Chicago -- the Windy City

It's spring break, and off I went to the windy city, Chicago. It's a 6 hours drive there from Des Moines, and it was a great relief when we reached Chicago. Stomachs were grumbling because of hunger, joints are sore due to lack of strecthing, and everyone are tired due to the long journey.

Finally, our first meal in Chicago. Comments about that restaurant was pretty convincing, but I must say that it did not live up to expectations. Even those who gave good review was disappointed. Anyway, we made our way to the hotel and recharged our batteries.

Rise early my fellows, our destination will be dim sum at Chinatown! Reluctantly we dragged ourselves up and made our way to the restaurant. The dim sum was quite okay, but if compared to those we get in New York City, it is a mile off from that standard. Anyhow, we head to our next destination -- downtown Chicago for St. Patrick's Parade.

People were everywhere when we reached the area. Every vantage point for a clear sight of the parade were taken. We compensated for it, and can only blame ourselves for not arriving earlier. Anyway, it wasn't all that important. I took pictures of the parade, but then started to get bored, and so we left.

We walked about nearby, visiting the reknown Chicago Bean (it is call some other name, but it is nicknamed Chicago Bean) and also downtown Chicago. We also managed to take some pictures of the river which was dyed green for St. Patrick's Celebration. Authorities claim that they use environmentally friendly dye, but I still can't help thinking what the fishes in the water think! Maybe something like, "Wow! Plenty of algae floating in the water today? Every fish, open your mouths and start eating!" =p

We went back to Chinatown after spending time downtown. Dinner time, which means we are hungry and food will be served soon! We filled up our grumbling stomachs at a seafood restaurant, again claimed to be very nice. It didn't live up to expectation again, and I didn't eat much. Maybe my expectation was to high, but I doubt it.

Karaoke was the next event, and the place for karaoke looks similar to red light area! They even use red lights to illuminate the area! It wasn't too bad, and the bartender aka technician aka 'one man show' was friendly and we did had some fun time there. Suprisingly, one of us was hungry after singing! So supper was up next. We had some food again and head back to the hotel, a journey where everyone except the driver started to doze off.

We slept till the sun was high up in the sky, then headed out in search for korean barbeque. We spent some time getting the address right and the name of the restaurant, but finally our GPS and friend in Des Moines got us to the place. Everyone was very hungry at that time, but there was only one waitress serving three tables! Patience is a virtue, and finally we were rewarded with food to treat our hunger. It was quite nice, but again, I like New York City's korean barbeque better.

We spend some time walking around the korean village, then head back to Chinatown for snooker and pool session. We cancelled the original plan of buffet steak for dinner due to the price and also the mood, and succumb to walking around Chinatown. We end up spliting into a few groups, and I walked with my dear brother. We had char siew and siew yok fan (barbeque pork and roast pork rice) for dinner. The serving was huge, and we had a satisfying meal. We headed back to the hotel, had just a little booze as we planned to play some games that night, but everyone was more interested with those hilarious commercial which the television was airing, and we called it a day after those commercials.

Korean food for brunch the next day, which was the best meal of the trip in my opinion. I spent quite a lot at the korean mart as well, but it was well worth it I must say. A last stop at Chinatown to get more char siew and siew yok and roast duck and also some pastry like egg tarts and buns, we head back to Des Moines. Rainy weather and long journey isn't pleasant, and napping during the journey was the main event.

Back in Des Moines finally, and dinner was great. Kimchi and korean snacks with siew yok and stuffs is a great match. After sleeping on the floor for a few days, my bed couldn't have felt better! =p All in all, I must say Chicago is a nice city. Definitely I will visit Chicago again one day. But to compare it with New York City, I prefer New York City. And for now, back to catching up with studies for the rest of my spring break! Adioz.

Five sites I must visit, tagged.

Since I was being tagged by Jennifer, I guess it would help me kill some time now. =p

The question was what are the five favorite sites that I must visit every day. Hmm... Let me see.

First up, www.gmail.com. Hahahaa... Well, it's the site where I must visit every day, to check my email of course!! In this era, communicating through email is very convenient and important. Don't you think so?

Next, www.facebook.com. Yes, facebook is getting more and more common, and our university's students organization also use facebook to post events and updates!! I also use it to know when are some friend's birthday and stuffs like that. Keeping in touch with friends all over the world through facebook is also easier now!! =p

Another site will be kennysia.com. Don't know what site is that? Look it up. It is arguably the most popular Malaysian blogger's site. His influence is so big that advertisers look for him to promote their stuffs on his blog! He even got all expenses paid trips to places like the Macao hotel which is like 7 stars! All in the name of advertisements. But don't get me wrong, though there are advertisements on his blog, he made it personal, which, I guess, is why people like his blog because we can relate to him. He's so big that he is now one of the judges for the malaysian dreamgirl search currently on going.

