Kim Hyun Joong Fan Meeting 2012 in Singapore – Press Conference

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2012, celebrities, Hallyu, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Hyun Joong Fan Meeting 2012, Korean, Photography, Portfolio, Press Conference, Random, Singapore, SS501

This gallery contains 9 photos.

Kim Hyun Joong – One Lucky Guy [An article for Campus Magazine]

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Article, Campus Magazine, celebrities, Concert, Concert Review, entertainment, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Hyun Joong Fan Meeting 2012, Online Article, Portfolio, SS501

[Published on Campus Magazine's Website]

The Korean hunk of Boys Over Flowers fame , who is also part of popular boy band SS501, once again graced the island, setting female hearts a flutter.

Kim Hyun Joong had the Singapore Indoor Stadium filled up with fans emitting pearl-green light from their light-sticks; emerald being the official colour of SS501’s fanclub.

Cheers filled the stadium as Kim emerged from a massive white ball on stage with a commanding presence, breaking into the upbeat intro Let Me Go. The crowd got even more riled up as Kim cat daddied his way through Break Down, the title song from his Breakdown album that swept Asian music charts.

[PHOTO: RUNNING INTO THE SUN]

The Hallyu star brought the fans through a 15-song set list comprising hits from both his Breakdown album, where he sported a rough and rugged bad-boy image, to his chic and dapper days of his second mini-album, Lucky, which were both released in 2011.

Kim had the crowd dreamily cooing along when a video depicting five things he’d do for his future girlfriend played on the backdrop. Featuring the idol himself, it portrayed Kim’s romantic side as he acted out how he would cook for his girlfriend, write a heartfelt letter for her, re-enact a classic Titanic scene with her, and sing only for her. Cheesy? No doubt. But it worked, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

He then serenaded the crowd with Because I’m Stupid, the famed soundtrack from Boys Over Flowers that catapulted him into fame three years ago, while snippets of his character Yoon Ji Hoo played in the background.

[PHOTO: RUNNING INTO THE SUN]

Kim also set the bar for fan-service as the first artiste in Singapore to high-five all 3000 people in the audience. While the plan was for Kim to high-five only 500 selected fans, the savvy heartthrob insisted on thanking each member of the audience personally, which he said was his way of showing appreciation to them. Got your high-five? Then wait in anticipation for his full-blown concert to hit shores sometime in 2013.

[PHOTO: RUNNING INTO THE SUN]

L’Arc-en-Ciel – Casting rainbows in Singapore [An article for Campus Magazine - RAW version]

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Article, Campus Magazine, Concert, Concert Review, Japanese, JROCK, L'Arc-en-Ciel, Laruku, Online Article, Portfolio, Singapore, Singapore Indoor Stadium, World Tour 2012

This gallery contains 8 photos.

[Published on Campus Magazine's Website] Fans of L’Arc-en-Ciel welcomed the group for the first time on Saturday night when the …

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Bear Grylls-ing to Singapore Quarry.

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bear grylls, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm, Hiking, Nature, outdoors, Personal, Random, Singapore Quarry

Was a random rainy Thursday afternoon when me and two other friends decided to take a hike along the Dairy Farm route at Bukit Timah. We were just a bunch of curious 20 year-olds, always craving for that streak of adventure, so instead of going by the beaten path and with a destination in mind, we kind of just tread through rivers (oh, it’s really nothing actually considering our geographical structures – or lack thereof) and lost our way to wherever the muddy path takes us.

Though then again, since we are in Singapore and despite it being one of our largest stands of primary lowland dipterocarp forest in our island area, it’s impossible to get lost there- no matter how unbeaten the path you took. So maybe we aren’t all that gutsy like we thought we were, haha.

2 hours of Bear Grylls-ing later, we ended up at the Singapore Quarry. Beautiful.

While it may not be comparable to others, given our concrete jungle covering every inch of the island, the sight of preserved nature – no matter how plain – is enough to wow you. And really, a 5 autofocus megapixel camera of a Samsung Galaxy Ace’s phone does not do the view enough justice. Well, maybe those fancy professional DSLRs could, but still, nothing beats being there for yourself breathing in that fresh air of untouched nature and your sweat of triumph.

Honestly speaking, people need to spend more time in the nature. Maybe we all can start loosening up a little from the daily mad rush of city life.

Conquering Fansipan

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2008, Fansipan Mountain, Global Classroom Experience, Hiking, Nature, Personal, School Trip, SRGCE @ Vietnam, Travel, Vietnam

This gallery contains 17 photos.

