Already the end of February! Okay, time to do February's edition of Photos of the Month!

Photo of the Month
Day 43: Flights of Fancy

From Project 365 (v.2010)

For many reasons, this photo is a definite winner. Very spontaneous and beautifully captured (in my opinion). Having said that, there are quite a number of contenders this month, namely Day 38: Family Nuptual Bells and Day 46: Sunset in Sentosa.

LOL Factor
Day 50: I've got hair!

From Project 365 (v.2010)

I don't think I have as many LOL photos as January. But I'm still amused at the fact that I'm taking photos of hair. Of all things!

Bleh Photo
Day 36: Illustrator Torture

From Project 365 (v.2010)

I'm picking this as the Bleh Photo of the month. Why? Even some of the shots where I wasn't in a decent mood were way better than this one. It's probably further proof that taking a little bit of time and thought goes a long way.

Overall, February has indeed been a wonderfully fruitful month for my Project 365. I'm glad I took lots of good photos, went to some places, got to know Singapore a little better...absolutely anything can look beautiful. Here's to hoping that March will be just as good if not better month!

I took some time today to take a walk from church back into the city centre area closer to where I live for lunch. More like - I was in dire need of fresh air and some getting to know the city moment.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

This fountain is in a bars and pubs cluster near Raffles Hotel. I guess it should hold some historical value of some sort. I like that feeling of solitude in the middle of the hustle bustle.

I designed a wall calendar for myself to put up at home. Technically, I only actually received it in February when I went back for the wedding, and, being someone who wants to spread the Gazelove, decided to take a photo of February. Will be taking photos of others (January included) some other time.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

February features Ruki of the GazettE - the photo on the left features his outfit from Before I Decay and the one on the right for The Invisible Wall single / DIM album release.

It's almost the end of the 2 week Chinese New Year celebration, but the feeling of CNY's festivities still linger - particularly as somebody brought this Loh Hey dish to pot luck.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

In Chinese tradition (that's popularized by Singapore) people will mix Yusheng (raw fish salad) during Chinese New Year as a symbol of good luck. Also known as Loh Hey.

Am I an opportunist? I've been asking this question to myself for a while now. With a couple of milestones coming up, I need to start looking for good opportunities and grab onto them with my dear life. The question is: do I know an opportunity when it passes by? And will I be brave enough to reach out?

From Project 365 (v.2010)

This door knob is the one to my room. I like the coppery look to it, which makes an elegant design. Theme photo alert...

Ever felt the need to shut yourself away from everything? Get away from it all? That feeling's back again. I suspect it may have something to do with my lack of inspiration.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

The curtains in my room at night symbolize my emotions: not open to public. For many reasons, all I want to do is shut myself up, yet I don't have as much of a chance to do so.

I suck. I really do. Especially when trying to feel inspired. Or at least trying to find inspiration. I was really frustrated with even finding something I could at least be passionate about for the next few months for the entire weekend. I still am actually. And it's handicapping me because my life sort of depends on it.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

I've bought a table lamp for my room so that I don't have to lug out of bed just to switch off the ceiling light at night. And given the mood I was in today, I feel that my shadow on the wall is appropriate for today's photo, as if I really am kept in the dark.

I didn't watch the musical, but I did find some interesting merchandise when I was at Far East Plaza on Saturday.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

Hairspray! The one on the left is brown and the one on the right is gold. I've tried it on my hair. The brown spray makes my hair look browner while the gold one has all this glitter dust on it, sort of like gold marker paint.

What the hell? I can't type entries in Firefox and IE but I can in Google Chrome? Man, this sucks...Well, I'll have to use Chrome to do this until Blogger starts behaving again in the other browsers. Having said that, here's the photo of the day.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

MOS Burger at Orchard Central. The burger is still tastier than McDonald's, but not as juicy as the Hong Kong and Taiwanese versions. This is the Spicy Cheese MOS Burger and I ordered a Clam Chowder as a side

What a great day it was! Not only did I have brunch at a fancy cafe (their brunch menu is awesomely delicious), I also met up with a couple I'm friends with from Shanghai for a long catch up chat (especially talking about trashy TV, hahaha), and did some major window shopping.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

The brunch items we ordered at PS Cafe today. The mushroom pastry, banana pancakes and some toasted bread with some tomato/mushroom dip. Absolutely scrumptious! (Thanks again! =))

Like I said in the previous post...I went to Chinatown to buy some stuff I wanted...namely hair! Squee! I'm so gonna cosplay, I'm so gonna cosplay...

