Something new

It's time for a routine dust off. Been a long time since my last post and a lot has happened. To whoever still drops by occasionally, sorry you guys are stuck with so little updates. Too many things going on, and I'll just try to summarise the happenings that came about this past few months.

As you guys may know, from my previous posts, I'm currently undergoing my studies at Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus. That's in Kuching, nice place really. Been here for a little over six weeks already, and I must say I've pretty much settled into the living style here. Being away from home doesn't really bother me, still miss home cooking occasionally, but everything is going well. The classes were a little mix of old and new, learning some new stuff while brushing up on skills I learnt whilst in diploma. It's a great experience here as I get the chance to mix with a lot of international students and learn more about their country and culture, as a matter of fact, because of the diverse student culture, Swinburne organizes a cultural night event every year where students perform their cultural specialties or just take the chance to perform. I was lucky my enrolment was timed just right as I got to experience this event.

 So far, I've already passed the middle mark of the semester and ended my mid term break(JUST today actually). The first half went well I would say and then it's onwards to another 6 weeks and I'll end my Semester 2 Year 2. Recently, actually just a week ago, I acquired a bicycle.

700c Nexus Hybrid Bike

I got a bike for a few reasons, transport being one of the few reasons, and recreation being another. Why a hybrid bike? Because mainly, I'll only be using it for road and minimal off road. This bike can handle gravel as well as "kampung" roads no issue. It's a great bike, even though I only managed to take it out for a spin no more than 5 times. Pretty sad, huh? Why? Cause foolhardy me went and attempted a ramp take-off. 

Like I said in the title, "Something new", and by that, I meant, loads of new experiences. This was, as painful as it was, something new to me, as well as exciting. Back 4 years, while I was still in high school, I used to do a lot of "little" stunts with my then MTB(Mountain Bike). It wasn't a really high end model but at RM450, it was a pretty damn good bike with full suspension and toughness to take a beating. Which in the end got stolen by some scumbag, whoever it was, hope it serves him well like it did for me(posted about this ages back). 

So, I went on a cycling session with the Swinburne Cycling Club and they brought us to a dirt trail to have some fun. A little too much fun for me I guess, when I decided to do the ramp take-off. I borrowed one of the cycling member's MTB cause my hybrid for sure wouldn't be able to pull off the stunt. Went for it but close to the ramp, I faltered and braked, causing me to lose momentum. Which ended with me plunging down the ramp rather than flying off it. The resulting fall cause me to fracture my left collarbone which required a surgery to realign it back as well as a metal plate and 7 screws.

Fractured collarbone, overlapping

Although it was a pretty serious thing, I just felt excited throughout the whole ordeal(okay maybe a little nervous cause...surgery). Everything was a new experience to me and I'm pretty glad I got this chance to experience things like this while I'm still young and capable and able to go the extreme. Don't get me wrong, a broken bone is no fun, but experience on the other hand is, priceless.

I was in really good spirits throughout the ordeal, dad even flew down to make sure I was alright(feeling guilty about this). But we got to spend some quality time together. I also thought I was gonna be lectured, but then, they just said, they warned me and I had to be responsible for my own decisions, which was my broken bones.

Before the surgery, submitting some assignments (with one hand)

After the surgery

Pretty much in good spirits

 I was discharged after three days in the hospital with no signs of complications. Overall, I'd say I had a really eventful mid term break. I have to wear a sling when I walk for the first two weeks after ther surgery but my arms can still function normally for typing and writing. A really good experience for me in my opinion. Now, I'm just making sure I take care of myself and get a speedy recovery and have my bones joined back together. 

Today, begins my 2nd half of the semester, and things are bound to get busier. I guess, you guys won't be hearing from me for a while(again). Video of the fall can be watched here. It's kinda funny watching myself. I can even laugh at myself, weird.

Here's to another one of the longest post I've done.

Cheers

Vincent Loke

P.S.: I'm so sorry bike, just wait for me for a while longer alright?

I'll take you out onto the road again. Soon I hope.

30 Days, onwards.

31st July 2014.

The day that marked the end of my job period with Linkz Event. We had a celebration for a colleagues birthday, as well as a farewell lunch for me. It wasn't a grand big thingy, but it's the thought that counts. It felt good knowing that I played my part well and that they thought of having a farewell lunch for me, even though I was only with them for 3 months.

