Comic Fiesta 2017 @ Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre~!!

Assalam & hye everyone~!!

So, this will be my first post for 2018, but it is actually regarding an event in 2017, hehe...

Comic Fiesta 2017 was held on 16th-17th December 2017 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, right next to Suria KLCC. It is an annual event celebrating anime, manga, and game fans across Malaysia. For this event, I registered myself to become a volunteer (just wanted to gain experience).

Official poster of the event

This is the biggest anime+manga+game related event in Malaysia. It's also known as CF. Other events similar to this are Animangaki, Japan Otaku Matsuri, MGACE, Cosplay Festival, and others.

As a volunteer on the basic doujin booth team, I was assigned to guard the exit doors (doujin comes from the term doujinshi that means self-published works by amateurs). On Day 1, I wore the CF t-shirt, a panda shawl, and a panda hat (trying to portray myself as a panda lover, haha).

Me in the CF t-shirt, panda hat, and panda shawl

On Day 2, I wore a pink yukata (the same one that I wore during Bon Odori 2017).

Since I was on duty, I did not get to snap pics of the various cosplayers who attended the event. So, here are only a few pics that I have.

Selfie with Haruha (a kouhai of mine)

With Hanabi (a member of Hijab Cosplay Gallery group)

Another selfie with Haruha

Selfie with a new friend who came all the way from Johor

One of the halls of the event

This pic was taken at 6.29 p.m., half an hour before closing time

Lollipops that I received from dear Haruha

My first ever volunteer tag ^_^

A certificate of appreciation for being a volunteer

Despite several issues that have arised due to the event, I still hope that CF will continue to be held in the years to come. For myself, I enjoy going there as I can meet old and new friends, see cosplayer idols face-to-face, buy merchandise, and see various people cosplaying their fave characters.

Thanks for reading & happy blogging~!!

Big Bad Wolf Book Sale 2016~!!

Assalam and hye everyone~!!

Well, it seems that I have not updated my blog for over a year, hihi.. Lots of stuff happening in my life, so I've left the blogging world for a (long) while.

So, on 17th December 2016, I went to the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale 2016 at MIECC @ The Mines. Hannah tagged along, it was her first time ever going to a book sale event. For those of you who do not know, Big Bad Wolf (or BBW, in short) is a book sale event held every year, usually in December. Books are on sale up until 95%!

This is an event that I look forward to every year. Besides being held in at the end of the year, BBW also has mini book sale events occasionally, especially the popular "box sale" - where you have to buy a box there and try to put in as many books as you can in the box.

Hannah in front of the BBW sign

At BBW 2016, Hannah and I met with a "real" Red Riding Hood. Here's a pic as proof :P

Me, Red Riding Hood, and Hannah

Besides that, we also found a huge Red Riding Hood book. So, of course, we had to take a selfie of it.

After maybe 3 hours, Hannah and I made our purchase of books, summing up to nearly RM150. I was on a tight budget, so not many books could be bought, huhuhu~... T^T Our book haul is as the following picture:

Our book haul :D

The best haul ever was getting the Barbie bookends along with 4 Barbie storybooks for only RM25.

Did any of you go to BBW 2016? 

Thanks for reading & happy blogging~!!

Bon Odori 2015 Festival @ Shah Alam~!!

Salam & hye everyone~!!

Ever known what a Bon Odori festival is? Bon odori is actually a Japanese dance festival, which is usually celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. In Malaysia, bon odori is held annually in Penang & Shah Alam, Selangor.

Recently, on 5th September 2015, the 39th Bon Odori Festival was held as usual at the Panasonic Sports Complex in Shah Alam. Andddd.... even though I live in Shah Alam, this was the first time I had the opportunity to go to the event! (╯✧∇✧)╯

People attending bon usually wear yukata (casual kimono) and geta. I bought my very first own yukata from a yukata shop in Damansara Damai. They also have a Facebook page, Cosplay and Yukata Shop. 

