Ipoh Urban Site Model Completion and Presentation, 24/2/2009

It says it all. How stressed we all were for the past week making the 1:500 scale model of Ipoh. In this one week, there were frustrating moments and also some sweet memorable moments. But all must agree that it was an experience to remember. Imagine the whole studio staying back in college for the past 1 week to finish the model in time. Cooperation man... Though there were some who decided to ignore the importance of this assignment (so not going to work with these people), I pity the leader who has to work with this kind of people. How can one go shopping in time of stress and when the whole studio's grade was at stake. My gosh... I really can't imagine. OH well, at least it is done and I do hope the lecturers saw potential A+ in our work. Though we were told to do some fixing up... I am glad that it is done...

Our 1:500 site model is undeniably very detailed as every group worked hard to compete with each other is detailing and because we all had the will to get a good grade and not pull down the marks of everyone. We are UNITED under one studio. Teamwork yo!



Some of the most impressive small models on the site...


And not forgettting my group's 20 storey apartment which took all 4 of the model makers in the team to complete.

The whole site was assembled in the morning before the studio session in the afternoon. With the help of everyone. We got everything assembled. But sadly to say, our studio tables made Ipoh look like an earthquake zone because of its uneven-ness. So we tried to rectify it as best as we can but the lecturers asked us to think of other methods. And how did we forget about the river??? Arghhh... Going to fix that as soon as we get the transpirancy sheet.

But overall, we all had fun and are satified with the work put in. Right guys? HAHA....

Afternoon came in a blink of an eye and before we knew it, the lecturers have crit. our site model. Asked us to fix a few things but generally pleased with the model then it was time for each zome to present their own zones.

And while some presented, some decided to have fun photo-taking behind the lecturers watchful eyes. HAHA....

Fishing.........


Cam-whoring.....


But there are some who still payed attention la.... Not all the students are naughty like me okay....

Oh yea, it was Kat's birthday too. Happy Belated Birthday wishes to you Kat! ABC got her some beautiful sunflowers for her and she loved it...

Say cheezeeeeee.....


Oh yea, Ellie got a "tatoo"... Yes, that was how bored we all were....

And the artist was Arizz...


What in the world is he drawing? Hmmmmm.......


An "E" for Ellie..


After admiring the site model for a few moments more, I decided to go visit Doug's and Felix's group and their current studio one project which is to built a stage set for a play called, "An Angel but in the Dark.", a tradegy play....


Their 1:1 scale model of the stage...


Douglas giving a motivation speech to Stacie... Or maybe not...



Felix playing the Guitar anf Ki Jun singing to the melody...

I got to know my juniors through staying in studio for a week. Cool people. Glad that I got to know you all. Oh yea... Got to thank Larie (lame Marie) for introducing me to all her friends. HAHA....

I want to see sunshine after the rain.... AHhh.... Love shots of flowers. So nicee..... To all those out there facing stress, you are not the only one.. Think positive and you will get through it.

Have a Great week!

*back to doing Working drawings.......*

Just to share....

Want to know the reason why I haven't been sleeping well for the past few days? And why in the world would I want to spend my weekends in college? Simple... Because of assignments. And not just any assignment, it like STUDIO 3 assignment. Right after the first one is completed, the next one is 2 weeks away from it. Hectic I tell you. I can't even recover from the sleepless nights since that one finished 2 weeks ago. So, what is the present one? Here is another sneak peek of it. The reason why it is still a sneak peek is because need to assemble everything tomorrow. Well, for this Studio assignment, we are required to make a site model, a 1:500 scale model of Ipoh town. We were split into 10 zones which took different parts of Ipoh and we had to make a site model which consists of all the building we saw and the streets. Sound cool? HAHA.. Well, it is in a way, but it is no easy job. Besides that, we have a presentation of our site on the same day as the model is due so we have to create an A0 panel. So whats so stressful huh?

Well, the site model is graded and the marks are equal for the whole Studio 3. So lets say 1 zone failed, then everyone will fail in this assignment. And no one wants to fail right? So yea, the 10 zone leaders have to work hard to ensure every zone finishes their job. And the panels is a zone/group work.

I am in Zone 3. And this is what we have done....

Our Zone model. Started:- Tuesday Afternoon. Completed:- Sunday evening (officially)

In the Studios,

There are some who are busily autocad-ing

Some busy modeling.. Modeling as in making the site model okay....


Some turned insane and just wanted to eat up the site model...

And while waiting for my other group mates to finish, I decided to play with photoshop and montaging a little bit.....


Ahhhhh... The life of a student.........


ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZzzzz..... Seriously, I need a LIFE!

Sleepless nights....

Hopefully I can say its finally over but no, its not over until it hits the Semester break which is in May. But then again, I will have to do industrial training so will be busy for the holidays as well. ARGhhh... It will never end. How I wish I had a year of doing nothing but chilling and doing the things I enjoy most without caring about bills, or budget for the month. How I wish I can escape from all hurt and stress, from all the emotional periods in life... But that will never happen I guess. That is just how life goes. I need to grab hold of myself now.

