headlines tomorrow

"MAN U PIPPED CHELSEA TO A DOUBLE!"

then turn a few pages and you'll see...

"VJC FOUGHT BACK WHAT'S THEIRS AFTER TWO YEARS"

rewind, play, forward and stop.

Last Sunday, 11 May, marked a series of special events for me.

First, it was my good buddy, Zhenyi's birthday.

Second, it was the last day I could enjoy 'being free', because I was to start school the following day!

Third, we had a soccer game at VJ, and I proposed that we play that match in rememberance of the victims in Cyclone Nargis. We had a black tape around our arms, and observed a minute of silence before the game. Really appreciated our team, as well as the opponents for playing for this cause.

Fourth was the title deciding fixtures of the EPL, with Man United being the champions the second time in a row. I was telling Salman, that if Man United wins, it would mean that I would start school on a very good note. Otherwise, not. And I was damn euphoric la, when Giggs scored and sealed the win (and the Championship) for the team. It had to be him.

So much so that I was twisting around in bed, trying hard to fall asleep that night. Funny thing is, I wasn't as excited about school (which happens to start the following day), as I was about how Man United managed to win despite Chelsea trying very hard to play mind games prior to Sunday. Vision of the goals, celebrations and champagne partying were reeling in my head.

Then I started school! Yes on a very good note!

I had 2 lectures and 1 tutorial of economics so far, and I must say that the lecturer really got me interested in the subject, albeit being stranger to it. I have never taken Economics in the A Levels, but I am beginning to appreciate the essence of it and its very entrenched applications in our individual lives and in the world.

Special Term, so far, has been quite 'unkind' to me, in a way that there're barely people that I know and feel easy to talk to. Hopefully, that will change in time to come. Nevertheless, I managed to meet up with Shaf to discuss if I should get a laptop now or at matric fair, and also coincidentally bumped into Kexin from my Police Basic Training squad and Alvin Tang, my primary school friend. I was kinda bugging Zhenyi when she would be free to chill at NUS but she kept saying after 21st May cos she's busy with some project. But guess what! I bumped into her at library today. She was bringing the ASEAN delegates around the library for a tour, and she had this 'sianed' look when I instantaneously saw her. Haha.

Okay! oh one more thing, and it's concerning the tragical Cyclone Nargis and the most recent devastating earthquake in China. It just goes to show the power of Allah swt, and how these are signs that the Day of the Reckoning is near.

okay enough of fun.

This is my hundredth post since I started this blog, and I dedicate it to every single victim of Cyclone Nargis that battered my native country, especially my relatives and family friends who live there.

As of now, I've not heard directly from all my relatives about their current well-being, but word-of-mouth has it that they are generally fine, marsha-allah.

(but how can they be generally fine?)

The same place I stayed back in December has its entire roof blown off. And it's really saddening to imagine what my relatives would have to go through, during the disaster and its aftermath.

So please, if you're reading this, remember to keep them in your prayers.

my japanese occupation (last part)

WELCOME TO TOKYO DISNEYLAND!

(okay I was wearing 4 layers of clothings, in case you're wondering why I look fat haha)

This was one of the rides. Ok, I think my expression got a little exaggerated. Haha.
Presenting... Disney Parade!

HUG!!

The trademark castle!

AND TOKYO DISNEYSEA!

Ok this ride features a drop from probably 7-8 storeys, free-falling down. So this picture was snapped after it reached the peak and just before free-falling. I would be lying if I say this wasn't the best ride in Disneyland/sea.

The finale - BraviSEAmo.

my japanese occupation (part 3)

Our Sunday morning started with a picnic breakfast with Gardenia bread and Ayam Brand tuna at Ueno park, which is the most crowded and happening on Sunday mornings. True enough, we were treated to spectacles of busking, musical performances, groups of teenagers playing baseball, and a couple of celebrity photoshoots. What we were looking forward to more, was what they call 'Harajuku girls', at a bridge outside of the park.








'Harajuku girls' actually refers to these girls (you see in the photos) who purposely dress up as cartoon characters or in gothic syle. They do not do it for charity; they do it for popularity. And boy, do they attract much attention, especially from tourists like us. These girls are actually victims of bully in schools or treated as outcasts. Doing this actually serves as an avenue for them to boost their sense of popularity.









Doesn't the girl on the right look like a mannequin? =D




















After the morning at Ueno Park, we set out to search for another mosque, Masjid Jamae Tokyo. Fortunately, it was so much easier looking for this mosque because it was just 20 minutes walk all the way straight down the road from the park.
















The architecture of this building, we thought, was very European, more specifically Italian. It was very beautiful on the interior and never would I have expected to find such a place in a country where Muslim population is so small. Alhamdulilah.





This was my lunch! Favourite Nasi Bryani!
We managed to find an Indian (halal) restaurant in Takashimaya Times Square on our way to Shinjuku, another busy shopping district you'll see below. Again, it was an expensive meal, but at least it was worth the experience of experiencing how globalisation benefits me. Haha.













Shinjuku!
Another busy shopping district in Tokyo.












Just thought this was a nice picture, showing the colourful night lights of the shopping arena against the backdrop of young night, with the foreground depicting the strength of the Shinjuku crowd.