Life isn't all about MUD. I mean my gaming life. I guess I can say I am a fan of online games, since I have played MUD since Secondary One. I think the best motivating factor in online games was that your progress is recorded periodically. Every second you have put into the game shows, unlike other games where you could delete your save game and start all over again. Online games have more similarities to our life, and hence attract us to play it.

Anyway, I told you that I downloaded Maple Story Client for my youngest sister. I also installed it on my own laptop so that she can play if I am not using it. The Vista desktop doesn't support it, so this is the only other alternative. I was also responsible for helping her level her character quite a bit since I was supposedly on holiday, and she's not. She asks me to help her level her character in my free time. Of course, I was pretty much a newbie at it.

The first time I ever heard of Maple Story was in my JC1 year. It kind of caught everyone by storm. I hear some of our friends recommending us to play it, but dismissed trying it. I don't have internet connection. Besides, everyone was saying with all the cute cute characters it was a girl's game, and guys are just there to entertain the girls. Also, even during JC1 already, I don't think I have enough free time to spend on online games. I know once I start, I will use a lot of time on it.

Now that it's not such a storm anymore, I have decided to try it. Most of my friends don't play it. Most of my youngest sister's friends play it. Besides, I am much more practical now I guess I won't overspend time on it. We need some sort of entertainment and I guess online games was a good place to spend it. We can be happy that we make progress and it will at the same time provide us some entertainment. I have decided to try Maple Story and find out what so fun about it. I tried and found it to be quite a bit of fun. De-stress is the word.

Going to Angela's house didn't help too. She's recommending us all the online games she's playing and of course some games might appeal to me. At the end of the day, after doing much research, I have decided to start playing a few online games. I'll begin with Maple Story. I always plan my characters. Good planning eliminate the chances you'll regret after spending much time on your character. I know we are there to gain experience and experiment with different types, but you could always use a little more thinking and common sense to realize some builds definitely have certain advantages that others.

Therefore, I have chosen my character to be a warrior! Why warrior? In most RPGs, my most successful character has always been a warrior or a wizard. After playing a lot, you will realize that wizards are just cool and warriors are a tank. All RPGs involves doing quests and killing monsters. I believe, as a newbie, starting as a warrior is good. First of all, he's a tank, he's hardest to die, and therefore, very important for a newbie to learn. Then, he could use almost all the equipment in game(at least most of the games are like that) so you could test out which ones are better than the others. Lastly, he usually deals the most melee damage! Maybe when I learn enough, I'll start a wizard.

Now I can start talking to other players about the game! =) I meant, surely someone out there plays as well right? If you would also love to spend your free time killing cute monsters, feel free to join me as well. Maple Story for this region is at http://www.maplesea.com/. If you are already a long-time player, feel free to offer me some tips or share with me your nice experiences. I may share too! I am not only an RPG fan, but am also a music game fan. I probably seen some of the PRC scholars play this in Datashack before, but behold O2jam. It is like those DJ press button games that we play at arcade some time ago, but now it's online! Also, credits earned from winning/losing can be used to decorate your chaacters. Sounds like fun to me.

O2jam is at http://www.o2jam.com.my/. I downloaded all the songs possible without having to pay any real money. There are songs available that you can use if you pay real money. I don't have income yet, and think blowing money on online games isn't healthy, so I only download all free songs. There are some nice songs that I enjoy playing. I think my psychomotor skills definitely improved after playing this game. I think bulk of the songs available isn't that nice but of course, there are enough nice songs for you to play over and over again. O2jam can serve as a quick fix when I have certain noltalgic thoughts for these type of games.



Someone playing O2Jam. Song - Brahms (O2Jam version). One of my favourite songs in O2Jam. This person is using easy keys also. Same keys like when I play.
Nice to release stress with right? Not to mention you can pretend you are a very musical person. Nice to play once in a while. Tried to play with people there but they are really good. I don't try the normal and hard keys a lot because I probably don't have a very very good hand-eye coordination and I can't multitask well. If I see more than a few buttons to press, I get mixed up. Also my laptop itself doesn't register additional keys if I already have several keys depressed. Since higher level keys require you to press more keys more often, sometime I miss because the laptop doesn't register and sometimes I miss because I am just plain slow at it.

