So here we are, living the last few hours of year 2008. The year is coming to a close, as we relinquish the binding contraints of anything that has happened in this year and embrace the new year with arms wide open. This year is definitely one of the quickest, and yet one of the most memorable years I’ve ever experienced. Here’s a rough sketch of what happened throughout this year:
January: I picked up serious reading. The 5th anniversary of the Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster.
February: We mourned the death of Lydia Sum. I released my third theme. I got my braces done.
March: Collected my A levels results. I wrote a CSS tutorial. I visited my aunt’s gorgeous split-level home.
April: My blog ran around naked without any CSS on. I started learning driving. I released by fourth theme.
May: I captured lightning for the first time on my camera. I passed my driving test. I finally got a dSLR!
June: I went to Genting Highlands. I released by fifth and sixth theme.
July: This blog turned four!
August: I embraced university life. Beijing Olympics fake fireworks = meh.
September: Nothing beats misty Sunday morning on campus. Tysern and CheeSiang invaded Singapore!
October: My birthday! Plurk-ville mourned the death of a to-be-wed Plurker, Hazel. I lost my phone, and bought a new one!
November: Obama wins the US Presidential Election. An owl paid me a visit.
December: I released my seventh theme. I headed to Orchard Road for night shots. World economy nearly collapsed. Oil price dipped to a 5-year low ($36?!) I went to Genting Highlands again.
Statistics (that might not interest you)
In 2008, I’ve taken a total of 10,490 photos weighing a total of 34GB. At this rate, I’m going to run out of space by the third quarter of 2009! It’s time that I transfer some stuff over to my portable HD.
In 2008, I’ve written 105 posts, averaging around a post every three days. I am too lazy to count the number of comments left since I’ll have to exclude mine as well, but a conservative guess will be around 500 comments. Not exactly a lot (Perezhilton gets 100+ comments for EACH post, and he has multiple posts a day, haha!), but I’m happy with it.
In 2008, I’ve released a total of four Wordpress themes (for my personal use, I’m sorry…) speaking about the little perfectionist inside me! The final theme in 2008 is teddY-risatioN™ Eta.
Resolutions?
People have been writing a lot about their New Year resolutions. I don’t really jump on the annual bandwagon because I believe that we can make changes at anytime, anywhere as long as we can make it. But of course it’s good that you nail down some goals that you’ll like to achieve in the coming year. For me, it’ll be changing to become a better person - I’ve changed, I’m not the old me, but there are still flaws about myself. I don’t forcibly change myself to conform others, but I change myself for the betterment of myself and others around me.
I pray that there will be peace. It kills me inside to see that it’s always the innocent civilians that are the major casualties of skirmishes, conflicts and wars. The recent bombing of Palestine is a raw example of how Israel doesn’t understand that peace is not achieved through mutual hurting - it requires understanding and patience. An eye for an eye? Bullocks.
I pray that oil prices will stay low. It’s a stupid wish but oil prices reached a record 5-year low of $36 dollars a few days ago, and now it’s hitting the $40 mark. Darn.
Anyway, may everyone have a great year ahead, and all the best for your endeavours in everything! Take care, and have fun, folks!
Top 10 Photos of 2008
Sue posted her top 10 photos of the year, and she encouraged other bloggers to do so as well. For me, 2008 is indeed a fruitful year and believe me, I had a really tough time choosing 10 photos. All the photos are clickable and will be displayed in Lightbox when clicked. In no particular order:
#1 - A sun-drenched morning
A sun-drenched morning.
EXIF: f/5.6, 1/100 sec, ISO 125, 60mm. Taken on 30th August, 2008.
I woke up early on a Saturday morning, exploring the empty campus as the sun rises. Arriving outside the empty academic complex, I stumbled upon a bed of flowers in the midst of being tended by the faithful gardener. The sun was just right above the canopy, so the flowers just starting bathing in the morning sun.
#2 - Waiting for that special moment
Waiting for that special moment - SPLASH!
EXIF: f/3.5, 1/2500 sec, ISO 400, 18mm. Taken on 6th September 2008.
I was returning from Chongx’s room when I decided to drop by ADM for a quick photoshoot. With the blazing sun right above me, I have the perfect lighting for fast shutter speed shooting! All I did was just to squat beside the fountains, and wait for the magical moment of a strong blast of wind out of nowhere. And the moment came - Splash! A gust of wind blew across the pool, giving a generous spray of water.
#3 - Flying Coaster through barrel roll
Flying Coaster through barrel roll
EXIF: f/5.6, 1/160 sec, ISO 200, 300mm. Taken on 10th December 2008.
They have a flying roller coaster named Flying Coaster (how creative 
) installed at the other end of the Genting Highlands theme park, and you’ll have to pay around 12MYR to get your ass on that little steel monster. The photo is taken from inside the First World Plaza using telephoto lens - I love the compressed distance between foreground and background objects!
#4 - Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I told you we shouldn
EXIF: f/8, 1/500 sec, ISO 100, 230mm. Taken on 10th December 2008.
I managed to capture the facial expressions of the riders at the instant where they were dropped from a height of 185 feet. The looks on their faces are just priceless.
#5 - Happy together
Happy together.
EXIF: f/3.5, 1/25 sec, ISO 400, 18mm. Taken on 4th August 2008.
The Xomura outing to Clark Quay that marked the end of our orientation and the start of our friendship. I will never, ever forget you guys! I’m not in the photo, so don’t bother to find my face 
I was the one taking this photo, hah!
#6 - Walkway @ The Gardens, Midvalley
Walkway @ The Gardens, Midvalley.
EXIF: f/8, 1/60 sec, ISO 100, 18mm. Taken on 12th July 2008.
The connecting walkway between The Gardens and Midvalley Megamall. I love the glassy facade, and how they make good use of natural sunlight instead of artificial lighting.
#7 - Siloso Beach, Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island
EXIF: f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO 100, 70mm. Taken on 27th December 2008.
Siloso Beach is one of the more popular beaches among tourists and locals alike. Nothing beats sunbathing underneath a great weather and in a smashing, fun atmosphere!
#8 - Lookout Point
Lookout Point
EXIF: f/8, 20 sec, ISO 100, 18mm. Taken on 16th December 2008.
Tysern brought my to Lookout Point - the view of downtown Kuala Lumpur at night is extremely gorgeous and breath-taking, but the food there isn’t that wonderful afterall. Lookout Point is less than a 45-minute drive away from downtown, accessible via the Middle Ring Road (for exact directions, be hardworking and Google for it, hahah).
#9 - My plushies collection
My plushies collection!
EXIF: f/8, 1/2 sec, ISO 400, 26mm. Taken on 30th July 2008.
I started collecting plushies since I was a kid. Gifts from my friends, parents, grandparents and relatives further added to my small collection. Now they barely fit into a fairly large cupboard, but one thing for sure - I’m never going to throw them away.
#10 - DIY Orange Juice
DIY Orange Juice.
EXIF: f/3.5, 1/15 sec, ISO 400, 18mm. Taken on 23rd June 2008.
I visited my cousin and stayed with her family for half a month, in Penang. One afternoon they said they’re going to have orange juice and I thought, oh, they’re going to pour it out from the boxes. I was surprised that they actually mean making orange juice yourself, 100% natural. Yummy. Two oranges make approximately 200~300ml of juice.
Final words?
Happy new year! 