Woke up this afternoon (I slept at 7 A.M. this morning), after staying in college since Tuesday and sleeping on an average of 2 hours a day, to news of 2 people's death. Not going to say who are these people because I do not have their families' consent but I do want to send out my condolences to them. Well, waking up to news of death is not really a good thing. It made me think of the little time we have here on earth and the worst part is, I am spending my short time in the studio, working my @$$ off just to get a good grade. But that is just life right? What can we do? Just think positive about every moment I suppose. Ahhh.. Enough of these thoughts... I need to get back to college to see to the panel and the little bits and pieces of the model which might need altering. Well, here are some sneak peeks of what I have been up to which is the making of the 1:500 scale of Ipoh Town... Whew.....

The site we are building. Its huge!! Try to imagine 12 A0 size paper... Yep, thats the size of our site model.



Making the 1:500 scale model is not not not, I repeat NOT FUN AT ALL!!!


But some people sure do enjoy it...

Hoping for a good week ahead........

Gotta be somebody

This time, I wonder what it feels like
To find the one in this life, the one we all dream of
But dreams just aren't enough
So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling
The moment when we're meeting, will play out like a scene
Straight off the silver screen
So I'll be holding my own breath, right up 'til the end
Until that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with

'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that
'Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there

Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight
And dammit this feels too right, it's just like déjà vu
Me standing here with you
So I'll be holding my own breath, could this be the end
Is it that moment when, I find the one that I'll spend forever with

'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that
'Cause nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there

You can't give up, looking for a diamond in the rough
You never know, when it shows up, make sure you're holding on
'Cause it could be the one, the one you're waiting on
'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
And everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me, ohhh

Nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there
Nobody wants to be the last one there
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there.

Song by Nickelback.

I am so hooked to this song now. Back to college to work work work... I need to keep this lyrics in my head. So feel like writing a song now. Too bad I can't write melodies or sing... Oh well... Will be staying in college this weekend. Wish me all the best. Will update what I have been up to when I am done with what I am up to now. HAHA....

Final day in Ipoh, 15/2/2009

On the last day, we were given the liberty to explore any of the 15 sites which were given the day before and this will be the site for our final assignment of the semester. And as usual, in the studio world, the last assignment is always to design a structure for the space. 1st studio was a house for a celebrity and mine was Jamie Oliver, 2nd studio is the dive center and for the semester, we are given the liberty to design anything we want but it has to rejuvenate Ipoh Old town one way or another. Cool huh? The catch is, we need to somehow be sensitive to the architecture surrounding our personal site. And so, for this semester, I decided not to choose a site by the water but somewhere which I feel is more sensitive to the culture in Ipoh and that is the Birch Memorial Clock tower right opposite the hotel we were staying at.

No no no... I did not choose the site because I am lazy to walk to the other sites. But just look at the tower, its gorgeous I tell you. Though some beg to differ, I shall hold my stand and say its one of the most interesting sites to work on. Something sensitive to history, for those who remember the history of Malaysia. Where Birch was assasinated by Maharajalela back in the Colonial times. So yea, interesting site right? HAHA.

I will do something great for my site. This shall be my goal for this semester. Aiming for an A.


Some of the statues on the roof of the towers. It seems like they are over looking the small town of Ipoh.


Right opposite the tower is Ipoh State mosque. So now can you see the significance of my site? And yes, the town hall is just next to the tower as well.


After taking photos of the lovely tower, I decided to explore a bit more around Ipoh Town by myself. And found some of the famous buildings there. But what interest me the most is that the main roads were all closed on that day and there were police trucks and vehicles clustered at the Ipoh Padang.



I got stopped 3 times by different officers asking why am I there or where am I from and such. But my camera and tripod sparked questions like which newspaper you are working for? Or which Magazine you are writing for?

And when I answered that I am from Taylors College PJ. They nodded then asked me: "Why take pictures of old buildings? Take pictures of us." Hmmmm... I didn't but I did take pictures of their vehicles. The red truck as can be seen above is not a fire-truck, its actually a riot prevention truck. I saw the shields used for the riots when I walked pass.

There were rumors that something was going on in the Ipoh that day. That is why all the police were there. Well, didn't see anything happening that day so I guess I was lucky.

*But I do want to take pictures if there is a protest going on. Exciting stuff.*


Went for lunch after checking out from the hotel at 12 P.M. with friends then cam-whored on the way back.

After taking our group pictures and putting our stuff on the bus, we were on our way home by 230 P.M.

Studio 3 of 2009


Unit 1, which is tutored by Ian.


Unit 2, tutored by Hasmanira.


Unit 3, tutored by Gerald.


Unit 4, my unit, tutored by Keith.


And finally, Unit 5, the unit which didn't look into the cameras which is tutored by Karlson.