I have also tried Audition but found that it wasn't as nice. Angela love it, probably because she's good at it. I prefer the good old DDR. Also as an online game, that game earns you game credit really really slow, so you have to spend more and more time before you actually get a decent looking character. Personally, I don't like the game system too. In addition, it only have very little selection of nice songs. I know tastes are subjective, but these selections of songs just doesn't appeal to my tastes. Plus, most of these online games companies are trying to save money due to copyrights, so they try to get cheap songs from almost unknown authors. You won't see all your MTV songs on it.


One of my favourite songs in Audition. Take a peek at the game system too!
Of course, in my online games book there's the MUD that I have always been playing. Found a recent option of making easy quick money, but was quick to be discovered by the people there so it was off. At least I earned almost 60k in a short time. Though I planned to max all my character's banks on it, I have to call that off for now. I should be grateful that I have easily earn a lot of money. I am spending less time on it, because there are so many other things for me to do! I always never finish all the work that I have lined up for myself. Updating blog included.


It's going to be a start of another exciting semester. Really exciting. I liked the bidding system over the NTU first click-first serve system. In addition, it really gives you the flexibility to plan your own timetable, to a certain extent. Why to a certain extent? When we plan, we always plan the 'perfect' timetable possible. However, our points are always never enough to obtain the 'perfect' timetable possible, and therefore our timetable will always be screwed somehow. At least you have the flexibility to choose which part of your timetable you want to screw up.

Ok, I initially placed all my modules that I wanted to do this semester. It was perfect planning, wonderful plan and if executed, I would be very happy. I wanted to clear all cores first and then leave the rest towards the end of my term in NUS. This was how I wanted it, the flexibility in my hand. Upon logging in, I found out that it was not possible. My core modules aren't available for bidding. They are all pre-allocated, which was good in a certain sense, but we were split into groups. Half will get to do these few cores first and half will get to do these few cores the next semester. Mine was split totally. All of a sudden, my timetable have huge gaps to fill, and the previously planned nice timetable has to be thrashed.

One module which was without pre-requisite was only allocated to higher level students, meaning year 3s and year 4s. I was just coming into my first semester of year 2, so they'll only give that to us if there are still vacancies after all seniors have signed up. Another module belongs to another faculty which didn't allocate spaces for engineering students this semester, and the other two cores are only pre-allocated to me the next semester after this. Now you can imagine how stressed I was. I wanted to put myself some night classes just for the fun of it. I know my brain function better at night, but hmmm, these night classes are only for people on industrial attachment.

Let's hope I survive and come out with a nice timetable after all. I have been blessed with a free day before. Let's hope I'll get another one! Have been reading lots on higher level modules and what it is all about. I have decided to plan in advance all the modules that I want to take, in hopes of easier timetable planning in the future. Hopefully this CORS don't give me heart-attack again. I mean, you will almost always get clashes in two modules that you are required to read and the result had always been disastrous. If there is something the CORS people could work on, was to plan them properly so that there would be no clashes as far as core modules are concerned.


I am actually in school for a late evening lecture that is going to extend till late at night. I am such a good student right? No. Actually I missed a few other lectures already, so much for trying to be a good student. This lecture is different! It is about C++ and I am supposed to be a hyped about it. I am going to be a real functional programmer. How cool is that? The weather was nice too, and it was like I was destined to come. All the best for me.




What constitutes a good student? Good results? Maybe. I am definitely not a good student in that sense, but having failed completedly so many times and thoroughly regretful of myself, there is a strong desire, to be a good student. Perhaps much much greater than ever before. I signed up for all the extra lessons possible that were offered by the Department of Electrical Engineering. I want to have the extra headstart, and want to edge everyone. I don't want to be the me that live in denial anymore. As history will probably tell you that these desire doesn't last long, I can only hope that this flame which drives me on will work for a long while to come.




And so I was in school early in the morning, preparing to go for my first ever extra lesson. The weather was great after a really wet early morning, and I was glad the bus ride wasn't that bad. Sometimes, especially in early mornings like this, you could get rejected by busses. The mind definitely was fresh after such a long holiday. Amazingly, I could pay attention to the lecture for almost the whole duration of the lecture. Let's hope this kind of attention span lasts through the semester. After all, I am me, still aiming high.

