On a very unrelated note, I miss this game a lot. Ridge Racer Type 4. It practically made up most of my gaming time when I was a kid, back then when I still had a PS1 (Sadly I no longer have the game nor the console. I remember completing it with every team and drawing out cars just because of this game.
Somehow, despite the shitty graphics back then, I was still rather amazed by the design of the whole game in all, from the intro movie to the way the title screen was in this bold yellow and black font; a minimalistic and neat design. Coupled with the use of light trails and moving dot animations during the selection (And don’t forget, a really awesome soundtrack), I can say it’s probably one of the best games ever, to me.
I hate nostalgia sometimes.
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On a side note, made my first buck freelancing! (50 bucks in fact!) This one is for my friend’s university club.
Not much, but it’s a good start!
OCS Instructor’s Appreciation Day was today, and learning to surf at Wavehouse was pretty fun (I know it’s artificial, but with the sad state of Singapore’s natural beauty and attraction, it’s close enough).
Even more fun was probably learning to ride a longboard. Akin to flying down the road. It’s tempting to get one, but the only thing putting me off is probably the lack of nice long winding, scenic roads in Singapore and probably the lack of anyone else I know who longboards. But, speed.
I miss flying on water.
Love the sickly green in the horizon which came with some extreme cross processing. I can imagine those ships there turning into a mass of rotting rust; apocalyptic and lonely.
▲Because I tend to make loads of resolutions when the new year comes, and I feel it’s a good thing to do as well.
The necessary:
1)Get driving licence
2)Start drawing more instead of posting stupid photos or writing more text. There’s enough of that on Tumblr.
3)Actually do something with the society6 store you had set up (For the curious, the link is on the right, called society6. Click it.)
Okay there’s not much there, but that’s what 2) and 3) is for after all!
4)Please go on a holiday before uni. After the past two years void, you need one. (Japan, UK, Sweden? Anywhere, Anyone?)
5) ORD
The lifestyle changes:
6) 6 hours of PROPER sleep on weekdays (Hey it’s an improvement from the 4 to 5 hours I usually get)
7) Run more. Keep fit.
8) Improve on biblical knowledge and grow closer to God.
9) More positive perspective on certain things and situations. The only constant in everything is wrong, is you.
10) Don’t be too quiet.
The personal:
11) Fight that inertia to just sit down and play computer games and do something more productive.
12) Don’t afraid to be wrong, and don’t be afraid to take risks, because that is where we learn things.
13) Jack of all trades, master of none; there will come a time where you’ll have to pick 2 out of 3 or one out of many, so you’ll need to be decisive.
14) Do something reasonably crazy. Solo holiday, sing in public, try something different, something new, whatever. Preferably the first.
15) Remember, people won’t remember you the next day, so sometimes, doing something daring and out of the blue is fine.
16) Responsibility bro. Difficult sometimes, but necessary, much.
Others:
17) Learn to cook something other than seafood and instant noodles. Maybe real ramen and soup.
After-thought:
18) Find a girlfriend. Lol.
19) Procrastinate less.
▲It’s always nice at the top of the tower. The wind and the view makes everything on the ground forgotten. Too bad it’s locked up most of the time and no one is allowed to come up alone, or I would have done so a long time ago. Today it’s with two guys from the film crew, covering some clips for a series. One is short and stocky, reminding me of my photography friend back in school. The other was rather friendly looking with thick black rimmed glasses. He was in an instructor’s PT kit. I met them at the bottom of the tower, which was a short walk from the building I came from.
‘Re-shooting some shots?’ I asked the one with the black rimmed glasses. Hipster or channeling military, I wouldn’t know.
‘Yeap, running up the tower with a camera. GoPro.’
‘Oh okay.’ More amusing was the fact that his boxers were peeking out from the bottom of his running shots. I wonder how he made it to the tower without anyone stopping him for inappropriate attire. Not like I would have done so though, I’m not really the sort who likes confrontation. While waiting for the lift, I considered dropping a hint about his boxers but decided to shut up in the end. They were visitors after all.
We boarded the lift which would take us to the top of the tower. It wasn’t an awkward ride I would say, I’ve grown accustomed to those guys after following them for filming over the past week or so. They were discussing about what they would be shooting. Running up the tower. Briefly gazing down at the maroon tank top while running up. Catch glimpses of the foot stepping down on the concrete stairs.
‘Reliving the good old days?’ the shorter one asked.
‘Oh by the way, that’s the instructor’s set, not the Cadet’s. So if you’re filming and looking at the attire, you might catch the ‘Instructor’ tag there’ I chimed in earnestly, pointing at the label under the school’s logo, a nice golden yellow on maroon.
‘Aw shit, how do I get it off?’ The guy with the glasses started scratching on the label in a vain attempt to scrape it off.
