Song of the Season: I Don't Care - Fall Out Boy

Friday, January 9, 2009

Happy Birthday, Lokman. :P

Hi all,

My fellow readers, here I am again, unable to explain to you about my enormous relapse into laziness and not posting a new entry since... well, never. I hope you can forgive me, and continue to enjoy stories from my blog. I really need to cleanse this habit of procrastination from myself, for this point of time in my life I am at a crossroads, where every move I make may determine my future forever. A lot has happened since my last post, and as god is my witness, I shall try my best to write them all down in my later entries.

Today is a special day for me. I've just celebrated my Birthday. I should be happy. But I'm freaking sad now. Sad to the core. Sad to the depths of my soul. And tired. Because, on this day, of all days, I found out about an impending dateline for my all important Major Project. And the dateline is on NEXT MONDAY, 12/01/2009. I guess some of you don't understand what the big fuss is all about. Well, this project is about the last of my subjects that i need to take, and it represents a HUGE chunk of my scores and will affect my GPA tremendously.

Imaging 3 years of hard work, all gone down the drain because of one lazy ass mistake. Me. But hey, today's my birthday. So I'm going to really try to enjoy my Chocolate Fudge Cheese Cake. Must have cost a fortune. Thanks Mom. Happy Birthday Lokman. Hang on to the ride of your life. :P
Moi Birthday Cake. :P

Friday, November 21, 2008

The Story (Prologue)

In the beginning...

Well, to begin with, the story that I'm going to tell  isn't actually quite interesting. To be frank, it's quite boring. In fact, it's so boring, the proper word that should be used on this story would be mundane. But, as luck would have it, that in this story, as also in all other stories that you have read or heard or else there wouldn't be a story, something happens, and it changes everything forever. 

How shall we begin? Well, not long ago, somewhere in the peninsular of...  Wait, wait... this is too long winded. Well let's just begin with our character shall we? Some time ago, maybe a few months ago, there was a not quite so ordinary boy. He fancied himself to be a traveller of sorts, and not having seen or heard anything out of his home or country, longed to travelled. In his heart, he yearned to experience the world. So when opportunity came, he decided to set his sights on the land down-under, Australia, without his family. He had with him a single, clear, focused purpose: to touch a kangaroo.

Now, you might think that the boy was foolish to have thought such a thing. I mean, who in the world would have heard of such a thing? Clearly this boy is not thinking clearly, or perhaps, not deeply enough? Travelling to a far away destination just for the chance to pet an animal? The others thought. But in this boy's heart, it was a lifetime dream, and once he was set on something, he would try his best to uphold it.

So the boy went. He still had to appear normal to the others, so, still under the pretense, he went working while he was there. Luckily enough for the boy, he had a good friend to travel along with him, and also to guide him along while he was there. The friend of the boy was always helpful, and also tried his best to help the boy.

And so the boy worked. And waited, for the chance, the thought deep somewhere at the back of his mind, but always, always there. The boy made many a good friends in the land down under. Some became very close to him, others were just casual friends, some were just formal acquaintances, but all we still well respected. The boy laughed. Sometimes he cried, missing his home. He did his work faithfully, and ever so subtly, found himself slowly, but surely, growing up. He enjoyed everything he experienced, and was very thankful that he made the journey.

In our story, the not quite so ordinary boy did managed to touch a kangaroo, but in the process, unwittingly put himself through the greatest journey of all: the journey of life. How did this happen? You would ask. He grew from the experience - and the experience grew with him. When it was time for the boy to return home from his journey, he wept, remembering everything that he had done.

You might think that this story is good and meaningful, or you might find it incomplete, or simply lacking a good goal or a plot. But, that's just the way the story goes. Then again, I did tell you that it was sort of mundane. But I can draw for you one conclusion, and this is just my conclusion, everyone else is entitled to their own based on what they think the story means: the next time you decide to do something, wait, no, how shall I put it, really want to do something, why not? Well, you might just be surprised where life brings you based on your decisions.

The Great Adventures of Lokman: The Australian journey comes to an end.

Hi all,

For my faithful readers, I am truly sorry and apologize for my constant procrastination when updating my blog. :P It seems that my fingers turn to lead EVERY time the very thought of writing pops up, and my mind suddenly seems to wander over to "what's for dinner tonight?". All blame lies on me, and I will make it up to you guys by regaling my strange and exotic tales from abroad. Like a veteran sailor back from a long sail, I shall do my best to tell tales that shall both excite and satisfy your curiousity. I have made the best of friends on this trip, grown up (well, just a lil' bit I hope :P) and seem to find myself to be more matured (although i seriously doubt it, ha ha).To those of you who are planning an overseas internship for your studies, I suggest that you should really give it a go. You might really like what you find, just like what I've come to realise. The world is such a big place, so go out and get em' tiger. RRRrrr.