The Linkz Event family =)

Thinking back, I couldn't really recall much about how hard it was when I first started working at Linkz. Trying to get used to the time schedule, office conduct, workflow and system. But after a week it didn't seem to matter anymore. I got used to the office, and slowly got comfortable. During my time with them, I learnt more than what I first expected when I took up the job. I learnt a thing or two about running and managing an event, how to secure sponsorships, and overseeing the running of the event on site. Even though I was a graphic designer, they gave me the opportunity to learn outside of just my profession.

I was given an experience into what the working world was like. The office never really felt like an office. My colleagues were always helpful and fun to talk to, even though work is work and play is play, and we balanced between those two, they always gave pointers when I had questions, never answers. "That's how you get to learn." They would say, to which I agree. We had company trips, as well as lunch outings. Those were fun times, as I got to experience what they meant by "After office hours bonding".

Now, I'll be preparing for my next hurdle. Further studies. Thank you for the great referral letter and thank you so much for everything. Short as 3 months may be, during my period with Linkz Event, I've overcome and learnt a lot.

Much love, such touching referral letter. =')

Next up, in 30 days, onwards to degree studies. I'm so pumped.

Cheers~

Vincent

7 days to go

*blows dust off this place* Wow, it's been awhile. I'm surprised there are still people reading this not-very-active blog of mine. Thanks for the...readership I guess? 

So yeah, a few posts back, I wrote about getting three offer letters from three different universities and colleges that I have applied to. Finally made my choice about a week back actually, but I didn't have time to talk about it. I'll get to why later. 

Decided on Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak. Reason was because they made me an offer I could not refuse(no, not really.) The offer letter that came in was for Multimedia Design, and I was given an exemption of 12 subjects, making my study duration 1.5 years. Don't ask me, I have no idea how this thing works, but I'm just glad I got an offer letter. Seems like I would be starting in September, which is kinda just a month to go. I'm actually pretty excited because this is a new experience for me to be alone and manage myself in a foreign place. Might miss home from time to time but oh well, can't always be too dependant. Guess my parents trained me well during my college days to source my transportation and everything else (almost did everything myself). I was pretty lucky too to decide early, cause I snagged myself a good deal on the flight ticket there (Air Asia promo :D). Yeah, I'm going alone. So August would be a lot of packing getting some important items, gonna get most of the daily stuff when I'm settled down over there though.

So yeah, why was I so busy? Work. It's finally coming to an end. Soon. 7 working days really. That's just a week to go. Time sure flies and without really keeping track, I've already been in the company for close to three months. I will really miss the place, because the working environment and my colleagues were really helpful and always helpng me grow. I've learnt a few things about working life while with them, and though there were some stressful moments, the outcome at the end after a project was worth it. I joined the company for the experience, and I got what I started off aiming with. Rushing and tying up loose ends before I leave at the end of the month, completing the major artworks before handing them over to the next designer to ease her burden (responsibility, in-grained into me). Also the reason I'm up at 2.15a.m today. Double checking some of the assignments and artworks that are close to completion or completed.

Most importantly, I really thank them because they were there to keep my mind off things and made me focus on what was most important at hand, the job and priorities. For that, I will always be thankful to have learnt from them.

Till next post (If I have something undust this place with)

Cheers

Vincent Loke

Giving

It's not normal for me to be posting so often. But who cares anyway? I'm not posting for anyone. Sometimes we just need words to voice out what we can't say not because we can't, but we're afraid of what the consequences are as well as how it may sound.

I care a lot about things. When things that matter to me most are before me, I would do what I can to make things work. When life get's in the way, I believe that there are ways to overcome. I moan, I cry, and yes, I complain. But we all do. What matters after is that whether you pick yourself up or come to a stand still. Whether we just leave things as is and turn to another. Most of us would pick ourselves up. That's a given. 

Life's a bell curve, you go up, where the happy times are, then you fall, for those are the times where you learn what matters most. Everyone is built different and that being too much alike only repels. Why are we built differently? Cope differently? That's the way we are made. My personal guess is that we were meant to complement the lack in another whilst the other does the same.

I give everything I have. Not because I can. Not because it's a must. It's because I want to. It's because I see something in it. I value the things that come by. We give a little, we sacrifice a little. We gain a little, we receive a little.

There are multiple ways to make it through. Believe in me who believes in you.

Minds and thoughts

Thinking too much and worrying over things. That's human. I'm worried yes. So much. I'd give anything just to have the good times back. When it didn't matter as long as we we're together, we could do anything.

Love is a test of time, not feelings. Feelings come and go as time passes. What matters is that both party can find the feeling to stay strong together.