I have decided to rectify some of the identified mistakes in the last semester. I should start printing all my notes. Even though a soft copy is readily available in the laptop, it is often easier to carry a set of hard copy notes along. Who knows, I may even be able to study in the library. Also, it's quicker to do so. Laptops are convenient, but not convenient enough. There is still overhead of setting it up, and also booting it up. It only can be used when I have large chunks of free time. Printing my notes, I can utilize the short sets of free times and add them up. Economy of scale.

I went to NUS Coop and bought the ink required. It was indeed cheaper than outside, unless of course, you went to buy those refill types. Though I am running out of money, I have decided to fork out money for one of those. It is a good investment, after all, since it could probably last me a semester or more. It all felt nice to be on campus again, minus the fact that I realize that I am no longer a freshman. Time really flies but school still looked as amazingly quiet like the start of the long holidays. At least as far as today is concerned, I have been a good student. I want to be the real me all over again. I must do it. I have no other choice. I am at the bottom of the food chain already.

Ting sent Angel the file somewhen during the holiday. I was curious and bored, and so I opened it. It was funny at first. Then it touched me. I almost cried after every episode. I am not giving an excerpt of what it is about. Go watch it! =) The following YouTube videos contain spoilers. You can almost watch the whole series at crunchyroll.com. Just make an account and that would be less than 30 seconds work.
One of the scenes in episode 2. Mongol 800 - Chisana Koi No UtaThe ending song with English translation. Kuwata Keisuke - Ashita Hareru Kana.
The series made me reflect on my regrets-laden life. If you could go back in life and change some things, would you go? Up to a point around 2 years ago, I won't go. I was grateful that my life was lived like how it was lived. Now I am not so sure anymore. I really want to go back. I am really getting old, and I want to relive my youth once again. I enjoyed being a youth, very much. I don't want I don't want I don't want to be an adult. They're stupid and I was the kid that never wanted to grow up. I want to go back. Maybe even if you didn't allow me to change anything, I still want to go back. Even if you allowed me to change anything, I wouldn't know what things to change. I am that clueless. Why do we live life only once?

I regret not taking more photos.


The great disappointment came again. That is just so not me. That is not me. That is not me. There is this great great great desire to correct everything once and for all. Only at that moment, I felt like myself, a part of me I always forget.


I supposedly got a month's rest back in KL, and am now back for more! Supposedly I will be more energetic than before. I did much reflection and had much regrets every time. I am afraid it is only getting heavier as I age. With the supposed renewed energy, I try to correct once again, all my mistakes that I have commited the semester before, and making new old mistakes along the way. I had always realized I always commit the same mistakes. When I correct a mistake, I am making another at the same time.

Now it's too late to find a job. Too early to be planning timetable. At least I finally installed Visual C++ and the Development Kit for WIN32 correctly. Determined to be a better person after going downhill for many years. I hope the library have a copy of the Petzold's book. I hope I'll be running regularly too!


In a twist of fate, I find myself going to Kedah instead of going back to Singapore. Perhaps I should tell you all more! So we finally know more about the university my sister is going to. It's Universiti Utara Malaysia or UUM for short. I'll be using UUM from now on to save myself the hassle of typing the whole thing. Besides, you guys read introductions right? =p Left pictures in KL so pictures next time!

Well, I can't help but to compare. One of my aunt graduated from there. My father's policy is having a degree is better than none. Well, I can't say I agree with that. There are people without a degree who's doing that one with. Not one, but many. Ultimately, it's the passion and the knowledge that counts. Besides, even if you compare relative value of degrees, I am sure there are places where you can better put your time in. After much thinking, she accepted in the end, so that's that. No more debates.

Her university is all the way at the north end of Malaysia. There's only 20 minutes drive left to Thailand. It's further to drive to Kedah than to Singapore, as far as the time factor is concerned. In reality, I guess it's probably only 50km more than Singapore. The irony, she's still in Malaysia and yet she's further from home. You have to drive all the way to the end of the North South Highway and turn back a little, like 20km. On the way, it was the usual palm trees and stuff. Got a little lost in Ipoh. I think people were down the other way to KL to watch the finals of Inter-State Soccer. I forgot what cup it was, but you see a long stretch people on 'kap-cai' motorcycles waving Kedah state flag as if they were on Harley-Davidson. They must be having lots of fun!

