STPM life

(This post should be posted one year earlier, but late better than never right? RIGHT?)

Before SPM, I've been wanting to pursue my study in STPM. Most of my friends felt odd with my decision, as they assumed STPM is a long, slow, not-so-worth pathway for students. This is true as well, but being a student with tight budget, I simply believe we shouldn't pay so much for study when there is a cheaper and globally accredited option.

After I received my SPM result, I did not apply matriculation and straight to form six. ( Honestly, I regretted. As there is plenty of students who took matriculation and got their first choice for their university, even Chinese! But STPM gives you opportunity to study oversea! *dilemma* ) Throughout the 1.5 fun-filling years, I admit I enjoyed it a lot and I, too confess that I can do lot more better! 

If you're taking STPM and want to make the best out of it, take these advices!

1. Consider tuition

Most of the form six tuition centre located at Petaling street and walking distance from the train/bus station (LRT Pasar Seni, MRT Pasar Seni, LRT Plza rakyat, KTM Kuala Lumpur). There is plenty of hipster style cafe around it and good for cafe hoppers. Enjoy a cup of coffee, take some insta-worthy photo and chilling with friends, before or after your tuition! Besides, the curry laksa noodles run by three old ladies is a great steal beside bangunan Pak Beng. 

And tuition centre that I greatly recommend:
Physics: Mr. Huan, Pusat Tuisyen Kita (012-3319865)
-Great explanation, 20+ years experience, just do not be afraid to ask question!

Maths: KK Lee, Pusat Tuisyen AI
-Notes given simple and effective

Leaf  & Co. cafe

Photo credit: www.malaysianflavour.com

Merchants Lane

Photo credit: http://coffeeofday.com

Chocha Foodstore

Photo credit: http://coffeeofday.com

2. Take up sports

This is your chance to play sports, join and have fun! In form six, group are small, everyone get their turn to play, do not shy and join. It's okay to be noobie for sports, at least get your sweat out and learn some skills. 

3. Join competition / events

Be bold and ambitious. Either academic related or non-related, you can volunteer yourself, work hard for it and join the competition. It does not matter if you bring back medal or not, this is just to widen your view and know more friends from around the country or even world! If you get a chance to join  conference such as model united nation / ted talk / science talk, do not hesitate! Also events such as IU day/四星 etc. You will definitely be amazed by the outstanding students with their great fluency in speaking, the way they brought up themselves, how they communicate and how they lead their roles.

WEHUNT KL, organised by interact club of MBSSKL

4. Join board

Either prefectorial board / librarian etc. In my case, my form six institution have a so called IT brigade, where our duties is to maintain IT facilities in school. Sort of like librarian, but we dealing with computers etc. This is a great platform for me to learn the function of the component of hardware, photoshop skill and apps making. Back in secondary school, I was quite a rebellious student that thinking those prefect are troublemaker, and teased them a lot, For this, I was quite guilty about it. But is fun


Overall, it was quite a general advice, but it should be taken wholeheartedly!

newbies drawing

Attempt to do some realistic hair drawing.

And colour pencil painting.

Well, look quite awful, never mind, practice makes perfect! 👊

8 Days 6 Night in Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe )

Last year end holiday, my family and i had a trip in Japan.Exact date is 5/12/2013 - 12/12/2013.
I hope the itinerary is helpful for those in need as we planned our trip by referring others' itinerary too.
Below are the itinerary:

Day 1(5/12/13)  
We boarded a flight on the we hour, so we reached KIX around 9 a. m.
From KIX, we took train to Kyoto (Kawaramachi station) with Kyoto Access Kippu Ticket.
On the journey, we had to change line for 3 times.
We checked in at Kyoto Khaosan Guesthouse. It's a very nice guesthouse. It's cozy and affordable.
Six of us stay in a dorm with 6 bed. The guesthouse has kitchen for us to cook.

Dorm:

The guesthouse has wi-fi access and pc to use. And the guesthouse provide a lot of information around tourist spot in Kyoto!

This is the living room in the guesthouse. We can watch tv, rest and online in this place.

We had lunch at a Japanese cuisine restaurant around the guesthouse.  

We spent our day around Kyoto and Teramachi shopping arcade.

Day 2 (6/12/2013)

On the second day, we decided to have sight seeing around Kyoto. So we bought Kyoto City Bus One-day Pass cost 500 yen. 

To Kiyomizu Temple

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Ginkakuji Temple 

Nishiki Market

ps: If you think you are missing, ask working foreigners. They speak English and know the direction of the places well.

Day 3 (7/12/2013)

On the third day, we decided to stay in Osaka.

We took subway, from Kawaramachi station (nearest station of the guesthouse) to Umeda Station cost 390 yen.

From Umeda st , to Namba st cost 230 yen.

Lastly, from Namba st to Tennoji st (Our hotel locates) cost 230 yen. 

There are different lines of subway, such as Midosuji Line.. etc. Is quite confusing at first, but we managed to overcome by the use of subway line map. It's very useful, because it shows you all the subway line and stations. Make sure have a map in your hand.

And you will notice there is different type of train. They have the same origin and destination, but some of the train just stop at certain station, some of the train stop at all station.

Namba and shisaibashi are famous for shopping and food as well.

To be continue