You can't change how a person thinks. Their mind is their own. You can only convince them to see that there are other alternatives.

Change. We are made for change. If there is something not so desirable, you are always entitled to change that part of you for the better. Humans don't act and stay as they are, we adapt and change and make ourselves better.

Breaking up is the easy way of taking things. So you can just run away. That's what they say. I really never thought of this. I've only thought of, how do we work through this? How do we fix this?

I just feel like poring all this out. I feel better letting this out in words than to keep it pent up inside of me. I feel, I know, I understand.

Picking up the pieces

It's 3am. I am still not ready to answer the calls of my pillow as it yearns for my head lie upon it. I am still not ready for the darkness that would welcome me. I am still not ready for what will come after I close my eyes.

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Cracks upon the walls

Cracks upon the windows

Cracks upon the paintings

Cracks upon the memories.

You came to me when I was not myself

You held me when I was unable to feel

You heard me when I was unable to speak

You saw me when I could not see myself.

Why was I too focused

Why was I too absorbed

Why was I too blinded

To see that there were more to be.

I saw that tear when you didn't see

I heard that cry when you didn't speak

I felt that pain when you didn't show

I stood by drowned in myself

You walked away

I moved forward

You turned away

I reached for you.

Deep down the pain grew

Deep down love fought.

As we moved

I picked up the pieces

As we moved

I put the pieces together

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I still hang on as things have been hard. I believe that we are made for each other. Life get's hard sometimes but then we get through it together. We've been through this before.

Not dead...yet

Wow. Been like two months since I last posted? I think. Can't even keep track of that anymore. First off, college. Tough semester. Portfolio exhibition and whatnot. Stuck doing work for my portfolio. Doesn't help that I have to head to college for a simple consultation and that's it. I spend one and a half hour travelling to college, for a consultation that's like one hour or so and then head back. Feels like wasted time and money. This semester...has got to end. Here's a part of my work. It was for Gatsby. No not the movie Gatsby.

Part of my portfolio. Tadaaaaaa~

That's that. Oh! I went to Legoland. It was....nostalgic. All my childhood memories.

Must. Resist. Temptation. To. Squeal. 

*SQUEALLLLLLSSSSSS* 

Oh my childhood. I still remember building stuff from blocks. Pretending to be some medieval soldier, dragon rider, underwater explorer, race car driver, space cadet....you name it. Lego was a big part of my childhood. All those lovely memories that I was once innocent (not that I'm not now). Truly a worth it trip. More on Legoland soon =)

Cheers~

Vincent

The 2nd decade of my life

Hey people! Today..wait. Yesterday or to be more accurate, 43 minutes ago, I just passed the two decade line of my life. *epic music plays* Oh that moment. That special moment. To know you lived two decades and counting and all. Life...*tears* is so precious! XD

Oh well, a bit about my day. It was pretty much normal, the usual. Woke up at 11 or so...being a Sunday. Cake and went and met up with some friends. I celebrated my birthday this year a tad bit earlier with my dear girlfriend. It was at an event a week or so back. So she decided to surprise me with a cake. Well, I was surprised (wait what am I even saying ._.). She bought a Blackforest cake for me and also celebrated with me along with some other friends. Thanks for the cake dear =)

Here's a picture.

That's the cake. And Me.

So yeah, that's me. That's the cake. What was I doing? I was about to take the candle out with my mouth. Why? No idea... some kind of dare maybe? Haha, no worries, the cake wasn't polluted by my face. An item on my wishlist got fulfilled again on my birthday =)

A present from my dad.

Xperia V. V for Vincent.

Yeah, welcome to the smartphone era, Me. Oh God, the feeling of button-less messaging. I mean, that button pressing/mashing feeling..it's gone. Sentimental in a way. Really sentimental.

Screen. Just screen

That Sexy ARC

Yeap, the only buttons present left is the lock screen button and the volume increase/decrease button. I am sadly still getting used to it. getting used to having a phone that's slightly smarter than me in a way. Getting used to a phone that's button-less. OH! With this phone...my collection of Sony items just increased.

Those Sony things!

