So one sunny (and by sunny, I mean excruciatingly hot) sweltering afternoon, I found myself away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city – on the countryside grounds of Nottingham University campus in Semenyih.

What have ye travelled so far for?

 

The photo speaks for itself

 

No, it's not my graduation ceremony… YET. 

It's someone else's moment; my buddy Pam's! 

 

 

I certainly would not miss her graduation for the world.

So upon request, I was more than willing to shoot her post-ceremony photographs of this memorable day.

 

You're looking at the graduate in Masters in Science : Environmental Monitoring and Management!

Yes, very long title. I think so too.

 

I've often contemplated the thoughts of taking my tertiary education a notch higher with a Masters! 

These days, Bachelor's Degree holders aren't a rare sight to see at all.

 

This is especially now true that many schools have programs that allow students to earn a Bachelor Degree online. Yep, it's really that easy.

 

Practically every well-educated person has pursued an undergraduate course.

Which is why it's a smart idea to set yourself a qualification apart from the pool of undergrads.

 

With the graduates, Iguniwari (Pam's classmate) and Pamela

Here I am holding the scroll for fun – and prolly because it's red!

 

And another one with fellow housie Edwin!

I was wearing a blazer initially but was roasting inside due to the weather

 

Many a time I've watched her sit for hours on end at the computer tabulating her data and doing whatever mumbo-jumbo required to complete her thesis paper of 'Perceptions of Human-Tiger Conflict in Peninsular Malaysia'

 

 

She even made a trip to the remote areas of Terengganu in the eastern countryside to conduct her research among the villagers living in the jungle and effects of tigers.  

Also get bitten to near-death by mosquitoes LOL

 

Mission accomplished – finally!

 

My turn next, methinks? Masters of Journalism, Masters of Communications & Media Studies?

That's all just a thought for now BUT

 

Not sure if I want to endure months and months of research and thesis writing

 

I wish you all the best in your future undertakings and may you enter the voracious dog-eat-dog world of the corporate ladder with full gusto!  

You can dooooooooo it!

 

Heartiest congratulations again, gurlie

This is for you 

 

Yay finally!

I wanted to publish this blogpost earlier but decided to wait till the official photos were out by Johnnie Walker too!

 

And I’ve been collecting other photos that I was tagged in on Facebook by my friends too.

Sorry if this post took a while! I promise it’ll be worth the wait. Teehee. 

 

So yes, I arrived at the premises with my invitation

 

Oh and I absolutely loved how they crafted the invitations. Such a classy feel! 

It was in the form of a gold cuff/bangle in a beautiful shiny, black box.

 

Thanks for the photo, Minny!

 

They also gave a gold necklace to the ladies(which you will see me wearing) and a gold tie-pin for the gegentlemen as doorgifts.

 

This was the location – 32 Mansion – of which was decorated in a really elaborate manner!

 

So, are you ready to party with Johnnie Walker?

I sure am! 

 

At the entrance

 

Camwhored  for a bit before stepping inside the Black Circuit

Oh and you can see the gold necklace rather clearly in this piccie!

 

The moment I entered the mansion, I was in awe.

They’ve transformed the insides into something so magnificent!

 

Was served Johnnie Walker cocktails the very moment I entered

 

Decided to give ALL the cocktails a taste!

The ones in the front row: Gold Rush | 2nd row: Black 75 | final row was my favourite, Black Circuit!

 

There were booths available for the whiskey tasting! 

Guests were taught the RIGHT way of savouring it 

 

And no, the trick is not to gulp it straight down….

Teehee.

 

The bar where mixologists were doing their thang!

 

I never miss an opportunity against the photowall

Thanks for the photo, Jun Fook!

 

There were a couple of booths for guests to ‘check-in’ our location to Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare too

After I was done mingling and drinking at the foyer, I explored further around the mansion

 

And found my table!

 

Thank you Johnnie Walker, for giving me a table and having it strategically right smack in the middle of the dance floor, facing the DJ console too! 

 

They made my day even before the party started!

 

Before we knew it, emcees of the night Hanson and Hannah kick-started the event.

 

Lights, camera, action!

 

They gave us a very warm welcome and introduced the 1st DJ of the evening.

Hey homeboy DJ Reeve, do your thang & spin that shizz on the decks for us tonight!

 

DJ Reeve from Malaysia!

 

My close knitted homies came soon after. Was so glad to see them again!

As I spend most of my days in KL, I always look forward to our hang outs everytime I come back to Penang

 

There’s more of us, but they’re laaaaate!

You’ll see them in a bit

 

My babes and I.  Loves! 

 

Apart from my very own homies & other bloggers, I bumped into friends from the industry too

 

Throughout the event guests were served not only free-flow of Johnnie Walker Black Label, but also a torrent of delightful chocolates! A delicious assortment of white, dark and milk chocolates kept coming at me as though beckoning me to have more.

And you all know how much of a sucker I am for chocolates. Simply couldn’t resist!

 

Say whaaaaaad?

 

Oh yeah. Chocolates galore. A generous amount was served to us!

 

I was made a very happy girl yet again.

Yes, chocolates make me happy, if you must know

 

Apart from all those awesome-pawsome things about the party so far, was the fact that I got to rekindle with some of my childhood and high school bunch of tfriends all over again.

Heck, I’ve not seen some of them ever since we left school!

 

Penang gurls in the haus!

 

Girl Guides of the same patrol back in 2005!

 

Classmates in primary school and squash mates in high school!

 

Convent girls of 2006/2007 all grown up 

 

More of my fellow Penang peeps!

 

Wootwoot

I was psyched how the Black Circuit party brought together so many familiar faces; especially ones whom I’ve lost touch with. I was practically fluttering around to many different tables and coincidentally bumping into more and more old friends!

