By KHALDOON ALWAN Nuno Do Carmo, during his work with the UN in Timor-Leste, in an orphanage in Oecussi. |Photo Credit: Nuno Do Carmo. At the age of 19, Nuno Do Carmo, spent two summers in Nicaragua, Central America, digging latrines.
“I just went there to dig holes in the floor to make toilets basically; nothing very glamorous,” said the lecturer of International Relations in Taylor’s University (TU) School Of Liberal Arts And Science. However, for Do Carmo, 33, this was an eye-opening experience. It was when his sense of community began to grow and he was intrigued to learn more about the world. “There are people who have nothing, their hopes and dreams in life are to not die; this needs to affect us,” he said. Raised in Portugal in a low-middle class family in a “linear fashion” as he described it, Do Carmo’s inquisitiveness drove him to start learning about the complexities of the world at a very young age. “One thing we always did was to travel. My father always preferred to travel than to have luxuries in life,” he added. When Do Carmo was 16 years old, he went on his first solo trip to Hong Kong, Macau. After that, he believes it became a part of him. “This is how I am at my best - when I am abroad and I feel like I am challenged and I can add something, somehow,” he said. Do Carmo thinks that we, humans, are brought up in a very protective way. We create a comfort zone in our communities with the people that we know around the things we are used to; this gets replicated. In result, our knowledge of the world is very limited. “There is a degree of identification and then you keep replicating these behaviours, which means the way we look at the world is related with how and where we were brought up,” he said. For almost half of his life, Do Carmo has lived in more than 10 countries in different regions of the world attempting to fathom the relations between different cultures. “We need to have an inquisitive nature in ourselves, we need to ask ‘why?’, which doesn’t mean things are going to be wrong, it only means you need to understand why they happen,” he said. During his travels, Do Carmo has obtained different post-graduate degrees in European Public Affairs, Social Work, and Religious Beliefs, Values and Globalisation besides his bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He is currently working on his PhD in Political Science and International Relations. Do Carmo has come to believe that education is a continuous journey and no matter how different we are, we will still have so much in common. “I tell my students I am here to teach them a lot but I am also learning a lot from them and that’s the beauty of it. When you have countless races, religions, cultures and appearances, we all add something and learn from it. “I don’t want them to just be good students, I want more than anything for them to be good, moral people, and active members in the improvement of society,” he added. Carefree, eccentric, free spirited, and aberrant are the words to portray Do Carmo. His distinct loose, curly hair and bohemian clothes capture people’s attention. However, Do Carmo believes that people should look past appearances and look to the essential part of a person; what they have inside, their values, and their posture in life. “I understand I’m not the classical-looking lecturer and I can be a bit eccentric, but I feel that’s important so students can be comfortable with who they are, no matter what others tell them to be,” he said. Societies with people who know what they are, what they stand for and what they believe in, even if it might go against the more accepted views in society, that is what Do Carmo believes we should have. During his time in TU, Do Carmo tries to be as active as he can be to bring more awareness to students. Besides managing the Community Service Club in the American Degree Transfer Program, he organises a sequence of talks, the ‘Impact Series’, that dissects current affairs and topics that affect everyone. He also mentors social enterprise projects. Do Carmo tries to get his colleagues involved in projects with the underprivileged as he thinks that our community in TU is, fortunately, privileged, and therefore have a bigger responsibility to bring positive change and make a difference in the larger society. “Here (in Taylor’s) we have even more responsibility because we have a stronger ability to have an impact,” he said. The biggest paradox in our modern time as Do Carmo described it, is that we are progressively disconnected from each other. “It’s more difficult to talk to people, it's more difficult to have a sense of community. The world will change with little things, with small acts of care and love,” he added. Do Carmo’s acquaintance has made him deduce that as a person, you have to completely deconstruct the world around you. “We, rational beings in 2016, with all the information we have, with all the access, need to take a step back and look into what really defines us as people and reusing that to connect to someone else,” he explained. Finally, doubt is the way to be more open towards the world and understand it, according to Do Carmo. “That’s why my first class is always about doubt and doubting things around you,” he said.
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By LYDIA GEORGE KOSHY Christmas decorations at Mid Valley Megamall in 2013. | Photo credit: www.heraldmalaysia.com It’s that time of the year again! Christmas trees are being put up, decorations are coming out and Christmas spirit is in the air. When Taylorians were asked on what different Christmas traditions
they practised yearly, this was what was gathered. What better way to spend Christmas Day than to be a Christmas baby? “My birthday is on Christmas Day, so I usually spend the morning with my dad’s side of the family and we would go for a buffet lunch at a hotel. “At night, it’s with my mum’s side and her side is huge so we would normally have dinner at home, but I get the best of both worlds on the same day,” said School Of Communication student, Melanie Noelle, 20. For School Of Education student, Nina Melissa, 22, not only does she attend church service on Christmas Day but she even performs too. “We put up our tree together as a family towards the end of November. We also have a Christmas Eve dinner together while exchanging gifts. "For us, Christmas Day usually starts with a Christmas church service at 8am, in which we perform together as a family every year,” she said. School Of Architecture Building And Design student Nur Emily bt. Ahmad Rahim, 22, visits different malls during Christmas. Now, that’s an idea! “I absolutely love the Christmassy feeling! I visit different malls each year to observe their decorations put up along with activities they have lined up for the crowd and it’s wonderful!” she said. The tradition in many families is to have turkey, but not for School Of Biosciences student, Jayshree Maganathan, 25, who has wild boar. “My extended family comes down from Australia every year and we have a huge family gathering on Christmas Eve. “We would have wild boar served as our main dish, complemented with wine. “After that, relatives sing carols with their guitars; it’s amazing,” said Jayshree. Taylor’s Business School student,Catherine Yee Chooi Funn, 22, plays Secret Santarina. “I house-hop as I prepare Christmas gifts for my close friends, and I always hand it to them on Christmas morning at their doorstep. “The first time I did it was funny; I turned out surprising my friends as they don’t expect people showing up at their doors with gifts,” she said. Everyone who celebrates Christmas has their special tradition that they enjoy during this season. Christmas is the time of year when the world seems the most magical. So, how will you be celebrating Christmas with your loved ones this year? By LAM HOC LEON Two players playing King Of Tokyo, battling to see who can conquer Tokyo first. With the rise of board game cafés in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur, students flock to these places to enjoy and immerse themselves in tabletop gaming.