The yukata shop in Damansara Damai

All the yukatas on the shelves

The pink yukata that I bought for RM85

And since I'm a bit low in my financial budget, I decided to make my own obi (the belt worn around the yukata) and kinchaku bag (Japanese bag worn together with the yukata or kimono), besides a matching bow brooch for my hijab.

Obi, bow brooch and kinchaku bag

Me in a yukata

I went there with a friend of mine, who is also a Japan culture fan like myself, hihi.. Although it rained a bit for some time, the event still attracted hordes of people. Here are some pics taken at bon odori:

People performing several dance routines on the stage

(btw, the ones wearing the blue yukata & yellow yukata (with pink hijab) are the owners of the yukata shop I mentioned earlier)

The Kintako girl making takoyaki

Me trying to sit down by adjusting my yukata

Yummy takoyaki!!! (ﾉ^∇^)ﾉﾟ

The crowd

For next year's bon, I'm planning on sewing my own yukata, if I can find the pattern, muehehehe... and maybe buy a pair of geta too! If you want to buy a yukata or kimono via online, why not try checking out Oh, Japan! or Tokyo Purple.

Did you attend Bon Odori 2015?  :3

Thanks for reading & happy blogging~!!

"Kena Main" @ Istana Budaya~!!

Salam n hye everyone~!!

I know I'm don't deserve to be called a blogger because I rarely update. I've been extremely busy with my studies, freelance work and crafting.

Last Friday (3rd April 2015), me and 4 of my classmates went to watch a theatrical play at Istana Budaya. The title is "Kena Main", hehe.. A classmate of mine got free tickets to the play, so he invited anyone who would like to come join. Of course, I immediately agreed, as this was my first time ever watching a play.

There are ethics if you want to watch a play at Istana Budaya. You cannot wear slippers or sandals, torn jeans, round-neck t-shirts and revealing clothes. You can go to Istana Budaya's website to obtain more info.

"Kena Main" is written and directed by Khalid Salleh. The play focuses on the lives of a group of blind street musicians (or buskers, as you may call them): Jusuh, Daud, Mona and Pie. One of them, Mona, is in trouble with the police because she ran away from home. Daud feels guilty as he was the one who invited her to come to Kuala Lumpur. A drug addict recognises Mona from a newspaper article and threatens Mona to send her to the police. As Mona panicks, a committee member of a welfare organisation and the organisation's lawyer help Mona with her police case. Meanwhile, Jusuh and Pie tricks Daud into giving himself in to the police. Daud, full of guilt, goes to the police station nervously, not knowing that he has been tricked by his friends. Lastly, the case is settled, and the four blind musicians are offered to play music at the welfare organisation's charity night.

This play has actually been staged before in 1998 and was entered in the Malaysia Book Record for being the first play to have real blind actors. However, this year, the play is acted by famous actors on a bigger stage, namely Eman Manan, Ebby Saiful, Aida Othman, Sani Sudin, Azizah Mahzan, Sabri Yunus, Fauziah Nawi, Azman Hassan and many others.

I had absolute fun watching the play. The theater was full of laughter. "Kena Main" (which means "tricked/getting tricked") is funny, inspiring and thought-provoking. And watching a live play makes you feel more connected to the characters played out.

Here are some pics, hehe..

 

My free ticket!!! ^_^

Me & Liyana

Selfie before the play starts, hehehe...

All the actors lining up after the end of the play

The director/screenwriter, Khalid Salleh

Taking a pic with an artist!!! >w<

I took a pic with an artist. I seldom watch Malay dramas/movies, but I seem to recognise his face. I asked my friends who were with me that night, and even they could not recall his name. Do any of you know his name? I would be honoured if you could help me out on this one, hihi~....

Thanks for reading & happy blogging~!!

Links for more info:
* Story about the director/screenwriter & the play: http://www.utusan.com.my/hiburan/khalid-salleh-8232-pentaskan-kena-main-1.59687
* Review of the play: http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Entertainment/Arts/On-Stage/2015/04/01/Teater-Kena-Main-Are-you-the-trickster-or-the-victim/

Of Master's Degree & MyMaster~...

