Went with Liz, her net friend, who brought her friend, who brought her bro. Haven't gotten the pics from the rest yet, and I didn't take many with my camera phone, since it doesn't take night pictures very well. Am too cheap to buy a new digicam after my last one died :P
Ok, you can't really tell by this pic, but the crowds were crazy...line and lines of people! They were queuing all the way into the souvenir shops. There were 50% discount coupons in the NDP goodie bags and each coupon allowed discounts for 5 people you see, so it was quite a good deal. We each paid $11 for a ticket.
Erm...just a light. I can't remember the last time I went to the Night Safari. More than 10 years ago I think, and I have no memory of it. The atmosphere there is really nice now though. The moment you get off the bus, you're greeted by all these Survivor-esque lighted torches (with real fire!)... and everything is dark and misty and mysterious inside.
Donno why they have a plane on the ceiling, but it's pretty~
This is from a poster advertising the 3-in-1 bundle pack - Zoo + Night Safari + Bird Park. Obviously, this baby orangutan here is from the zoo...isn't he cute!
Wth??? Hotdog for $9.90???? Potato chips for $4??? Ice cream for $5???
More overpriced stuff. Moral of the story: Eat before going in, either at the fast food place just outside, or anywhere else for that matter. Or bring your own dinner, which I saw an Indian family doing... I was too cheap also to buy any of the food from this place...even though I was hungry and drooling at the sight and smell of the food. In the end it was okay. Afterall, I've gone for the 30-hour Starvation Camp before...I can take it! :P
In one part of the souvenir store. Oi Liz, why so serious?! Lol. I love how my shirt is glowing...and even my teeth! We were all taking pics like mad inside that shop.
Erm, no pics of the animals except blurry ones, so I'm not going to post them.
At the lion enclosure, there was this particular lion who started making moaning sounds at a passing tram. It sounded like some kind of strangulated roaring, as if it had something stuck in its throat...the sounds were drawn out at first, but became abrupt and short, like, "Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!" Really odd. It kept doing that at intervals after that. It was very loud too, we could hear it even though we'd gone a long way from it. Really weird lion. Lol.
I also discovered a new species of animal that thoroughly fascinated me - the mousedeer.
Obviously this pic wasn't taken by me! But look how cute it is! I feel like Alice in Wonderland when I look at this tiny creature with skinny legs. This one here is the Lesser Mousedeer. There is a Greater Mousedeer, which is bigger of course. The Lesser Mousedeer is the smallest known hooved animal. Can you imagine how tiny its hooves must be? Was filled with a sense of wonder when I saw one quite close as it was nibbling on some carrots. But like the animals of its name, it startles easily, and fled as soon as it heard other noises.
Had a very close encounter with a leopard too, as I was squatting next to the glass and it walked right past me - not once, but twice. Wow. I was only separated from it by that not-so-thick-looking piece of glass!
Then there were the free-flying fruit bats, which were cute too, but kind of creepy as well. They fly around randomly, and sometimes their flight path arced very near to us. It was thrilling for me.
The hyenas were interesting too, although they did nothing but watch us keenly. I could see them responding to higher-pitched sounds. People say the hyena is ugly, but I think it has a rugged sort of beauty to it - in its long, thick neck and strong chest.
The Indian wolves were interesting....because one lost its footing and almost fell off a pile of stones. Of course it bounded right back...but...so malu lor!! Hahaha.
There is a fantastic view of the Seletar (Serangoon???) Reservoir from the Night Safari too. You could see the reflection of the hills on its surface, and the night sky faded from purple into black from the bottom up. Really peaceful and beautiful. I felt like I could have stood there all night looking at that view.
(Yes...I'm posting this at 5 plus in the morning...can't sleep.)
What do you do when you know someone is lying is pretending to be something they are not to their partner?
I spend a fair bit of my time inhabiting a virtual world called Second Life (SL). On its website, it says "Second Life is an online, 3D virtual world imagined and created by its Residents."
If you are familiar with Habbo, MMORPGs like World of Warcraft (WOW), and even the Sims video games, then you have an idea of what SL is like.
Unlike WOW, however, there is no 'endpoint', no quests to undertake, no XP to gain. In this aspect it is more like the Sims, a game which allows you relative freedom to create whatever scenario you desire with your characters. In SL, however, you control your avatar and use it to chat with others, so in this aspect it most closely resembles Habbo, except that you have even more freedom to customise your avatar.