Well, thats all for the post on my trip to Ipoh with the Studio 3 of 2009. Cool huh? Jealous? Well, I don't mind going again. So for those who are interested, lets plan a small trip there some day... But for now... Its time for me to stay over at college for another week to make the site model of Ipoh Old town. This is the sad life of architect students. We do have fun, but the workload is heavy!!!! Oh well, thats life I suppose....

Oh yea... I really miss the custard with Caramel sauce sold in Ipoh... Yummy yummy yummy.......

Valentines Day & Day 2 of Trip to Ipoh, 14/2/2009

TO continue from the last post, once the clock struck 12 midnight and the 13th becomes the 14th, it was Valentines Day and it was also Daphne's birthday. So what we did was surprised her by singing Happy Birthday to her unexpectedly while she was having her group meeting. No cake because we couldn't find the time to get her one in Ipoh. Besides, we were not familiar to where in Ipoh to get a Birthday cake. Oh well, at least she was happy and surprised.

Just look at the smile....

Then another surprise. A bunch of teddies for her "Valentines" gift.


Our gift to our dearest friend Daphne.....

However, the sad part was I forgotten that 14th Feb is her birthday. Sorry Daphne!!!! Please forgive me... Too busy till forget about everyone's birthday. Oh ya, that is why I got you the two Jagung. HAHA.... It was just something very random.

After seeing so many people buying the sweet steamed corn from this makeshift stall right next to the hotel.


Yum yum....

Well, we all went to bed at around 2 (However, some decided to gossip till 6 A.M.) just to prepare ourselves for the busy day ahead. Lots of researching and analyzing to do on day 2. I woke up rather early because of the freakishly cold room. But I was just on time to get some shots of the sun-rise though Mr. Sun was too shy and was hiding behind the clouds.

Ipoh's town Hall during sun-rise.


The veranda was quiet and peaceful. I just sat there and waited for the day to start.

After breakfast at 8 A.M., 10 groups departed to their own zones which was chosen the evening before. Our objective, to get as many information we can lay our hands on for the zone we got. My team's zone was zone 3 and it is located in some of the oldest parts of Ipoh. Well, nothing much to talk about here. Lots of walking and sun-bathing, record and analyze and all the usual stuff we do on a study trip.

Arches in a park.


Some tin "artists" which can still be found in the alleys of Ipoh.


Some of the abandoned shophouses in Ipoh. Better not tear it down. Old is the new New (if you get what I mean).


Oh yes, should I mention that zone 3 has the tallest building in Ipoh? A 20 storey flat located near the river.


And by the river, and under the shades of the trees, is the area where old men come and chill during the hot sunny afternoons.


And of course, every town has to have a cemetary. People live, people die each day... This is a Malay cemetary located next to a mosque in our zone.



Hmmmm... Maybe the people can't read???


Some old shops making noodles.


And some neo-classical buildings you can see around Ipoh.

Though quiet, the small town of Ipoh was once a buzzling city during the tin-mining times. You can still see the remnants of history engraved in the architecture of the buildings in IPoh. Its just wonderful to get to visit such a place.

By 330 P.M., my group rushed back to the hotel to prepare our presentation to introduce the rest to our site. So back at the hotel,

Sherman was busy snapping pictures of the place.

*no other pictures because I was busy with presentation*

When the presentation ended and everyone was briefed, we went to a place called Happy Valley Cafe for dinner. Bad choice..... I will not recommend you to go to this cafe ever.. It took them an hour to bring out my plate of Happy Valley Nasi Lemak Special and guess what, there was nothing special about it all all. Besides that it costed me RM8 just for a plate of crappy Nasi Lemak.

Putting all rantings aside, we were sitted on table 12, 13 & 14 so it was fun for us, on Valentines Day to snap a photo.....

1314... which in Chinese means, forever and ever.... How sweet....

Well, while I was waiting for the food to come, I had fun with my new learnt skill of photography which is playing with the Apature and try to draw shapes.

Trying to draw hearts but I seem to fail..

Well, dinner that night sucked. Daphne, Li Qun and Kiet Yeang had to find elsewhere to eat after waiting for 1 and a half hours just to find out that they ran out of rice. How Ironic was that. So take my advice.. I do not encourage you to go to this cafe. Service sucks man... If they have had told us a bit earlier, we would not have needed to waste our time there.

After dinner, went around the town taking night shots. And it turned out better than expected.

HSBC BANK..


Birch Memorial Tower.


A lorry drove past when I was snapping the picture, creating such a unique effect to the picture.


Oh yea, who said Ipoh was had no life? At night, the streets turns into a race track for the youngsters.

Day 2 ended up with us meeting with or tutors at 11 and after that we decided to walk around the town after midnight.... Final post will be up later... But for now, I need sleep badly. Tomorrow, a New Day and to begin the making of our Studio 3 of 2009 site model which dues next Tuesday... Oh the horror. ZZZzzzZZZzzz......

Part 3, to be continued.....