Salam n hye everyone~!!

I'm not really sure if any of you know this, but I'm currently a postgraduate student in a university in KL. 

Yup, I juz started my Master's degree studies in September 2014. And right now, I'm entering the last few weeks of Sem 1. My final exams for this sem is in January~.... ">_<

I decided to further my studies as I wanted to obtain a job of my dreams in the future (that is, being a translator, of course). Since I'm a full-time student again now, I'm only working part time at my old job once a while.

Besides that, I do freelance translation & proofreading jobs as well. (if you wanna know more, juz click here). My craft business has been a bit slow, but orders are still in queue. ^_^ Alhamdulillah~...

For those of you who are applying for or are currently studying for Master's degree or PhD, you must have heard of MyBrain15. MyBrain15 is sort of like a scholarship by the government. Well, it's more like a financial aid to increase the number of postgraduates in Malaysia. MyMaster is for Master students, while MyPhD is for PhD students.

Alhamdulillah, my MyMaster application has juz been approved last Friday. Thus, I'm in the midst of settling the required documents to be submitted.

Being a student again, yes, it does feel great. There are no more work stress. Yet, you gain stress from assignments and studying for exams, haha.. ＼（Ｔ∇Ｔ）／ Plus, Master's degree is different from Bachelor's degree, where you have to be super fast in jotting down the notes in class, and the lecturers will give you titles of books to be read. Yup, that's right, you have to find your own notes by reading books either online or purchasing them.

And in terms of assignments and exams, you're required to give out a lot more than expected. Yes, I mean, A LOT. Huhuhuhu~... Coz as a Master student, you're seen as an adult. (￣□￣;)!!

Thankfully, now I have my own laptop, bought online from Dell. Yeay~~~~~ o(〃＾▽＾〃)o Anyway, at least now I have some time to spend wif Hannah, and also catch up on watching anime~~... :3

Thanks for reading & happy blogging~!!

[J-Movie] Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X 2014 Movie Sequels~!!

Salam n hye everyone~!!

For those of you who are fans of the well-known animanga, "Rurouni Kenshin" (a.k.a Samurai X), the 2nd live action movie is now showing in cinemas~~~~~!!! Yatta~...

"Rurouni Kenshin" is basically about an ex assasin-cum-samurai (or known as battosai) named Kenshin Himura who is now a wanderer and is pledged to protect people without any more killings. Along the way, he met with Kaoru (who later became his love interest), Yahiko, Sanosuke, Megumi, and Misao who all help him with the battle that runs havoc in Japan. This story was orginally written & drawn by Nobuhiro Watsuki, my fave mangaka~! ( ˘ ³˘)❤

Poster of the 1st movie, "Rurouni Kenshin"

"Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno" is actually the sequel to the 2012 movie, "Rurouni Kenshin". Although I'm a big fan myself, I haven't watched the 1st movie yet. But my brother, Ayep, has it, so I'll watch it later when he comes back home from India, huhu~..

The interesting part is that there are 2 sequels showing this year, in the same month!

Official poster of the 2 sequels

"Kyoto Inferno" started showing on 6th November 2014, while the other sequel will be available on 20th November 2014. And both movies are only shown in selected GSC cinema outlets.

My fren & I have watched "Kyoto Inferno" last Thursday at GSC Mid Valley. The cinema hall was packed with Samurai X fans. Lucky we bought the tickets 2 hours earlier...hehe..

And....last Wednesday, the both of us managed to meet Samurai X cosplayers during the movie's premier screening event at Mid Valley.

From left: Megumi, Misao, Kaoru, Kenshin, Hajime & Sanosuke

Finally got to meet my animanga kareshi, Sano-kun~... Woohoo~.. 

My fave animanga character has always been Sanosuke Sagara. So, I was beyond excited when I got to meet a Sano cosplayer, it was like meeting him in real life! ヽ(*≧ω≦)ﾉ

I can't wait for 20th November to come~.. Teehee~...

Thanks for reading & happy blogging~!!