From Project 365 (v.2010)

I got a wig! And a hairpiece! The black wig really is jet black, but because I'll have to have it layered short-ish if I want to play the rock vocalist Nana (from the manga), I'll go with fake hair for a day. It needs a decent cut. But still! And the brownish red mane is my long hair piece! Which I shall call the "Uru piece!" AHAHAHA. My hair's not as black as the wig's anymore (because I've dyed it), but I figured that a more natural looking brownish red under piece will go better than...what...pastel lavender or market plastic bag red...

Since it was a day off, I went to Chinatown to get some stuff I wanted...which I'll photograph tomorrow. (AHAHAHAHA) On a side note, I ran into 3 different lion dance troupes today, and I recorded one of the groups on video. For some reason, I thought the lions riding down the escalator looked really funny (in a kawaii kind of way). (Will edit for Youtube link.)

From Project 365 (v.2010)

This is one of the open air market shopping touristy places in Chinatown. They sell stuff like "I love Singapore" and Merlion magnets here. Still, the CNY feeling's still there...

To those of you who are unfamiliar with the Chinese New Year culture: it's common for many larger Chinese restaurants and businesses (if they want) who can afford to pay a lion dance troupe to celebrate the new year tradition. What this does is that the lion, which has got a huge head with lots of colours, is seen as a guardian creature, and along with the loud banging of drums, gongs and cymbals, driving away evil spirits and bring good fortune to the place in question. The common lion that's seen in many places is the Southern (Cantonese) style - the lion from the north resembles a lot like a Pekingese dog with orange fur. And now that it's the new year period, I've been listening to drums everyday for the past few days.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

This is the reason why I wanted to take up Chinese martial arts as a kid. The lion dance performance at the restaurant near the school isn't spectacular (since I never saw any attempted acrobatics) and, in my opinion, is a rather boring show. But nevertheless, the drum and cymbals that depict the lion dance have definitely contributed to the festive mood.

I spent most of my day in bed, unable to summon any inspiration for fashion. It's exhausting, but I suppose the only sight that I can stare at for hours is this...

From Project 365 (v.2010)

It's the ceiling light in my bedroom. It's normally not as dark as shown in the photo, but when there's a massive blank in your head, it's probably the only object I'm willing to stare at all day when I'm out of ideas.

Although I went to Sentosa Island with high anticipation of taking photos of butterflies, I feel that it was a bit of a disappointment. Until I came across a magnificent sunset on the beach.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

Coming across this sunset on Sentosa Island has taken me through a trip down memory lane. The soft sandy beach filling the gaps in my toes, the skies filled with crimson layers, the glowing disk that determines time...something I haven't had much of a chance to feel in the last couple of years. I took this photo with the ships in sight to avoid the cliched look. Still, it was refreshing to actually take proper photos outdoors.

Firstly, Happy Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day to all of you. If I were home with my family, I would have been having meal gatherings with them and possibly play mahjong (and have to give "tuition fees" if I lose). But since I'm nowhere close and most places are on holiday, I stayed at home. With my magazines. And while still on the subject of magazines, here's a photo which answers the question of "why I hate buying American Vogue".

From Project 365 (v.2010)

These are some of the Japanese fashion magazines I own, namely JJ, CanCan and Vivi. Despite not knowing how to read the language, I love to pore over them, just because their presentation is way better than the Western stuff. Everything is so eye appealing and prettier, and at least I don't have to read those articles that I can never understand that Anna Wintour puts in (you know, those that start at page 67 and when you reach page 69, they tell you to flip over to page 142 to finish it?). And that is Koda Kumi (倖田來未) on the cover of March's ViVi!

Since it's the real long weekend, I'm staying at home today. I officially woke up at 2pm, but didn't get out of bed until 4pm - today's best for rest.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

So I made myself a cup of hot chocolate, complete with boiling water over the stove. It's a little earlier than usual for my daily upload, but I intend to spend the rest of the day with a hot cuppa, a couple of magazines, some internet manga and my bed.

I went to Jurong Bird Park today! Apparently the world's largest bird park, complete with the world's largest man made waterfall (30 metres high!), the largest walk-in aviary with a panorail...not to mention the place has won several awards! Not only did I get to play Link in having a bird of prey on my hand (okay, it wasn't an eagle, but it still counts, and I've got photos to prove it!), also I got to take loads of awesome bird photos. Close ups, flying images, spread eagles (AHAHAHAHA), Harry Potters (owls), flutterings...you name it. Album link here - you can see me "cosplaying my arm"!

From Project 365 (v.2010)

Today, I vowed to take an outdoor photo, and although this doesn't look as outdoorsy, this was taken just after one of the shows at Jurong Bird Park. I absolutely love this image as it was an actual captured movement, and this photo certain won over some of the other contenders for 365 today (I had a few good flying shots and close ups too). What a wonderful outing!