My father wants to travel while driving there too. His desire to get there is a little different. Well, not a little different. Quite a big difference. My impression of travel? Just look and see things, rest, relax, have a good time. His impression of travel? Go in search of foods that you don't normally see in KL. Actually you can get all foods in KL, but he was just looking for authentic tastes from the origin of nice foods. Good example would be Ipoh Chicken Rice and Penang Laksa. We got lost looking for Ipoh Chicken Rice. To be precise, it was Ipoh Tau-ge Chicken Rice and it only opens in the late evening as they are catering to the night market. In the end we just settled for normal food at some kopitiam. It was pleasant, partially because things were cheaper than KL.

When we finally got on road again, it was another long wait. Well, it's common to see everyone sleeping, because to me it's a good use of time. Besides, it's just natural when your surroundings aren't changing much for a long time. My father just wants to talk, because it's very boring to drive long distance, and he's not supposed to sleep. =p Fortunately, I had more than enough sleep the night before, I couldn't fall asleep during the journey. Otherwise, I was just deep in thought or plainly stoning.

We got there after 8 hours, we were lost in Ipoh for around 2 hours and we had KFC. Fortunately we were one of the early birds who managed to book a place at the hotel. I heard that night, all the hotels in nearby Kedah, Alos Star, and Perlis are all fully booked. We see parents and extended families sleeping in their car at the car park near the hotel. It's a big thing after all. Just for one person going to university, the whole family + dog and cats were there so send the person. We spoke to one family, and they were from Johor! Imagine that must have been half a day's drive, but I guess to them it was well worth it.

There's nothing to see there though, all mountains. There's only one shopping centre in the whole district, and it's not really a shopping centre. It's only 2 floors, with a supermarket, and QFC. I heard this business about 'fake KFCs' are picking up. I saw My-FC too! It looked dangerous though. There was this Malay guy that walked into the toilet same time as me, but instead of doing his business, he was checking all the cubicles if there were people in it. Maybe I was a little sensitive, but he was following me. Luckily Wai Hong is big and strong and healthy that day. Besides, I feel tall in Malaysia. The guy was a head shorter than me and probably never did gym before. Looked like a drug addict too, and if he smokes, the tide looked even worse in his direction. Never going there again I guess. They say if you want to shop, go Thailand. Things are even cheaper there!

Her lodging fees were like RM200+ for a semester. I think I know what to expect. It was actually quite a-ok. Except for her broken chair, and the mattress that turned very brown. The cupboard didn't look sturdy, but enough for you to lock your stuff. I think if people really wanted to steal, they could just punch it hard and it crumbles. No hot water for shower, but other than that it was like my room. Well, for the price I am paying, I expect even more from mine, but sadly, it was something they couldn't give me. Looked like she had a good roommate too. From Penang, that's like a little more than an hour's drive.

They were a little conservative. You can't wear shorts there, at least not outside your room. Lecture theatres are worlds apart if you compare with mine. Can be more than 10 minutes walk between one and the next. Lots of grass and trees and nice landscaped stuffs. Library by the river. I hardly could find a Chinese there. All Malay food and Malays all around. I love 'nasi lemak' but the Chinese-made sweet sambal. Prefer Chinese-made ikan bilis too. Prefer Malay-made fried eggs and chicken. I think I won't survive there since I am such a big eater. Not much variety there so I guess I'll just get a few roti canai for food everyday. Or instant noodle. Fortunately, it's rather cheap, or acceptable for a student.

I know at this age and time it all seemed pointless without pictures, so I'll post as soon as I get them?


Wai Hong is currently an undergraduate student at National University of Singapore. He majors in Computer Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering. He is a member of the forever sixteen :) club since he was sixteen. He was lucky enough to end up in Anglo-Chinese School Independent and then Anglo-Chinese Junior College, where he spent his best years and still looking to spend more best years. He was born into the world on 16th October, sixteen years ago. =)

Angel * Carol * Esther * Michael * Mindy * Samantha * Seraphina

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