To tell ya the truth, I haven't been able to blog my heart out like I used to. The zealous, sentimental blogger has disappeared; and now in his place, a quotidian, almost robotic persona who posts just because he has to because he said that he would because he had nothing else to do because he is lazy. I'm not sure if it's even legal to use that many 'because'es in a sentence but
If you are observant and just happen to be next to me right now, you can't miss the action in which I'm helplessly clutching at straws, trying to salvage as much of what I used to have. It just isn't right, feeling the knowledge gained and skills honed seep steadily out of my body.
Take my social circle for example:
What used to be as big and wide as, say, a paddy-field, is now as narrow and puny as a child's playpen.
That wasn't a good analogy at all, but it helped emphasise on another thing that I'm losing.

A smart alec would probably say that I should be out there in the battlefield, putting right what I think is out of order instead of sulking and whining about how things are sliding down a spiral towards failure and self-destruction. He would also say that I'm wasting a precious friday night in front of the computer. Before you go on thinking along the same line as my imaginary smart alec- whom I suddenly have the urge to turn into a punching bag- I would like to, in the kindest fashion possible to mankind, halt you from doing so.
Why? Because I'm tired of being reminded that I'm an average joe in a society where average is almost as bad as below-average and only excellence is celebrated. Plus, there is also the fact that you can't be good at everything. You can love and be good at math, language and music at one point, but obviously, those three don't get along together in a career path prospective. That is why sometimes, it's fine to sit down, look at the bigger picture and whine about the wall of adversities you're facing while sulking at the open windows and doors you sacrificed for another opportunity.

I especially hate and detest that feeling of being left out of something you want to do, but having to give it up because there are options that outweigh it in terms of importance. And when I say "importance", it merely relates to "ensuring a brighter future" which also means "More $$". The same "important" tag that doesn't guarantee a happy lifetime ahead is sometimes overused, and thus, becomes the cause of many misjudgements. It is almost as if everything we do now is premised on financial stability and the conjecture that happiness is sure to come along with it. How many people out there can actually say with their heads held high that they chose what they truly love over what is "important"? How many can be good at all the things they love? I know I can't.
Hence, the sulking and whining.

Titleless

Lets hope that this post works it way through the snail-paced dial-up connection that is currently forced upon me and this household.

First of, the excuses. Knowing that it wouldn't make much difference, are they still necessary? Why, YES! For reasons that even I fail to recognise, I feel obliged to at least give a few excuses to make amends for my disappearance from the bloggosphere these few weeks. (Though I'm not quite sure to whom this should be directed to).
Cause of the lack of posts- excuses:

1. I had no time.
2. The number of lab reports that I had to handle exceeded my wildest expectations, thus, tipping my online time allocation upside down.
3. I was sick... for one day.
4. The broadband connection went phut and still remains so up til this very second (which is why I'm going back to the traditional dial-up internet.
5. I have more important things to do, e.g. Indulge in my PS2 until my eyes begin to bulge or trying to figure out the top 10 gruesome ways to kill the ppl at the TM telco. company.
6. I temporarily lost my will to post anything.
7. I had to do chores (really!)
8. I was lazy.
   

I'll just stop here. Any more and I'd probably get an award for my idiocy (not to mention cyberspace wasting)

Anyways, just for the sake of updating:

I doubled the times I've watched Casino Royale's Mr. double 'O' seven running around killing bad guys while miraculously having the leisure to fuck about. Those who had till now averted the movie just because they heard that James Bond screwed up big time in this one needn't worry. All the fuss about him not being able to fill the shoes of his predecessors are bollocks; I say, "What shoes?!" (never really a fan of the last one). The movie is brilliant and the overall cast, outstanding. Hope this Craig guy continue being Bond for awhile.

Other than throwing dough at the cinemas, I guess there isn't anything more interesting happening around here unless you count the upcoming test 2 days away, or the examinations everyone else is having/had. My eyes, legs and fingers are staging a peaceful protest right outside my brain. I can hear them chanting now, loud and clear. "SLEEP! SLEEP! SLEEP!". I suspect that think things might change for the worse if I continue this. So, I better be off now. Ciao. Have a nice day.

[Note: I wrote this but couldn't publish it. The broadband connection is OK now]

Now that my line is back on track, I shall return to my one or more posts per week ratio.

Korea- 2

Here's the korea post that is long overdue.

The trip to Korea was totally awesome if you ask me. Oh no, the feeling's fading away. Aaahh!!! This is why you shouldn't procrastinate. So, instead of telling the story, I'm just gonna slog it out by posting the pics.
Here's a pic of the biggest theme park in Korea.(Where I found the best theme park ride in a mechanism that gives you twice the rotation and a heavy dose of nausea). Oh, and that's our tour guide, Mr Lu, who's wearing a maroon vest, standing in the middle staring at us.

A tiger prowling, a bear trying to get the coach driver's attention.

A storyteller who doesn't hesitate to fully-utilize hand gestures, Mr. Lu spent most of the time on the bus rolling out the history of Korea in quite exciting fashion. (Though you have to be interested in history to appreciate it). The thing about my visit to Korea was that I had no knowledge about them besides their national football team, their cars and the North's nuclear ambitions. What made it so enjoyable was actually learning about the beautiful country and it's people from a native himself.
The way he described the korean national football team and their achievement in the 2002 World Cup caused even me to feel proud (Proud to be an Asian that is). Apart from that, there were also little details about Korea that you can't get from any web pages or travel books. Details like the interesting and intriguing love-hate relationship between the North and the South. (Of course, there are also the spy and North-South Border related stories.)


At a train station that's right next to the beach. Famous for a scene in one of the many Korean drama series.












My brother here steering us into trouble. (On a "retired" S.Korean navy ship)










A captured North Korean spy submarine (damaged, see). It comes with a story about 20 N.Korean spies who got stranded on South Korean shore.










Taking the cable-car up the soraksan in Soraksan National Park.The air was so friggin fresh that you'd wish you can bottle some up and bring it back here.













A picturesque autumn scenery on Mt. Soraksan.

















Another one... Simply beautiful ain't it?












Here's one for ppl who watched winter sonata.
Nam-I-Island










Me trying my hand at Kimci making. (It was harder than I thought)