I also visit blueview.drake.edu. Yes, you guessed it. It's Drake University's portal, where I get all the information I need about Drake, and access to my Drake's email and stuffs like that. It's boring but a necessity I guess.

Last but not least, myp2p.eu and footytube.com. These two sites are where I get to watch football, where I get to watch Manchester United winning!! =p Yes, I am a football fan, a Manchester United Football Club fan. I just got myself a Christiano Ronaldo jersey!! =p

Alright, that should be the five sites. Though there are other sites I do visit, I guess these five are my highest hit. Anyone who reads this and feels like doing this tag can go ahead and do it. After you do it then let me know, via comments on this post or just a note on the chatterbox at the side of my page. I am interested in knowing what other sites on the Internet is interesting too! Thanks.

Exams and more exams!

Skip this post if you don't want to read about how crappy my exam was!

I just finish my Stats 142 exam today!! How was it you ask? Horrible!! Don't even ask what I wrote on the paper, because I don't even know what I wrote! Yes, it was that bad!

It was an open book and notes exam, yet it was tough enough to make me blank when I received the paper. Sigh!! Although I don't hope it happens, but looks like a C is coming my way again! C'mon, two semester in a row?! You've got to be kidding! =/

And then I received my Mktg 101 paper back from grading. As expected, I didn't do that well. The group work did help me out thankfully. Looks like I need to change my way of studying for this subject already!

Well, two down, two more to go. Acts 150 and Econs 105, I hope you two won't cause me trouble! I don't want to screw another test!! =( No weekend for me!! Studies studies and more studies!! Sigh... What a life!!

Long absence again?

It's been another while since I am here again, how pathetic. I must admit that I do want to always update my blog, but sadly enough there's nothing to update. Every day is just plain routine, every weekend is also mundane.

Yes, there was the Chinese New Year celebration, and it brought me lots of fun and laughter. Bridging the gap with a friend also became fun and routine, and I truly enjoyed it. =) Even though some complications exist in the process, it was eventually sorted out and everything is wonderful again.

What am I crapping now I am not sure also, just that I am clouded by some worries, or rather some thoughts of mine. And it couldn't come at a better time, when there are four test looming over the next two weeks. I couldn't concentrate on the assignment on hand, maybe it's because of what happened yesterday, even though it seems to be clouding my thoughts only.

Yes, I am feeling quite emotional now, and you may hate this post because after a month of absence again, there's an emotional post. I don't want this to happen, but I just can't help it. It's like I am falling into a trap which I know it was there all along. I was warned, yet the bait at the middle of the trap is too tempting for me to try.

What should I do? I don't know. Should I continue to go down this trap? Or should I back out? Will I seem to be a coward and hurt others if I back out suddenly? Why is there so many questions swirling in my head?! I need someone to talk to, yet I still don't know what to say if I face my friend. My friend, my dear friend, come to me! Come help me out of this mess! Sigh...

Spring 2008, new semester!

Heck, it's been a while since I updated here again. I have always been quite occupied with my dragon ball series with studies, so I guess that's the reason why I have not been here. =p

Alright, it's a new semester, and it's time for lecturer's evaluation once again. Lol. But remember, this is just my thoughts, no offence to anyone!

First, I get Prof. Parsa again, this time teaching me Stats 141. Well, same old Prof. Parsa I must say, great guy, nice to talk and joke with, but not a great teacher. I remember someone told me, a smart guy normally is not a great teacher. So my guess is, Prof. Parsa is SMART! =p

Next, Prof. Judd. He's teaching me ACTS 150. He is a good teacher so far. =p I like the way he teaches, try to put logic into those crazy formula. I have a friend who says that as well. Well, let's hope that stays true all semester. =p

My Econs 105 lecturer, Ms. Sunanda Roy, is an Indian, with a very heavy accent. Yes, very HEAVY accent, and I mean it. Well, it's not a bad thing, just that we do have to pay extra attention to catch her words. For example, the word direct, she pronounce it as DEE-RECT. Well, go figure how her class is then. =p

Mr. Hubbard, my Marketing 101 lecturer, is from Newcastle, England. Yes. the land of football, the land of the world famous EPL. He is a nice guy, but I find it amusing when he needs to change his glasses in between reading and looking at us. Besides, he repeats things to make it clear, which a friend of mine did make fun of while gossiping among us. (don't tell me you don't gossip about lecturers at all!) But then again, I think he's a good lecturer. =)

Lastly, my Management 120 lecturer, Mr. Meyer. (if I am not mistaken it is spelled like that!) I think he is a very patient guy, does his stuffs in an orderly manner, and tries very hard to make this night class interesting. It's a 3 hour class, and it's tough trying to keep student's attention throughout the class. To make the matter worse, we are using the computer lab, which means everyone of us have a computer in front of us throughout the class, which is a great temptation for distraction! Lol.