Oh oh! My girlfriend got me/made me something as well. =)

A jar of candy =)

A replica of The Brotherhood from Final Fantasy

The candy was nice, and the replica was...cute and awesome =D

She made it out of Sculpey. Some oven bake clay. I could see her effort and the details on it. I appreciate it dear. She even sent me a birthday song on WeChat. Went something like this:

"Happy Birthday to you~
Happy Birthday to you~
Happy Birthday to my dear dear~
Happy Birthday to you~
*muack*"

So.The.Very.Cute. Too bad I couldn't save it, or download it. But they had an option to make it into a ringtone though. Which.I.Might.Just.Do. =P

So yeah, and to end my post today, here's a picture of me and my cake =D

It was a Strawberry Shortcake

Lovely cake it was =)

Cheers all~

Vincent =)

Of Edible...Things

Hello everybody! Yes, I am still alive and kicking, healthy as a horse and back to posting something. So here goes a short take of what I've been doing while my blog was collecting dust from my...abandon-ment. Is that even a word? Oh no, it's not, seeing the red squiggly lines. Oh well, it sounds nice though. *slaps self* Damn, I'm derailing. Back to the topic, so there was college, pretty boring semester this time around. having only three subjects though. Lucky? I...think not. Cause, I am "blessed" with Moral, Pengajian AM (which is Malaysian History), and Marketing Principles. 

The first thing the lecturer says when she came in class for Pengajian AM was...

"Class, don't worry. This is NOT a history class! It's more like general knowledge."

Then, she goes off talking about how Malaysia became a country with such diverse culture, it began in the year 1xxx when god-knows-who came here and conquered god-knows-what. How the traders in the year married locals, and came to trade. Then something happened some people stayed some people left for their home country and VOILA! We have Malaysia! (We clapped here, kidding. We were all dozing off already). Marketing Principles is quite an interesting subject and I can bear with Moral. What I can't take is...all of these classes are...memorizing and theory classes. I hate theory. I hate memorizing.

Now, enough of me complaining, to the fun stuff!

Today's post is as the title says, edible things. What kind of edible things? It's...CHOCOLATES! Who doesn't love chocolates eh? So a friend of mine came back from a holiday with a souvenir for me (oh wow, I'm so touched! Really!). Didn't expect her to get me this though. What's wrong with chocolates? No nothing's wrong with them. In fact, I love them...very much. What would shock most people though is because of..this.

Reminds you of some kind of "product" eh?

 And it's contents are even more..special =)

Giving you "ideas" now?

As some of you might have guessed, this is Chocolate Condom. Chocolate Flavored Condom. Condom Shaped Chocolate. Oh you get the meaning. This is...strawberry flavored. Oh and one chocolate flavored.

The Product

The....Product being eaten

Yeap! Totally awesome looking design for a chocolate. The look on my face when I actually got it and admired it.

VERY VERY JAKUN ME

Sometimes, CHOCS are better than Sex *cough*

Even the packaging is convincing

 Totally convincing! Some of my friends actually thought I was tricking them into eating a condom. Haha, the thing is REALLY chocolate. Creative design and packaging. =)

THANKS Chriztay!!!! Thanks for the lovely/creative souvenir!

Now, I shall enjoy my chocs. Till next post then people, chiaoooz

Cheers~
Vincent

Welcome 2013

Voila, and a new post magically appears! I'm not even sure if people still drop by to read and be entertained or whatnot. But oh well *shrugs* I'm writing cause...I'm writing la! (Malaysian-ness o_o)

FIRST OFF!! CONGRATULATIONS everyone for surviving the Mayan Doomsday. we can now proudly show the 2012 movie to our kids and tell them, we survived that, and rebuilt our civilization. They'll definitely be so proud of us!

So two months or so since my last post. Nothing much to say here. So a short summary since my last post all the way up to the new year. So since my last post I've had a mad rush to complete a bunch of assignments from college, animating stuff and drawing stuff. Mind you, drawing with a tablet is...A whole new level of drawing. Pen and paper, cannot...compare to this. 

Example, this.

Yeah...Good question actually. What do you want?

Or maybe this.

Yeah..it's a face. (obviously *cough*)

Yeap. Pretty much took me quite awhile to get used to drawing with a tablet. 

AAAANNNNNDDDDD still getting used to it. Sad case for me eh?

Oh well, like they say, "Practice Makes Perfect".

 So I was done and over with my assignments after staying up a few nights, mush to the dismay of my poor body *pats self*. Procrastination...this has got to end  ._______. 

Then, one of the defining events in 2012 for me, I was invited by one special girl to one special event for her entire highschool life. Prom. Yes, you heard me right. Where ladies, and gents, dress up in their finest for a night of fancy dancing, food, refreshments, and the everlasting memory that comes with it. Also, marks one those rare moments I am ever dressed in a suit. I look too damn business like.

That's me on the left and that's my dearest girlfriend on the right

There you go. 