What first was just a spur of the moment decision ended up becoming one of the greatest experience of my …

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The Intern – An article for Campus Magazine

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Article, Campus Magazine, Internship, Perspective, Portfolio, Youth

Campus Magazine; Issue 16

PEEK – A product review for Campus Magazine

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Article, Campus Magazine, Fisheye, Fisheye One Black, Lomography, Personal, Portfolio, Product Review

So a few months back, Campus Magazine held its very first and very own The Voice Awards and I managed to clinch The Best Lifestyle Writer Award. It really means alot and although it’s a small start, I really do appreciate the Editor and Campus team for nominating my articles and also to the fellow contributors/interns for voting

Here’s the winning article!

And here’s the prize: Fisheye One Black !

Aand… here’s a quick product review of it that’s published in Issue #16 of Campus Magazine:

Campus: Issue 16

You can also check out this site for a more detailed - and professional – breakdown of the camera.

Parents vs. Gadgets

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Child, Family, Gadgets, Parents, Personal, Perspective, Random, technology, Youth

GIF(C): fuckyeahmangahair@tumblr

In the new age of all things tech and fancy gadgets, the older generation might be a little (note: “little” might be an understatement) slower in trying to keep up with the ever changing trends while youths are already in the midst of upgrading their gadgets.

And whether the older generation like it fancy or not, they pretty much have to get over being tech-shy and jump in the bandwagon sooner or later if they want to still be able to maintain a decent common communication channel with the world.

But first, they have to learn it.

And more often than not, the manual guidebook that comes with whatever gadget they are using, is pretty much useless. Even if it comes in the desired native language should your parents be a non-English speaker.

To them, nothing beats the free hands on practical lessons they’d squeeze out from their child – you.

And there is never a day close enough when you actually wished such fancy tech gadget(s) never existed on this face of Earth.

It is not about you being a rude, unfilial and unappreciative child.

It is not that you hate sharing your skills and knowledge, what more if it is to educate your own parents.

It is not that you are one angsty youth ready to flare up at anyone anytime – especially your parents.

But sometimes, as parents, though as much as they love you or knows you too well, they pretty much still fail in the areas of ‘picking the perfect timing’.

They’d never fail to approach you when you are obviously:

• Preoccupied with schoolwork/assignments, anything really. The busier you are, the higher the probability of them hounding you.
• Just walked through the main door after a long tiring day out and barely made it back into your room to catch your breath and rest. Because rest is for the weak – and you are their strong energetic beloved child.
• Asleep, and they assumed you can function sanely and patiently in your half-awake state that they summoned you.
  

Worse still, when you try to defend yourself or shows any visible signs of annoyance and impatience, they’d then never fail to play out their trump cards along the lines of:

• Guilt trick (and this alone is enough to encompass everything they’d ever use against you).
  “You can forget about going to that party…”
  “You can forget about me paying for your phone bills…”
  “Oh, did you forget just WHO bought that *insert gadget* for you?”
  “Is that how you speak to your mother, she who fed and clothed and cared for you?!”
  “All these years all the sacrifices, and this is how you treat your parents when they ask for a little minor help?!”
  “I did not raise an insolent child! Is this how you repay me?!”

  You get the picture.

And all the wrong timings and guilt tricks aside, what ticks you off the most?

It’s that they just DON’T get it. Even if it’s the hundredth time you are repeating yourself. And the hundredth time they come running back to you for help.

It’s the same problem, same question, same annoyance – and still the same gadget – just different time and different day.

And you’d just sigh to your fate; and that’s pretty much about it.

You can’t win a war against your parents – especially where trivial things like these are concerned.

Best possible options you have:

• Suggesting an alternative time/day where you’d dedicate to guiding them through the know-hows of using their gadget(s).
• DO NOT visibly show your displeasure ’cause their annoyance level will just increase ten-fold. They would even lash out at you. So yes, spare your ears at least, if not your patience.
• Destroy their gadgets. (They will destroy you.)
  

One thing’s for sure, at least you (and the generation today in general) are pretty much competent enough in the IT field that you are less likely to end up being THAT very annoying parent that you are up against right now.

Any alternative option(s) on YOUR part though? *Do share!*

Theatre: 10 Minutes with Atilah Soeryadjaya [Article for Esplanade Youths]

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Article, arts, Atilah Soeryadjaya, entertainment, Esplanade Youths, Interview, malay festival, Matah Ati, Online Article, Portfolio

[Published on Esplanade Youths, 15 October 2010]

Treat your senses with Matah Ati, the dynamic production that’s coming to the Esplanade Theatre from 22 and 23 October. The epic dance theatre production will premiere at Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts, Esplanade’s annual festival celebrating Malay arts and audiences can look forward to a tale of victory in love and war based on the true story of the Mangkunegaran Kingdom of 17^th century Java.