The shorter one gave a chuckle, ‘It only fades after two years.’ I smiled along unwittingly.
‘Nevermind, I guess we can work around this’, The one with glasses added, still scratching at the word ‘instructor’ which was printed on rather well.
I was thinking, it would probably take more than two years to fade, but I kept it to myself.
The lift opened up and we were greeted with a blast of cool air from the breeze around. The sky was cloudy, but it was far from rainy. I took a corner and sat on a railing while the pair set up their cameras facing the surroundings. I would have sat on the marble ledges, but the ridiculous fear of getting blown off as though I was a paper doll stopped me. The image of falling over and landing with a splat about 80 metres above ground wasn’t the best ending one could have. The two of them were discussing camera angles and the height of the tower.
‘I heard you could get blown off if you climb up the ladder to the top of the tower’, I added, eyeing the ladder which led to the huge flagpole which held the nation’s colours high above.
‘Well, you should try’, Shorty said to Glasses. ‘Then I can film you flying off’, he continued, chuckling, with one eye peering through the viewfinder of the huge video camera they brought along. Industry standard.
I closed my eyes and let them get on with their work. The wind was great and I felt like enjoying whatever time I had up here while it lasts. I would have climbed up the ladder if I could, but the only thing stopping me was the presence of the two film crew members and the position I held. I would probably get into some major mess if I was spotted. Worse still, the wind would pick me up like a rag doll and blow me off and down into the thick green forest below. There are times I wish we had wings. To just soar up this high would be amazing. Imagine on those days when life is overwhelming you and all you want to do is run, you could just spread your wings and fly up to the top of some tall building. Well, that’s what I would have done.
Glasses had put on the GoPro camera on his forehead and was stepping into the lift, looking like an oddly dress dressed miner taking the lift into the depths beneath the soil. He was adjusting the camera on the interior of the lift.
‘Have fun,’ Shorty quipped as the lift doors closed. I gave a quick wave.
It was an odd 5 minutes before Glasses emerged from the stairs, breathless and exhausted. ‘Haven’t done this in a while,’ he heaved as he leaned back against the ledge. I gave him a bemused look.’ ‘Neither have I,’ I thought. I used to be much fitter before about 2 years ago before I got this job. A lot more creative too. Now I’m sitting here wondering where it went.
These days, I have no idea where that wondering mind of mine went. It used to float down the walls, leaving a slithering trail and a riot of colours; it used to transform into bunnies, divide itself and turn into bubbles. Crawl up paper and tear through layers. Turn lines of blue, purple and pink into a spectrum of colours, and from that spectrum of colours a fish would emerge, breathing out clouds; all round and fluid. However, right now it was as smooth as the marble tiles which lined the walls of the tower; angular like the corners which formed a strange vertical horizon against the sky in the distance.
Like the world reflected on the cold grey stone, where trees will be trees and clouds will be just gaseous structures in the sky. Perfect to the details of the formations and colours, coming together for me to see the greenery, the horizon and the perfect weather which surrounds this triangular container which holds me, high up the sky, as a tower should and a tower ever would be. Everything is ordinary, everything is well, and everything is just the way it is. Everything is perfect.
‘10 more minutes and we will be done.’ Shorty said as he stared out into the distant buildings.
But I don’t want to be done; I don’t want to be perfect. I want to see the marble ripple from the winds which blow this way, transforming into a tidal wave of swirling grey marble-coloured droplets; see the corners sway and the foundations bend and bow. I want to lean back off the ledge and pull up from the dive, with wings from my boots or clouds under my back. Heck, I could hit the floor and turn into a swirl of colours, but emerge from mouths of the stone lions which guard the stairs to the tower gates. I don’t want it to be picture perfect and well formed, but want it to be fluid and unpredictable. I had no idea where my mind went and what had become of it, but I know I don’t want to recognise it as how everyone tells me it is.
‘And we’re done. That’s a wrap!’
I hopped off the railing which I was sitting on and took in the cool breeze for one more time before stepping into the elevator in which Shorty and Glasses were waiting in. Shorty looked a lot like your typical soldier with the huge camera tripod resting on his shoulders. He nudged a button and the breeze stopped as it had come, as the elevator was bathed in a dim light and made its way down.
‘Thanks, we’ll see you again then’, Glasses piped happily as we walked from the tower. He still looked ridiculous with his boxers jutting out from under the running shorts. The sun was out and it was getting humid again, the way it usually was here.
‘No problem. Next time we’re filming again I think’.
I waved goodbye and headed down the stairs and back into the air conditioned building as they packed their equipment into an orange van in the parking lot. ‘Funny pair’, I thought, as I pushed open the door and entered back to where I came from.
Last I saw before the door closed, my mind was a huge shimmering pink and purple fish gnawing on the red brick corner of the building.
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Finally done with my church’s hospitality shirt.