You really can look like anything you can imagine in SL - from the standard human ones to the really weird ones like a walking, talking electric fan, or even a burger. Of course, the latter two are made by the Japanese! In SL, you have the freedom to be whatever you want.
I have so much to say about avatars in SL, but this post is not SL fashion or SL culture. This post is about another category of avatar - what I shall call the Imposter. Sadly, there're a number of them stalking around SL, preying on innocent victims and giving a bad name generally to virtual worlds.
What I mean, specifically, is men who pretend to be women in SL and actually have relationships with other men online.
For what reason they do this I don't know - perhaps they are gay or have a secret desire to be a woman. Fair and well - everyone has the freedom to be whatever they wish to be in SL. But I think when you start to lie and cheat at the expense of others, it's just...wrong.
I know one such person. Nearly everyone in the Singapore SL community that I 'belong' to (there's no official membership, more like a loose gathering of friends at a common location) knows his dirty secret, because many of us have seen him in real life (we meet up quite regularly). Of course, he's not a regular at these offline meetups. Most male newcomers are often warned early about him as well. There is the odd one or two who fall through the gaps and into his trap.
One in particular is going to 'get married' with him in October! Yes, you can get married in SL, but that's another topic altogether.
The irony is that this hapless fella who has so 'fallen' for our Imposter is Malay............... "Tak halal," as my friend said of the latter once.
I've been rather troubled by this turn of events. So much so that I even dreamt of private messaging this guy to tell him, "Your girlfriend is really a man in real life, you know."
The problem is I don't know if he is only 'playing' or for real. There are SL couples for whom their couplehood only exists online, and they share this common understanding. Yet even for these couples, there are often 'real' feelings and affection involved, feelings that exist when neither are logged on.
"The neurochemistry is the same," another friend once said of virtual relationships. The line between virtual and real is too easily blurred. You can say, "It's only SL!" but I believe the things one does and says online are rooted in reality.
This is what I'm concerned about - it may be only an online thing, but it's also possible to get hurt. But it's a bit of a dilemna; which do you protect - one individual's freedom to be whatever he wishes to be in SL, or another individual's right to the truth and his 'feelings', of whatever nature they may be?
Yet he has chosen for himself, albeit in extremely poor judgement. I mean, hello...the Imposter's female avatar is not even the most attractive around!
What I'm most disturbed by is the fact that we are hidden accomplices in the Imposter's selfish plan by keeping mum. Oh, we protest, of course. By being sarcastic, being exaggerated, copying their style of PDA. Some more bluntly than others. Or pretending to be afk (away from keyboard) when they are around and doing their disgusting PDA thing.
Then again, the Imposter's relationships have never lasted for very long.
Am slacking again when I'm supposed to be doing reading for my essay
> _ <
Was suddenly reminded of an incident when Liz and I were talking about how we tend to see the worse in ourselves but are able to see the best (or at least better) points of others.
Was telling her that I wouldn't want to look like anybody else because I like my face. My figure, however, is another thing altogether > . <
She said that if she looked like me, she wouldn't want to look like someone else either, because I have 'interesting features'. She went on to say that I have big eyes, which have a unique shape and not the typical anime kind of big eyes.
"Huh!? Big meh??" was my immediate reaction. I've never thought I have big eyes - and in fact have been teased for my small eyes disappearing in photos when I smile. After that incident I always remember to keep my eyes open when I smile.
She then commented on my nose, which she said was straighter than normal. Hmm. My nose has never been one of my favourite features - and I remember wishing fervently during a period when I disliked my looks a lot (thank God that has passed) that my nose was smaller and more elegant, and that my nostrils didn't show when one looked at me straight on.
After her comments, though, I think I like my nose a little bit more now - it is rather straight, and it's not bulbous, like some noses I've seen. And I suddenly remember an incident when a colleague of mine from SGH asked if I'd had work done on my nose before, because it's so straight! I still don't think my eyes are big, though - just average-sized, I suppose.
My favourite facial features are my double eyelids, my eyelashes, and my lips. I didn't have double eyelids when I was younger. They only 'grew out' when I was in my late teens. Strange, huh? As for my lashes - they're quite long and voluminous. My mom used to keep asking me if I wear fake lashes! Hello, I don't even wear mascara! Lol. These days she remembers, though, and doesn't ask me that anymore.
I used to hate what I saw as my 'fat' lips too, but now I like them. Liz said that my lips are a unique shade of pink. Huh? Oh well, nevermind.
