Graduation.

Graduation day.

Oh wow. 

You have absolutely no idea how much I've been looking forward to this day my entire high school life. Every day has been a struggle - waking up at 6am, seeing people who for no reason make me mad sometimes, teachers and subjects I dislike (Mandarin language being on top of the list) and the many stupid and ridiculous rules we have (no keeping long hair - the stupidest shit ever I'm telling you). Basically that. Maybe the fact that I'm so weird (don't worry, I've found someone else so much weirder than me that I don't even know if I'm considered weird anymore) and how I despise everything school-related made me feel that way. Or my pessimism about school and attitude. I don't know. 

Now that it's finally here - I'm finally done with high school, it feels bittersweet. I never thought I would ever feel this way about leaving high school. Never (if you bring in Justin's 'Never Say Never', I will slap you). All this time I felt like graduating from high school would be the best thing ever. But now, it's like, one minute I'm so glad that I'm done with high school and its bullshit but then the next, I'm like, "Wait am I really leaving???"

During the holidays before high school started, I don't know why but I just started bawling my eyes out because I didn't want to go to high school so bad. Like I'd actually just think about it and cry. And I didn't cry just once. When I went to high school, I, being my typical guarded and sceptical self (due to some shit that happened before that), decided to not get attached to anyone. I also decided to not call anyone my friend. I'd just call them all 'my classmates' when I address them while talking to my family members. 

It's been quite a journey. And although I don't really like any particular teacher from my school, I'd like to thank all the teachers who've taught me, especially the extra dedicated ones. 

Now, I don't know what to say. It's been nice knowing you guys - my classmates, although I have to admit I have turned against you all every once in a while when I got sad or really mad about something. But I'll remember those days. The days where we'd try to do absolute nonsense (eg. ask teacher a lot of questions, crack stupid jokes, tell stories) just to prevent teachers from starting their boring lessons. The days where you guys would make so much noise that I'd ask you guys to shut up. The days where we'd play dodgeball during Physical Education lessons as there'd be pretty much nothing else to do other than that (and there'd definitely be some psycho people screaming, no matter where the ball is thrown). And if you are one of those who keep on telling me to remember you, I'd say I'd think of you as a pretty stupid person because I don't think it's possible for someone to forget people who've been in their life for so many years. Forgetting someone's name is normal, but no one forgets the person entirely. And to those who just read the two sentences before this and are feeling honoured or extra happy, guess what, it wasn't a compliment. I was talking about common sense, guys. 

Now, excuse me while I gladly enjoy life after high school. 

A photo diary: America (for the first time ever)

So, last year I went to America for vacation. It was my first time there and I was indeed hyped. Well, not the fangirling type but sort of.

On the 17th of December 2012, we took a flight from Penang to Kuala Lumpur then to Narita, Tokyo and then finally to LA.

Well, when we (finally) arrived at LAX, the time there was 17th of December, so we sort of gained some time. If you get what I meant.

P.S. Most photos were taken with my iPod. :) So, do forgive me if there are any blur photos (there obviously are) considering the fact that my iPod has a camera with (apparently) only 0.7 megapixels, unlike the latest one (the fifth generation one) which has a camera with around 8 megapixels. Ugh.

Day 1

Los Angeles - Anaheim

Anyway, we arrived at LAX at around 12 in the afternoon. I was hyped and sort of proud to be able to say "I hopped off the plane at LAX". For those who don't know, listen to Miley Cyrus' Party In The USA. After going through all the immigration and stuff like that (the meat floss my Mum made got confiscated! Well, part of it) we took a shuttle to our hotel (or inn) in Anaheim in Orange County where we were going to stay for the first few days. The driver took a couple of rounds around the airport, trying to get more passengers on board our shuttle bus-ish car, and also picking up certain passengers who were waiting at various shuttle stands in the LAX compound. I'm telling you, the airport was huge! I don't know if I can compare it to Heathrow airport though.

Because of all the rounds the driver took, plus the passengers he had to drop before us, it took us a few hours to get to our hotel (or inn?!). After checking in and settling down, we just lazed around, pretty much exhausted from the amount and durations of flights - we took 3 flights in a single day and the first one took around an hour or so, the second one took around 6 hours, if I'm not wrong and the third and final one (which finally brought us to LA) took more than 10 hours.

After that, we took a walk outside, looking around and seeing what shops there were around our inn. We then went back to our room after walking around for a while.

As my sister is currently studying in Belfast, she took a flight, which transited at the New York airport (!!!!!!) and arrived at LA at around 8 something at night. It was dark by then, and after waiting till 9 o' clock, we decided to go out for dinner without her first. As we were walking out, my Mum noticed a shuttle pulling up outside our inn, and was like, "Hey maybe she's inside that shuttle!" We stopped, waiting for the passenger who was going to get down to get down and true enough it was my sister! Talk about perfect timing!