Alright, that's all for my lecturers so far. There's nothing much to do yet, but I am sure there will be loads of assignment coming my way soon! =(

Off topic, the weather is getting warmer now, which is wonderful! Like my friend commented, we finally get to see those grass, which were cover under a blanket of snow for 3 months! I am also in the midst of applying for internship this summer, but unfortunately I have yet to get an interview. =( Let's hope I get at least one soon! *fingers crossed*

My winter break 2007-08

There goes my winter break, four more days and it’s the start of the new semester. How am I feeling now? Well, looking forward for the start of my second semester in Drake, but also wish the holidays could be longer and I have more money to spend! =p

How was New York City? Well, let’s just say first impression does not always show the true side of life. Remember I said I didn’t like the way those yellow cabs fight for customers? Well, that’s my first impression of New York City, and my mind quickly summarized that I don’t like NYC because of the competitive lifestyle. Well, I was dead wrong about NYC!

Here, I met some wonderful people, expanded my friendship and also experience. We can practically get almost everything you want in NYC. Malaysian food? Of course. Asian food? Definitely. American food? Yeah, of course! Mexican? European? Everything is here! Tourist destinations? They have a bunch of it. Jobs? Why would they be shortage of jobs? Yes, it’s that good. No wonder there are ‘I love NY’ merchandise.

Going up to the observation deck of the Empire State Building at sunset was an eye opener; looking at the Manhattan skyline at Liberty Island was wonderful; blurry eyes at Times Square’s famous neon lights was amazing; riding the well layout subway was great. Really, NYC is a place worth visiting.

Food you ask? I finally have taste of Malaysian food! There are no shortages of Korean food, Japanese food, and even home cooked food! Well, I am lucky to have Rachel’s uncle and auntie to take care of our accommodation, and that’s where I got my home cooked food.

NYC is also a shopping heaven. If there’s not enough to shop in NYC, take a train to New Jersey, or better still, Woodbury Premium Outlet at New Jersey. I shopped quite a lot this trip I must say. I finally got my white jeans, which cost me a bomb. But I love it, so I guess it’s a reward for me. =p I even got myself a white beanie, but unfortunately I lost it before I even get back to Des Moines. Lesson learnt I guess. Don’t hold beanie in your hand; wear them on your head!

But I guess the most rewarding gift during this trip is being able to meet some wonderful people and call them my friends. A big thanks to Wesley who brought us around New Jersey and let us have a taste of great Malaysian food. Another thank you goes out to Kay Ying who introduced us to her wonderful friends, and also allows us to stay in the apartment next to Rachel’s uncle’s apartment. She also brought us lots of laughter, and it was quite sad when we sent her off at the airport to Hong Kong.

Of course, thank you to Randy, Fred, and Rachel is a must. Without them, I wouldn’t be visiting NYC. Thank you to other people I have met, which are Wai Yipp, Wendy, Ming Kuan, and Collin. The biggest thank you will be to our dear Paris. Lol. It wouldn’t be so enjoyable if we have not met her. She brought us around, let us bully, and provide loads of laughter and memorable moments. Really, thank you to everyone who made this trip so enjoyable.

If there’s a job offer in NYC in the near future, I will most probably be jumping on the opportunity to go back to NYC again. I love NY!

Ahh... Movies!

It's been a while since I write about movies I watched, so I am going to write about two movies I watched in the recent week. Be warned, spoiler ahead.

First up, Alien vs. Predator: Requim (AVPR). To say it is a totally kick*$$ show will be a lie; to say it is an ultimately lousy show will be a bluff. So, it totally depends on who watch the show. =p I didn't really like the show, but a friend of mine love it. If you are into plain fighting for no reason, this is the show for you; if not, I guess just grab the DVD and watch it at home. I mean, it is pointless to me that only one Predator come to Earth to battle a horde of reproducing ugly Alien just because the Alien infiltrated a Predator ship and crashed it to Earth. Yes, that's pretty much the story. I must say it is a 2 1/2 stars out of 5.

The next movie I watched, which was today, was Alvin and the Chipmunks. You think I watch cartoon? Well, not exactly. It's the same story about three chipmunks who can talk and sing. They happen to come into contact with humans, where the humans exploited their talents. They became rockstars under the care of money minded tycoon, but they quickly became exhausted and realized their first "owner" actually is the one who really treat them as part of the family. Well, this show let us see the up and down of life, as well as the ugly and pretty side of life, and it all ends with a happy ending. It was quite an enjoyable movie I must say, and it is definitely a family movie. Ah, ratings. I would give it a 3 1/2 stars out of 5.

Well, so much for me watching movie in New York City. Enjoyable, memorable. Oh, did I tell you watching movie in US is free sitting? First come first serve, no come no serve! =p We walked to the cinema in some freezing wind today, and had a lady who talked to the screen, even at the commercials before the movie! Lol! Nice experience I guess! Adioz...