I think Liz has interesting features, too. And she is pretty!
Edit: Liz just reminded me that she didn't say that my nose is straight, but sharp. xP
Yes, Esther/Qing Ying/Sheepie is a closet fangirl.
Where do I start on this one? I have been a longtime fan of these guys - I think two years is a long time for me to remain fascinated, intrigued and appreciative of something. A lot has happened to me in these two years. A lot, too has happened to them in these two years. And I'm looking forward to the things they will come up with in the years to come - that is, if they keep on doing and improving on what they have been doing so far.
At this point, you're probably thinking, "Errrr....wth? Aren't these just three ordinary guys messing around? And what's with the teddies!"
Well, yes and no.
Yes, because they started making videos in universities for fun. In their own words: Wong Fu Productions first began in 2003 on the campus of UC San Diego [Yup, they're American]. Over the years Wong Fu has evolved from a group of college dormmates and friends to a few boys driven to succeed: Philip Wang, Ted Fu, and Wesley Chan [left to right].
Again and again they find it incredibly amazing when hundreds of people turn up at their events, because they think they are really not that cool.
No, because to date they have had works shown at various film festivals, including Cannes (!!!). They also have a self-produced feature film under their belts and am working on another, this time in collaboration with people from the industry.
But the thing I love about Wong Fu and their works is their spirit.
Again, in their own words: Wong Fu was created on a saying that "If at the end of the day there's someone out there who has a better day because of us, then we've succeeded." To this day, that motto still stands. We believe we can have a positive influence in this industry, and on our audience...and if we can do this, then we know we're doing something right.
By this measure, then, they're extremely successful, because their videos make me smile and sometimes cry, and it always makes me feel better.
Yet again, in their own words:
This, too, I love about them.
It all seems very idealistic, no? I am an idealist, too, and this is why their ideas resonate so deeply within me. But as I grow up, I find my thinking becoming more and more realistic (or rather, fatalistic!) and it's a bit scary - I don't want to become like the average Singaporean aunty who has little to say except to complain about stuff and only values what she can see with her eyes.
I've had people tell me that I am naive, but I'll rather be naive than to be a skeptic. I want - need - to hold on to my ideals, my naivete, foolish as they may seem to others. I want to believe that there is still magic and innocence and miracles to be found in this world which I live in.
This is why I love Wong Fu, because in their works I see these things. You can say that they're only videos, that real life is different. But it is comforting that somewhere out there, someone shares my beliefs. What's more, they're having success with their vision. Isn't that saying something?
Sometimes I wonder what will become of Wong Fu in the years to come. Will they eventually call it quits? Will they 'sell out' and start putting sex and violence into their work? Will their worldview change as they grow older? Will they be coming soon to a cinema near me?
Whatever it is, I really hope the essence of their work never changes.
Now on to the boys themselves... aren't they cute? Lol.
Everyone has favourites (don't lie) and my favourite is... the one in the beige shirt. Phil. It's hard to find a pic of him in which his face is not contorted...
Why?
Because he looks like my JC Crush. They even have the same sort of hands (don't laugh). I had many many crushes in JC, but this was The Crush. The boy I went to school for - seriously! The boy with the sunshine smile and silly antics. Not gonna post a pic of him though. Although he did appear as one of Cleo's 50 bachelors last year... xP
Also because when I read his blog, I think, "Woah. This guy is saying things that I think!" Well, not everything, obviously. He has seriously random moments (like one post about his hatred of napkin holders). But enough of it, especially the stuff pertaining to relationships and life.
Plus, he's funny. And creative. And hardworking. Heck, all three of them are, and I have been tempted at times to 'jump ship', but Phil will always be my fave.
I really like the way he thinks. Damn, I wanna marry him! LOL. I'd really like my future partner to be someone whom I can talk about these things with, and relate to in the same way.
I'm gonna be late for Soci class (zzzzz, literally, for those who know the story) if I don't get away from this machine soon.
I use their pictures almost exclusively for my wallpaper xP
I'd blog my fave videos from them, but maybe next time! Have too many of them anyway. And if you're very observant, I've been posting vids made by them quite often lately.
Here's one anyway - an engagement vid they made for two of their friends. One lived in LA, the other in Taipei. They did the long distance thing for 5 years. Incredibly sweet video. Do not click if you're a cynic! (Hmm, actually, if you're one, you should watch this all the more?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtBk6Y5b-Nc