Monday, October 6, 2008

The Great Adventures of Lokman: Australia Day 36 - Wohoo! I'm loving it! Time for some self-reflection :P

Hi all,

I know, I know, It's been a damn long time since I've updated my blog and this has on many occasions left my fellow faithful readers feeling very disappointed. On behalf of myself I would like to apologize profusely for the delays and for my procrastination and humbly hope that my apologies are accepted. :P Now, back on track to my Australian adventures. Truly a lot has happened during my stay here. I've learned to cook, clean, be responsible for my own well-being, set ground rules for myself, learned quite a lot on how to rely mostly on moi, help others through the day as much as I can and generally grow to be a more matured and responsible adult. (ya right, a matured and responsible ADULT :P) I've met and made very good friends during this trip and I'm quite sure that I'll be remembering them forever. Life at the lodge (or if you prefer to call it 'hostel') has given me quite a unique experience and a sense of community bond as we all stay and go about our daily lives under one roof.

Given this opportunity, I would also raise my hand in the highest salute to those who have left their country in the pursuit of knowledge. I have experienced on a firsthand account basis the obstacles and difficulties faced by international students and how they would use the means that they have as much as possible to survive and also thrive in their new environments. (Trust me, studying in a foreign country can be more difficult than you think. :P) In spite of all the tremendous amount of difficulties, they still wish to plough ahead and persevere in what they do. From the bottom of my heart, I wish them great success, and they have gained my utmost respect.

On the lighter side, living in a foreign country can be extremely fun! :P Literally, you will have the whole of the country at your feet for exploration. My example for this case is when the lodge villagers (I refer people who live in the lodge by this name :P) made a weekend getaway to Rainbow Beach. It was a heck of a good time, and for the very first time in my life, I surfed the waves! :P To me, life can't get any better than this. Well, that's it for today, see you next time, bye!
Rainbow Beach


My friends playing soccer in the sand


Moi :P

Monday, September 22, 2008

The Great Adventures of Lokman: Trip to Sea World! :P

Hi all,

It's been quite sometime since I've updated my blog, due to equal parts of laziness and lack of time. :P  It's been three weeks now, and I guess that I've adapted quite well to the environment and the culture here in Australia. I've done so much over these couple of weeks, and sharing them all will take quite some time. But here goes nothing, and I will try to recount as much as possible the activities that I have done. As some of my friends will already know, I've visited the Sea World theme park near the Gold Coast and I can frankly tell you, the theme parks in Singapore will definitely pale in comparison with the theme parks here. First of all, the theme park was HUGE in terms of size and the rides and attractions that were available would even put the "adventurous thrill-seekers" in Singapore to shame. These are just some of the pictures that I took in the theme park:



















video

However, the highlight of my visit to Sea World was definitely the helicopter ride! Woohoo! Ha ha... :P These are some of the breath-taking pictures i took on the ride:











Well, that's all I have to show for today. I'll be sure to keep my blog up-to-date. Till next time, bye! :P

Monday, September 8, 2008

The Great Adventures of Lokman: Haiz... I really miss Singapore :(

Hi all,

I'm in a really, really depressed mood right now. :( I know that it's just been a week since my departure from Singapore, but I've been getting these extreme bouts of homesickness whenever I think of Singapore. Australia's really not that bad, with amazing places to visit and good weather and it is full of nice and interesting people, but then again, there's nothing like home sweet home. I miss the Singaporean shops. I miss the food too. I miss the high-rise buildings, the cars, the MRT (which is the train in Singapore)... I even miss watching kid's central on the television for god damn sake! Haiz... (*sighs for very, very long*)

Most of all, I miss my family and friends. I think of them often, and how their lives are while I'm away in Australia. I really can't wait when the day comes when I've arrived back in Singapore and I get to see all their faces again. I know that some of them have vowed to welcome me back at Changi Airport, and I will cherish that moment forever. To me, three months is too long to be away from your own country. I've often think about the students who travel overseas to study and what they must be feeling to be far from home for so long, and I sympathize with their plight. They must have a deep longing to see their friends and family again. I really hope they persevere through, and keep that goal in mind while they're studying.

Well, it seems that by some miracle that I've survived the first week in Australia. I know that it's just a matter of time before I return home, and that thought keeps me going. I know that I could survive anywhere in the world and achieve much if I persevere long enough and have the determination and will to see it through. Well, that's it for now, bye! :P

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

The Grand Adventures of Lokman: Australia Day 2

Day 2:

Hi all,

Today, Alvin and me finally landed at Brisbane's airport quiet earlier than expected, but luckily the chaffeur was already there to pick us up. This were the pictures that we taken on that day:

Indooroopilly Lodge
Indooroopilly Train Station

Transit Bus

Queensland University




My Workplace :P

We did quite a number of stuff on the today. We prepared our University Library Cards, "Go" Cards (Ezlink Card), registered ourselves into the university, etc. The list goes on and on. Well, that's it for now. Bye! :P