And Johnnie Walker was perfect as our toast to friendship! 

 

 

Oh and ya know what’s also great during the event?

The fact that polaroids were given out to remember the night. Absolute WIN!  

 

I’ve mentioned numerous times before; a party is never complete without a photo souvenir for keeps

That makes all the difference; compared to the usual digital photos uploaded online

 

We kept downing our drinks; but never fail to stay within limits. 

As we keep in mind to drink responsibly – as advocated by Johnnie Walker!

 

The emcees took to the dance floor again to “check” on us and how we were doing!

 

 

Also, the next DJ was announced. DJ FM from our neighbouring country, Singapore

 

It’s your turn to crank up the volume, deejay! 

 

From the window, to the wall

This party’s jumpin’ till tomorrow!

 

We drink the whole bottle but it ain’t over!

Errrbody’s jumping

 

Day-O, me say Day-O

Daylight come and we don’t wanna go home

 

We were the 1st ones to hit the dance floor, babeh!

 

Josiah and I

Geez duuuude, your complexion is way better than mine haha! *jealous*

 

With buddy Calvin

 

With my babe, Minny! 

 

Oh yes, another family photo of my homies!

(Still incomplete LOL)

Ren and I!

 

Let’s let’s let’s get it started in here! 

Flanked by Eric and Jun Fook

 

Emcees were back on the dancefloor!

I honestly couldn’t remember what they were saying cos I was having too much fun at the time.

 

But I jolly well knew when they welcomed the 3rd and final DJ of the night!

 

Let’s take it to the skies, DJ Teemaree!!! 

 

Read about my interview with her: here

Had a chance to sit down for 15 minutes for a short but enlightening interview Check it out yo

 

Another family photo with the homies with DJ Teemaree spinning in the background!

 

Bumped into EVEN MORE friends that night!

 

Eric who pimps my Blackberry!

 

With Chia Li!

OMG I DID NOT JUST DO THE ASIAN “5″ POSE. What’s wrong with me?! -__-” argh!

 

DJ keep it movin!

I raved so hard when she played the electro-house tracks. 

Hell to the yeah! 

 

Boss Selva and I

Ahhh…. Back in the days when I was the photographer for the Mois!

 

Smile for the camera!

 

Two very tired (and slightly tipsy) bloggers

 

THE PARTY WAS STILL ON FULL SWING TILL THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING!

 

Now that’s what I call a flippin’ awesome party.

No party shall end before midnight, in my books! 

 

And most definitely not a night like Johnnie Walker Black Circuit parties!

 

My highlight of the night: I rubbed my eyes twice/thrice when I saw my best friend Joyce in front of me

 

She was supposed to be my plus one for the party; something came up so she had to pull a raincheck on me

Imagine my surprise when I saw her – with her invitation that I saved for her? Geez. How did she get it?

 

Found out that one of my homies took out her invitation from my box and passed it to her outside!

Apparently I did not notice while I was partying the skies down and my cellphone battery died on me

 

So, finally, FAMILY PHOTO COMPLETE!

(Except a few who weren’t at the party)

 

GUESS WHAT!!?

Also found out it was DJ Teemaree’s birthday! 

 

So we’ve come to the end of this lengthy post. I hope it was worth the read!

Seriously, what’s there not to love about this party but it’s entirety? I’ve said all I needed to say and….

 

I give it a 5 star rating; very apt with its 5 star standard! 

 

I went home with memories of arguably the most fantastic party of my life ever since I returned from Australia

 

Thank you once again, Johnnie Walker for bringing us an amazing night. 

The Black Circuit Penang night was stellar; more than honoured to be your guest! See you around at the next party!

 

Keep Walking, you sexy beast of a Striding Man

 Much love, TheJessicat

 

To be extremely honest, I've never seen/taste/smell/ate Vegemite in my entire life.

Until I came to Australia.

 

Bardha, Cleefy and I in the kitchen on the night of the challenge

 

This is how it all began.

One fine day, Konzy and Cleefy decided to ask me a million dollar question.

 

"Have you tried Vegemite before?"

My answer was an obvious "no".

 

However, I've heard some pretty horrid stuff about it; that it tasted vile, disgusting and nasty on your tastebuds. Then again, Cleefy insisted I had some, regardless of what I've heard.

Allow me to quote him "you haven't experienced Australia if you leave without Vegemite".

 

Looks like a creepy Vegemite ad, no?

 

He proposed I eat it in front of the camera so that I could always remember the "Australian goodness of Vegemite". Fair enough. So I decided to take up the challenge of the infamous yucky Vegemite.

Let the camera roll!

 

One night before we headed out clubbing, Cleefy brought me a jar of Vegemite

& had it wrapped in a cute blue ribbon too! 

 

I was extremely hesitant after unwrapping it but my mates were pretty persistent.

Fine fine fine. I'll do it! 

 

Here's the short video I made. Enjoy it!

 

Hahaha. Hope you liked it! So there, my 1st moments with Vegemite, added with laughter, nasty facial contortions and friendship encapsulated in a 6 minute video  

Now, everytime I think of Australia or crave for Vegemite, this video will do the trick!

 

Ahoy mateys! Arrrr. Vegemite has arrived.

 

How am I ever gonna forget that? 

The next time ANY of you come to Malaysia, I'll do the exact same thing for yall – not with Vegemite, but with Durians instead. *evil laughter*

 

Thank you Cleefy bear!

 

Now that I've finished blogging this entire post and editing the VLOG, I'm totally up for some. Only thing that's stopping me is…. I can't seem to find my Vegemite.

Who has stolen my jar from me!?  Identify yourself!!