Barkers for Christ, We don’t bite!
The catchphase ‘We don’t bite’ is located at the back of the shirt though, along with the Young Adults Ministry logo. There are a few colours (Viridian, Maroon, Red) with the logo in black print as well, but I thought the White print on Navy looked the best.
Been doing wayyy too much digital art lately; better pick up the sketchbook and pen soon. Aside from that, probably one of the best I’ve done in a long time.
Strange as it is, I’m really thankful for this opportunity. Sometimes I can’t help but feel the creative bit in me is going to slowly untwine itself from my mind and leave my head through the ear. It scares me sometimes. Then I will end up being a deskbound zombie, but then again, I think too much.
Way too much.
I need to do my new year resolutions soon and reply a really long email. Keep myself occupied, keep the worries all at bay.
EDIT: OH BUMMER I DIDN’T SAVE THE SECOND ARTBOARD. Now I need to redo the back again. Ahwell!
▲May 2012 be a brand new start, as 2011 fades into the night.
May it be filled with fresh experiences and less fear off the unknown; may I learn from the bad experiences but not take them to heart.
May I take a step forward and not two steps back, and may daring prevail and timidity subside.
May I stay strong in my heart and my head, and my thoughts be clear as I trust God to lead the way.
Let 2012 be a good year ahead. A very good one indeed.
▲I know anything can happen in the last two days of 2011, and I know it’s not totally the wreck I feel it has turned out to be, but realistically speaking, I feel that 2011 has been a pretty shit year as a whole, in more situations than not. I don’t wish 2012 to be any easier, but make me tougher, compared to the abnormally weak self which seems to persist lately. Maybe things will work out better.
This is what goes on in my head when I try to select colours:
“Okay, so they wanted green, red and yellow as a base colour.”
5 minutes later…
“Okay here it is, done.
…
I wonder how it looks like darker.”
10 minutes later…
“Navy and viridian looks pretty sweet. What about making the logo design white!”
15 minutes later…
“I hope they pick navy and white! It looks so nice!”
45 minutes later…
How 5 minutes picking 3 base colours becomes 1 hour choosing between 20+ colours and all permutations of logo colours.
And I wonder why I sleep so late.
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Here’s some festive cheer.
This was supposed to be printed and given out but there were delays in getting it done and all… (Sorry those who gave me cards :S)
Anyway, Merry Christmas all, happy holidays and God bless!
(And I think I’m down with flu. Again. I should sleep more haha.)
▲So many pictures to post, but no time at all! I still have yet to finish up my Christmas card design (Which I might not end up printing, but instead posting here ): ) and I’ve got a urgent shirt design in the pipelines! Probably see them during the New Year; a roll of film over 3 months and some shots of training.
Work, let off some steam, it’s the holiday season, and you’re not top priority to me. I got all that more important stuff than you.
▲For example, if I continue canoeing, will I be able to keep going even after I start my architecture course? Or should I drop it and try out new things like diving and concentrate on my art (which at the moment, is stagnant beyond belief thanks to National Service). But wait! You promised yourself to go for at least one SEA games!
Damn, really.
Damn you too, 2 years void.
▲Don’t be like that. Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal.
Ask yourself some good questions like: “Am I proud of the life I’m living? What have I tried this month? … Do the people I’m spending time with give me life, or make me feel small? Is there any brokenness in my life that’s keeping me from moving forward?”
Now is your time. Walk closely with people you love, and with people who believe … life is a grand adventure. Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path.
❞ -Relevant magazine (via alazeema) ▲Last week was the December church camp for the P6 to JC2
From the book of Isaiah, 46:11,
11 From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
what I have planned, that I will do.
The first verse which I have ever underlined rather messily with a blue ball point on my bible of 6 years.
Buddies.
Praises.
The beginning of games, and a lot of mud and water. I thought I would be pretty safe as photographer, but apparently not.
Human bowling.
The most disgusting (not to mention smelly) game I have ever seen. The mud smelt as bad as it did back outfield.
No need to mention the socks too.
The younger kids were amusingly daring.
As much as I tried to avoid the mud, I still got hit by a mud sock which someone threw and fell off the bench which I was perched on while taking some close up shots. The shirt I was wearing smelt so bad afterwards. Hazards of being the photographer ;_;
Xavier sharing some love.
Daniel, you were supposed to be protecting me but you dodged!
(This was taken a split second before my zoom lens was clipped by a unintentional water bomb which smacked me on the left side of my face, leaving me with a drenched hoodie and a moment of panic while checking my camera. And I was worried about the rain…)
Too much cute baby charm in this one. Little Dylan Yang. His mom was worried I was gonna blow my flash in front of him but I’m nice like that :D
Nick and his lightsticks. No prizes from guessing where those probably came from.
Overall, all in all, an excellent camp, for the heart and the soul.
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