Remember the very day which I declared my New Year Resolutions for 2012?

One of them were…

I decided to make that a resolution this year as I strived to be that well-read bookworm I used to be.

So on one fine day, I bought 11 books in one go – all of which ive always yearned to read.

And two more subsequently!

Special thanks to the Malaysian government. The 1Malaysia book vouchers rock! 😀

With 13 books bought within a week, I feel a tad more intellectual already! 😛

So after approximately a month, I've just finished reading 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', an international bestseller novel written by Stieg Larsson.

Regardless of the thousands of book reviews it has garnered, I've thought of writing one myself.

Here's a personal one from me (and my cat):

I'll never be able to grasp WHY the book is entitled 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. Sure, she is a girl and bears a dragon-motived tattoo on her left shoulderblade. But the story really isn't about her, you know?

To me, Lisbeth Salander is just one of the prominent characters in the story with a rather alternative vibe about her. Well, she did play a secondary role in solving an age-old mystery, she did save someone's life and I love how extraordinarily bold and gutsy she is as the plot thickens; nevermind her odd personality.

Apart from that insubstantial bit about her, the story, set in Sweden, really revolves around the journey of a convicted journalist, the ingenious Mikael Blomkvist, in his quest of solving the mystery of a missing girl, Harriet Vanger, whose disappearance gradually formed a link to hideous crimes in the past.

A lot of saddistic, grotesque and revolting parts in the book with paragraphs so sick that it brings chills down your spine. But so full of suspense and brutality that kept me at the edge of my seat. Also be prepared for a lot of hoity toity (and corrupted) details of business empires, giant conglomerates and an insight of how industries really are. Oh and, there's a lot of sex and other scandalous activities within the pages of this book as well. Heh. Heh.

Don't think I'll ever go back to my chic lit novels after reading this marvellous work of art.

Enjoy!  — TheJessicat

And the movie?

Well, although it really captured even the most miniscule details of the story, the essence of what happened and its plot wasn't nearly as convincing nor as graphic enough as to how I had expected it to be. 

Sure, movies are often a poor excuse of the original story but this movie had condensed so much of the main bits – especially the climax – so drastically It turned out to be a major disappointment. 

But I have to give it to Rooney Mara as she really protrayed the peculiar and brash character of Lisbeth Salander (pic as below).

Nevertheless, the movie is certainly worth a watch if you've read the book.

Ya know, just to bring your imagination to life… and perhaps to put a face to the names.

What's next, you ask?

Why… another one from the Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson of course! 

Now, excuse me while I bury my nose in this book 

Teehee!

When I first heard about Future Music Festival ASIA, I was ecstatic!

I got even more excited when I found out that the Asian instalment is going to be held in my very own homeland – Malaysia!

Future Music Festival is internationally known to be a world-class music festival experience.

Indeed, a record-breaking rave party and a sold-out national tour in all its glory!

Malaysia will be the first ever Future Music Festival venue outside of Australia!

So yes, if you don't believe it – YOU BETTER!

The moment fellow music revellers have all been waiting for has arrived on our Malaysian soil. 

Boy, aren't we proud to host this massive 13 hour rave of ground-breaking music? And have over 60 international, regional and local acts all happening on one mad day? 😀 😀 

WHERE SEPANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT

WHEN 17 MARCH 2012 (SATURDAY) 2PM – 3AM

WHAT FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL ASIA

TICKET PRICING 

PRICE SUPER EARLY BIRD RM98 (sold out!)

EARLY BIRD RM138 (ends 29th Feb!)

PRE-SALE RM 158 (ends 11th March!)

FIRST CLASS (VIP) RM388

And if you didn't already know, here's the glorious line-up for the 13-hour party! 

With sucha extensive line-up, Future Music Festival Asia will undoubtedly be the largest outdoor music festival to hit the South East Asian region! 

I betcha we will all be seeing other ravers from neighbouring countries at our global stage as well 

To replicate the same atmosphere of Australia's Future Music Festival series, four stages will be set-up to entertain over 30, 000 fellow music enthusiasts, plus many other quirky side stages & exciting activities! 

Find out what they are for yourselves at Future Music Festival Asia!  

Will I see you there, lovelies?

Make sure you get your arse there, for nothing else comes close to such an experience! 

If you didn't see the poster which states all the major line-ups, here they are :

Future Music Asia’s debut will see The Chemical Brothers (DJ set) headlining the monster event. Other international acts performing include Tinie Tempah, Chase & Status, The Wombats, Pendulum (DJ Set),Grandmaster Flash, Sneaky Sound System, Cosmic Gate, Eddie Halliwell and many more.

The list of regional acts features some of the best in Asia and it includes, Shinichi Osawa (Japan), Jalebee Cartel (India), Nikhil+Pearl (India), Pet Conspiracy (China), Electrico (Singapore), Inquisitive (Singapore, Agrikulture (Indonesia), Sandwich (Philippines), Good Night Electric (Indonesia), Project E.A.R (SEA) and The Great Spy Experiment (Singapore).

On the local Malaysian front, we have Kyoto Protocol, Goldfish + Blink, Twilight Actiongirl, They Will Kill Us All, Mini Compo, Enterprise, Oh! Chentaku, Bud Culture, Terence C, Victor G, Fono, Bass Agents and Phil K Lee + Ian Ross.

UPDATED!!!

Map of the party scene & set times

That's the map of the whole event! 

Good luck finding your way around 🙂

Future Stage!

Las Venus Stage!

Flamingo Stage!

Escape Stage!

Here are some of the acts that will shoot me to the skies! 

The Chemical Brothers!

Cosmic Gate! 

Tinie Tempah!

Flo Rida!

Sneaky Sound System!

The Potbelleez!

Goldfish + Blink!

Bass Agents

Budculture!

And that's not all…I can't wait!! 

So many of my faves and even more delirious boombox sounds that I've yet to rave to will be performing right in fronta my very eyes.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6yvwA6KEt8&feature=youtu.be

How amazing is that? My buddies and I are gonna be hittin' turbulence for sure 

We're gonna be in for an insane ride!

For more information, visit their website or their Facebook page

Get your tickets from Air Asia Redtix 

See you there – party lika rockstar yall! 

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