Anyway, you'd probably know what happened next - we went for our late dinner at iHOP (International House Of Pancakes). The food was pretty good. And that's when I fell in love with Caesar Salad.

I saw this security guy on a Segway and I just started fangirling. 

(Don't bother about me, it's a Belieber's thing)

Our first stop on the very day we arrived at LA - Target! :D

Yes, I saw Someday at Target. And I didn't buy it 'cause I figured that I wouldn't need it (I don't use perfumes) although I'd definitely love to have it. But it was C-H-E-A-P, okay.

A photo my sister snapped when we were having our dinner at iHOP.

Day 2

Anaheim

Disneyland California Adventure Park

Cotton candy! We bought this to keep me (and my siblings) occupied as we were in a reaaallyyy long queue for one of the rides in the park.

The Disneyland California Adventure Park at night.

Day 3

Downtown LA

In the bus on our way there and we passed by the Staples Center!!!

Call me lame but this photo I took reminds me to stand out.

Outside Union Station.

Inside Union Station. :)

Day 4

Anaheim, Los Angeles - Las Vegas

We stopped at this small town, Barstow, on our way to Las Vegas.

We did some shopping at the Las Vegas Premium Outlets as well. Heheheh.

Watched a fascinating fountain show at the Bellagio Hotel.

 After the fountain show.

A replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel.

The view of Las Vegas from my room window at night.

Day 5

Grand Canyon

So I was asleep and when I woke up on the bus and looked out of the window and saw snow, my eyes literally went huge like OMG THERE'S SNOW OUTSIDE???

Hahahaha I threw a snowball up into the air and tried to get a shot of it but it went too high up. Fail.

But at least it's in the photo, right? 

Snow snow snow snow snow.

Some prints left by an animal on the snow. Interesting.

On our way back to Las Vegas.

Yes I got a pack of Sour Patch Kids (Justin Bieber's favourite candy) just to see how they taste like.

Day 6

Las Vegas - Hollywood

We took a bus in the afternoon from Las Vegas to Hollywood. We arrived there at night and I'm not very sure what we did there later on. If I'm not wrong, we went to the Hollywood And Highland Centre (an open-air mall) for dinner. We then did some shopping and grocery shopping as well.

Day 7

Hollywood

Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Grauman's Chinese Theatre

 The Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On the streets of Hollywood.

Beverly Hills, as seen on the road sign.

One of my favourite shots from the entire trip.

Rodeo Drive.

Day 8

Universal Studios Hollywood

Waiting for an underground train / subway. (Edited on Instagram)

Universal Studios Hollywood when we were about to leave.

Day 9
Hollywood - Buellton

A skateboarding dude.

Malibu Pier.

A pelican.

Later that day, we arrived at our rented house in Santa Ynes. It was a nice house but I didn't get any photos of it. Sorry. :(

Day 10

Solvang

Saw this adorable kid lying on the floor checking out some books at the bookstore of the Hans Christian Andersen Museum.

Inside the Santa Barbara Mission building.

I especially love taking photos of the sun ray. :)

This was probably the bluest sea I've ever seen in my entire life (so far).

Epic.

Day 11

Arroyo Grande

The railings along the walkway along the road. (Did that sentence make any sense?)

I found this box outside a church really unique. :) 

Day 12

Santa Ynez

 Hahahah yes I saw these two dogs in this otherwise unoccupied van.

We then did some shopping at some premium shopping outlets. :)

Day 13

Buellton - Ventura - LA

We left the house we rented and headed for LA as we were scheduled to leave America the next day. My parents had booked a room in a small budget hotel near the LAX airport so that we wouldn't have trouble looking for the airport on the day we were supposed to leave. Halfway through our journey from Buellton to Los Angeles, we stopped at Camino Real Park in a small town - Ventura,  where the Monarch Butterflies migrate to annually.

 You can't see them that clearly but the whole patch of brown hanging from the tree towards the left (which looks like a whole bunch of leaves) are actually Monarch Butterflies. The orange ones more to the middle of this photo are the butterflies with the inner part of their wings showing.

 A close-up shot of one of the butterflies. 

And no we didn't catch it, it was hurt so we tried putting it back onto one of the trees. 

Just a random shot of the scenery on our way to somewhere (I'm not sure where).

Day 14

LAX

We did some shopping at a nearby TJ Maxx in the morning after sending my sister off to the airport earlier. After that we returned our hired car and was off to the airport. 

I then bade farewell to America, promising to be back soon. 

(Photos taken on: (0.7megapixel!!!) iPod touch 4th generation, Canon PowerShot A710 IS)