labels: if ure bored

Saturday, February 16, 2008

haha... so happy 2 join service today with u all... too bad not much time 2 chat. next time k? haha... rach, muz b careful hor. hope u recover soon n ur foot doesn't hurt so much. sam, i'm excited 4 u. :) i hope u have a really wonderful time studying. xuan n sophia, muz jiayou for exams le. alvin, heard ur testimony. thank God! n hope ur plans 4 study in australia will b finalised n everything works out according 2 God's will. fion n angelina n angel muz continue 2 practice ur keyboard, n learn 2 worship God with e talents He has given u.

as for everyone else i haven't managed 2 mention here. hope everything goes well in ur life, may God pour out more anointing, more blessing 2 u!

i hope 2 do this web service thingy again soon :P

can't describe how happy i was 2 "join" service. thanks louis dear for arranging this despite all e stress u were under, leading worship n all that. :)

big hug to all!!!

Labels: laughs, mad ramblings

Friday, February 15, 2008

here r travel fares (make yall go green-eyed with jealousy) lol:

FR157 13 Mar 2008 19:40 – 20:30 Leeds to Dublin 0.01 + 4.99 = 5 GBP
FR556 15 Mar 2008 20:10 – 21:05 Dublin to Manchester 0.01 + 4.99 = 5 EUR
FR5417 18 Mar 2008 08:40 – 12:15 Liverpool to Madrid 0.01 + 7.99 = 8 GBP
FR4537 12 Apr 2008 22:05 – 23:20 Milan to Liverpool 0.01 + 7.99 = 8 EUR

FYI- 1EUR is about 2SGD; 1GBP is about 3SGD
so i'm like flying to spain for 24SGD, flying from italy back to the uk for 16SGD. muahaha...
oh well...
as for the in betweens, i'll b traveling by train. buying the eurorail pass for 21 days. :D

Labels: travels

my tentative travel itinery with janet:

13-15 Mar Dublin (1.5 days)
16-17 Mar Manchester (1.5 days) -> liverpool
18-24 Mar Spain (Madrid and Barcelona)
25-28 Mar Paris
29-31 Mar Switzerland (Geneva and Zurich)
1-2 Apr Prague
3-4 Apr Florence
5-7 Apr Venice
8-10 Apr Rome
11-12 Apr Milan

any suggestions n comments? will b greatly appreciated. :)

Labels: travels

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

today has an extra special meaning 4 me. i mean, yeah, valentines is special. but today also marks the 1st month i've been away. can u believe it? haha... i left on 14th jan, n it is 14th feb over in SG as i'm typing this post. time has passed quickly enough. :) 5 more months now! dun dread my returning k? muahaha...

in celebration of valentines day, i'm putting up one of my favorite sonnets (no. 116). specially dedicated to louis. :)
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, everyone! :D

SONNET 116
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Labels: reflections

Monday, February 11, 2008

it was a foggy day today.

the view outside my room in the morning

on the way to school

imagine driving a car in such conditions

but flowers starting to bud...

Labels: weather

Sunday, February 10, 2008

hello! i went 2 york ytd, a whirlwind one-day tour of york. was absolutely fantastic! haha... we went 2 12 places in like 12 hours. was a really fulfilling n packed day. the best part was the ghost hunt at nite, which as totally hilarious. the guy is a fantastic actor, n it was really so cool! made up for walking ard for 12 hours. haha... (legs a bit sore today le)

here is the list of places i went 2 in order:
1) York Castle Museum
2) Clifford's Tower
3) Fairfax House
4) The York Dungeon
5) York Boat Tour
6) Yorkshire Museum, Museum Garderns, St Mary's Abbey
7) City Wall
8) Yorkminster
9) Holy Trinity Church
10) Roman Bathhouse
11) York Brewery
12) Ghost Walk

photos r here in order (uploaded more photos on facebook, go look there)

from left: my flatmates meghan and janet, me, and meghan's friend ashley

we set off early in the morning. beautiful morning to start the day isn't it?

this is york rail station, similar 2 leeds but smaller

the river at york

beautiful sun

random photos along the way

the time: 0930hrs. the start of our day in york!

at our 1st stop, the york castle museum, we saw these geese having a nice day out :D

york castle museum

some exhibitions in the museum detailing life in England in the past. nice piano!

wat r janet n meghan doing?!

hehe... look where they were sitting. old style toilets!!! muahaha :P

clifford's tower

looking down from the top of the tower

looking even further down

the time: 1130hrs; the place: fairfax house

sorry i wasn't allowed 2 take photos inside fairfax house. but it was a beautiful representation of houses in the past: elaborate, luxurious furnishings n ornaments

on the york boat tour:

st mary's abbey (the ruins of it)

see e ppl gathered there? someone was holding a wedding there... aww...

midday sun

part of the city wall

up on the city wall: janet's in front of me

the famed Yorkminster... *awe*

it's huge, n the history of the place is amazing!

very elaborate architecture, changing through the ages

look at e ppl, n u'll noe how high the building is

christian history: constantine the great was once here at where yorkminster now stands. it was once a roman fortress. it was here that constantine was crowned caesar. as we all noe, he later allowed christianity 2 b practiced in his kingdom. a very significant person indeed.

holy trinity church

after i didn't really take photos le, but not much to take anyway... a really wonderful day in all. ghost hunt was especially cool. not scary at all, but definitely memorable. the guy leading us was such a great actor, n he really did a wonderful job. :D

well, gonna stop here n let my aching legs recover :)

Labels: travels