As much as I love Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year...I don't like it when they clash on the same day. Because everything looks hideously tacky! *throws up virtually*

From Project 365 (v.2010)

This is what happens to gifts when Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year clash! GROSSLY PACKAGED GIFTS. Not to mention that Chinese music they always play in the background...*shudder*

I honestly don't know if people are bored enough or do it on purpose, but it was such a laugh I had to take this photo. Oh, I've edited the layout from 5 posts view to 10 - I think 5 is a little too constrained.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

I took this during lunch hour, and this was like...right next to the table I was sitting at. I probably should write something like "AMANTIS WUZ LOLLERCOASTING HERE", but I'll probably get fined in this *ahem* non-humorous country.

We were really hungry today, and as a way to celebrate pre-CNY, we decided on hotpot for dinner.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

This hotpot restaurant is right across the street from school. The meat is pretty good, though I cannot say much about the choice of free tasteless juice. (And it didn't help that I was really really thirsty!)

It's been quite a weekend. And I'm glad there isn't as much to backtrack as the earlier days when I didn't even have internet.

Day 36
Day 37
Day 38
Day 39

MY DELIVERY HAS ARRIVED.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

My loot I ordered from ThinkGeek.com has arrived! I want caffeinated sweets for my ongoing nights where I need a lot work to be done. They are Foosh mints, Penguin mints (both don't have sugar), Chai mints (still love the packaging) and slow release coffee capsules. I almost feel like a smoker now, except with mints.

It was my cousin's wedding today. While again, technically, it was taken the day after (February 8), but to be fair, I really was crashed out after the wedding. But I have been meaning to use this composition.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

This is a souvenir gift from the wedding. It's homemade soap by the bride's brother's girlfriend (her website is here). It was a wonderful event, and, given the way I dressed up and did my hair, I felt way girlier than I had in ages. The ribbon says "Mandy & Alex 7 February 2010".

After a string of things that happened today, it was really a "bleh" moment. But a photo is a photo.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

You see this device? I use it to stick my Swarovski crystals onto my stuff. Which I shall continue doing...The tip gets really hot though, so I'm always nervous whenever I need to use it.

I know that my flatmate's lappy has made another appearance, and I can't help but share her torture with you.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

On my flatmate's lappy is one of the many technical drawings she has to draw and redraw practically every single day. I feel blessed (so far) not to have this job yet.

I had to hit the art shop yet again - I realized I didn't have appropriate skin colours! So...after spending yet another over $100 purchase on more markers (and some marker holders), here's what I end up doing...

From Project 365 (v.2010)

As you can see, I have to colour these fabrics in with markers. It's going to be a hell of a nightmare trying to find the appropriate colours to use and blend in. GAH. And the fabrics are all 2 toned, as they call here, meaning one colour gradient into another.

My flatmate bought this for her project, and there's only one thing you can associate this fabric with that's universally understood...

From Project 365 (v.2010)

Singapore Airlines fabric! It's commonly seen here in Singapore, and the average price is way cheaper than most of the other fabrics I've encountered. If I want to work on SQ (or pretend that I do for Halloween), I know where to go! (PS> It's not my angle that's wonky, check the table, it's lined up properly - the mannequin is a real bitch to get straight.)

Once again, I took the opportunity to shop for things, namely a new pair of Levi's after spilling Tippex all over my old pair (not really, but I saw a hole developing in the crotch), some markers for my design, a much needed new bag and a book.

From Project 365 (v.2010)

The book is Japanese Goth which contains loads of photos of different gothic styles (including Mana and Malice Mizer, but I thought these ones looked really cool), and you can see I bought a lot of Copic markers (normally, I buy Letraset's Tria stuff, but all they have are dried stock! this is just a small selection by the way...), a bag for markers and some privilege cards: Kinokuniya (Japanese magazines discount!), Jay Gee card (for more Levi's and New Look discounts), Popular Bookstore card and The Soup Spoon stamp cards.

It's February! And today is Ruki's birthday!

From Project 365 (v.2010)

This is the stuff I bought over the weekend. Loads of Letraset Tria markers (the best in the world, in my opinion), some magazines which include Vogue (Paris edition), Arena 37C featuring Akanishi Jin from KAT-TUN (and unknowingly, it's also the GazettE's Kai issue with the fish eye lens), and, oddly enough, I managed to grab a copy of Volume 39 (June 8 2009) of Neo Genesis (!). Of course, I'm posting this because it's Ruki's birthday. ^^