Matah Ati’s gripping storyline will feature themes that centre on the power of love, gender equality and the pointlessness of war intertwined with the ancient kingdom’s rich history and culture. Bringing all these themes to life will be its powerful cast including 60 dancers who will present a contemporary take on the traditional Surakartan-Javanese classical dance style accompanied by music performed ‘live’ by an ensemble of 25 gamelan musicians.

Matah Ati’s Director and Producer, Atilah Soeryadjaya, who is a direct descendant of the Mangkunegaran royal family herself, elaborates on the background of the play and what you can expect from it in an interview we conducted with her recently. 

 

Q1) What is unique or different about the Matah Ati production and the thing that you feel will interest audiences and convince them to catch the performance?It’s based on history and traditional art forms but packed with state of the art staging and lighting. It is a feast for all senses – from the elegant dance movements, enchanting love story, the cruelty of war, the mesmerising voice and the melody of the music compositions, the magnificent costumes all the way to the stage design which will be done in a dynamic and modern setting while still maintaining tradition.

Q2) Since the production is based on a true story and you are a direct descendant of the Mangkunegaran royal family yourself, we assume that there is some personal attachment to this project for you. Could you share with us what it was that inspired you to produce the project and why?To bring the richness of the Javanese culture back to Solo. A few years ago, it broke my heart when I read a newspaper headline entitled “Solo, a terrorist city”. It triggered my Javanese sensibilities to do something with my own heritage that would not only promote it locally but also showcase it internationally. Javanese culture and art are my true passions and they not only run in my blood but also enlighten my soul and my spirit.

Matah Ati and [its central character] Rubiyah serve as an example that, despite the traditional and cultural values of the 18th century, the situation still gave rise to strong women warrior leaders. Moreover, since I was born and raised in the palatial Mangkunegaran environment, I saw this as an opportunity to know more about my ancestral lineage.

Q3) For those unfamiliar with the Indonesian culture or the Mangkunegaran kingdom, could you briefly describe what someone watching the show can learn about those two aspects?Indonesia is endowed with a wellspring of traditional diversity resulting from an array of approximately 300 ethnic groups, each with its own cultural identity that has developed over the centuries. It is undeniable that Indonesia is gifted with a vibrant landscape of customs, art and culture. An example is the Mangkunegaran Palace in Solo, Central Java which holds a wealth of intangible cultural heritage such as the Javanese classical dance traditions, musical arts, the art of puppetry, the macapat (Javanese chant) and the history of its royal descendants.

Q4) What do you hope the audience will take away from the performance after catching it?1. Know more about Javanese culture, traditions, stories and beauty.

2. To be inspired by R.M. Said’s [the first King of Java] spirit of struggle in the fight against injustice and quest for existence, prosperity, equality and tranquility in aspiring to build human values.
To get the essential values highlighted in this work, which are:- The position of women equals that of men (i.e. gender equality)- That nothing good comes out of war nor does it bring happiness.

Q5) How do you feel about seeing Matah Ati premiering at Esplanade soon after all your hard work producing and directing it?

I am excited and honored to be able to present this at Esplanade. To be able to present this to an international audience and at one of the busiest arts centre with its world class performance spaces and state of the art facilities is a dream come true.
I hope the audience will enjoy this performance and it will spark more curiosity towards Indonesian culture and especially Javanese culture.

Original article can also be read here: http://www.esplanadeyouths.com/?p=641

Boys will be boys – where the girl’s heart is concerned.

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A1, A1 in Singapore, Article, Ben Adams, Campus Magazine, Christian Ingebrigtsen, Interview, Mark Read, Personal, Photography, Random

“How about a boy band pose,” one suggests helpfully.

The boys laugh, and awkwardly strike a few – arms folded, a practiced half-turn, and a pensive “deep in thought” expression.

“What do people do when they pose?” wonders Christian Ingebrigtsen, one third of the group.

Eventually they settle into a fairly convincing attempt at mock-laughter, which seems to ease the tension. With their perfectly-styled hairdos thrown back prettily for the camera, these lads are as pretty as they were when they first graced magazine covers 14 years ago with hits like Same Old Brand New You and Take On Me.

For the full article on the interview with Mark Read by Clara Lock, read on here: http://www.campus.com.sg/archives/2944

A1 (Christian, Mark & Ben)

Mock-laughter they did gave and there I was snapping away trying to maintain my fangirl self from bursting through my professional self.

To think more than a decade ago, I was easily the happiest kid around just getting their CD albums as my birthday present.

I thought I have far matured from my fangirl self a decade ago, and these lads are now matured men who doesn’t break out into cheesy boyband moves anymore.

Well that is until they showed their boyish kiddy side and there I was melting and going all “Awwww how cheesily charming you boys still are! …Oh snap!” inside.

Decades in, and they are their own perfect definition of “Same Old Brand New You”.