Then we got down the main business. The event I've always been waiting for every year.

Comic Fiesta. This year marks it's 10th year Annie-wear-saree(Anniversary). I must say, I feel proud, even if I have only attended for 5 years since 2008. How far we have come in 5 years, how far they have achieved, and how much I have achieved. From event goer to cosplayer. Another special event to remember, for it was at CF'12(ComicFiesta 2012) that I ever had my first couple cosplay.

Tidus and Yuna, Final Fantasy-X

Kaito and Miku, Vocaloid Senbonsakura

It was really a defining year for me, and a lot of things happened to change my life in every way. I met someone whom I thought was for me only to be corrected, and when I was down, almost giving up, another was by my side. It's all this unexpected moments that, really makes life a wonder.

Here's a little video to conclude, how my New Year's went. =)

2012 was a great year with great memories. To a better 2013 and greater memories you people!

Cheers all!
Vincent  =)

356 days or more, or less in the World of COSPLAY

Hello everyone and everybody. Hopefully the world is doing well, and Mother Earth is..doing fine. But anyways, hope all is well. So, I'm back again with a new post.

A year ago, or maybe slightly more (I can't really remember, blame my poor memory), I joined the Cosplay world. Yes, I am a cosplayer. Little did I know, a year has already passed since that day. And so today, here I am with a little something of something. And that something would be cosplay (obviously -_-). 

I've learnt plenty of things during my time cosplaying. I've also met a number of people during that period. Some were friends for the moment, and some other for longer period. Then there were those whom were friends for life. The journey so far was indeed, a great ride, bumpy and full of road blocks and potholes but nevertheless, a joy.

I remember the first time dressing up, putting on a wig, and contact lenses. How nervous I was of walking out of the changing room. How awkwardly I posed when taking photographs. How nervous I was to pose with other people.

What was most important to me though , is the values that I learnt from the cosplay world. Although many of the older generation think that cosplay is a waste of time, money and energy. It is not necessarily so. There are a lot of of things that I have gained and still many more to come. Here is what cosplay means to me.

It is not just that 7 things that cosplay taught me. There are plenty others such as responsibility, confidence, love, achievement, courage, originality, social, skills, and much much more.

All in all, it was a great year, and hope for a greater one to come. =)

I Cosplay To Express, Not Impress.

Cheers~

Vincent

Lazy meh is...Lazy

Hello again aaaaaaaaaannnnddddd, yes, it took me awhile to come up with another new post. Well actually, I kinda forgot I even had a blog till I saw some link on my Facebook. Yeah, must be the age catching up to me *cough* (I'm just 19). Sometimes, I get this sudden urge to post something, and just put it off till the next day...yeah I'm gonna blame Mr. Procrastination. Yes...you. Mr. Procrastination. You're to blame. 

Wait....what?  Yeah, even I don't make sense to myself. Just another one of those random posts I guess. Maybe not? And the title? No idea really, it just sounded really good. Yeah, and before I forget....wait....

What was I gonna post again?

Think

Think...

Almost giving up....

BOOYAH!!!

ANDDDD, I remember. Right, so earlier this month, or more like end of last month, there was an event held at Sunway Pyramid Convention Center. It was ANIMANGAKI 2012. Well, the event was quite fun despite me being able to attend only on the 2nd day. 

It was held on the 25th and 26th of August 2012. There were cosplayers, cosplayers everywhere! All in all, the event gave friends a chance to meet up for a short period, fans to drool at awesome costumes, admire super fragile awesome props and the merchandises and activities available at the event. It was also a chance for people to whip out their camera and start snapping crazy shots and do some one on one photography session. Anyway, enough talking and more pictures eh? Like they say pictures, or it never happened.

And here you go people, some of the stuff on display =D

And here, you have, the cosplayers!

 And then, I'm not one to miss out but yeah, I did cosplay too =)

Credits to respective photographers

Credits to respective photographers

Credits to respective photographers

Credits to respective photographers

Pictures are not mine, and thanks to photographers who took it for me =)
It was my Original Costume with no name, just, Bloody Samurai.
But lately, some people has called it the genderbend version of Shakugan No Shana (Bandaged Version)

more pictures here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4171568481536.166899.1053966353&type=3
and
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.338321859592660.79390.156328964458618&type=3

Well, I'm not one to complain. Hahahaha =D
Hope to post more stuff up in the future.
And yes, I'm a lazy person, so, lazy me is..lazy.

Cheers all!
Vincent.