Places like Meeples Board Game Café at SS15, Board Game Depot at Lorong Ara Kiri, and Classroom Café at Damansara Uptown host a variety of tabletop games and sometimes have weekly events. If you and a group of friends wish to enter into the world of tabletop gaming, it’s never too late to start. There are many types of tabletop games, ranging from fun card games to serious role playing games with an assortment of genres to choose from; mystery, comedy, horror, etc. Cards Against Humanity This dark humour game begins with a judge, known as the ‘Card Czar’, drawing a black trivia question card from the deck while other players hold a hand of 10 white answer cards, and passes a card that represents their answer to the ‘Card Czar’. The ‘Card Czar’ then chooses the winning answer card and the black card is then given to the person who answered with the winning card. The next player then becomes the new ‘Card Czar’. The game ends when a player has collected 10 black cards. The ideal number of players for the game is six to eight participants, though it can go up to more. One game can last up to about two hours. A definite must try if you haven’t already. Exploding Kittens Players take turns drawing cards until someone draws an ‘Exploding Kitten’ and loses the game. The last player standing wins. The deck is made up of cards that allow you to avoid the Exploding Kitten card by forcing your opponent to draw multiple cards, peeking at cards and rearranging them before you draw, or even shuffling the deck. The game gets more intense with each card drawn. It’s a fast-paced and comical version of Russian Roulette. The game requires a minimum of two players and a maximum of four players. A round would last about up to 15 minutes. Avarium Academy Set in a Japanese high school-themed battle board game, each player assumes the role of one of Avarium Academy’s idols and tries to win the game by completing their idol’s win condition or expelling all the idols from the school and be the last one standing. Players recruit student cards from the courtyard into their classroom to have them battle with other player’s class. Avarium Academy is a fast-paced battle board game that is suited for two to four players. The game was developed and published locally last year. It’s not meant for casual fun as it can get quite competitive and most trading card games usually lasts about 20 minutes. King Of Tokyo In this game, players play as mutant monsters, gigantic robots, and strange aliens; all of whom aim to destroy Tokyo while battling each other. At the start of each turn, you roll six dice, which will dictate the actions your monster is allowed to do. The player that occupies Tokyo earns extra points, but must face all the other players’ monsters alone. There are special cards that can be purchased in-game that have a permanent or temporary effect, such as the growing of a second head which grants you an additional die. To win the game, the player either destroys Tokyo by accumulating 20 victory points, or be the only surviving monster in-game. The game has won multiple awards for three consecutive years. It is best played amongst four players, though the game can hold up to six players. On average, a game can go up to half an hour. The game is really fun and can get intense as the turns go by. The next time you and a couple of friends want to hang out, head out to a board game café to try out these games as they are easy to learn and rather enjoyable. Tabletop gaming isn’t just about winning; it’s about immersing yourself in the moment as a form of escaping life’s problems - if only momentarily - one game at a time. By CLARISSA LOI PUI LING Out in the Great Big Web, we are exposed to offensive and sensitive topics that are often beyond our control, but we can choose on how it is able to affect us. | Photo credit: Triggered YouTube Channel Too many Internet memes overloading your senses and sending you overboard with a serious case of getting #triggered? Being the adept net-dwellers that we are, we’re probably well-acquainted with the average netizens’ (extensive) use of the reaction and probably contributed our fair share of #triggered memes.
All jokes aside, trigger warnings have seeped into the blogosphere and attached itself as an expected display of common courtesy. It’s a far cry from its early days as a wary afterthought on fanfiction tags utilising sensitive topics, such as sexual assault, as a plot device. Authors are expected to swaddle their readers in a protective blanket that hides offending material from their view, but it defeats one of the most significant roles of the Internet – being a platform to inform, educate and learn without the fear of censorship. There’s a lofty air of self-entitlement that comes with the infinite space of expression online. We tend to ignore beliefs that clash with our own; and many of us tend to whip up a twisted interpretation of free speech in order to justify our own views. Basic respect gets thrown out the window because a few special snowflakes have the underlying sentiment that their opinions demand positive acknowledgement, but topics that are deemed offensive or harmful to their own perspectives deserve to be erased off the face of the web. Ironically enough, the curation of content for more narrowly focused topics and the growth of niche communities seem to open up more ways for users to bypass trigger warnings. However, it seems that trigger warnings have given netizens all the more reason to flame on topics they personally find offensive or morally dubious. YouTube’s revamping of its content guidelines had the community in an uproar, where content creators claimed that its ridiculously stringent regulations were a form of censorship in disguise. Even educative discussions on current affairs such as natural disasters and wars were deemed inappropriate by the video hosting site. We need to realise that we cannot shield ourselves from all the ‘harmful’ materials we see online, and that there are elements beyond our control. Take the recent banning petition involving popular beauty YouTuber Eugenia Cooney, whose gaunt and worryingly thin appearance drew flak from parents that she might influence her young audiences into the throes of an eating disorder in order to emulate her look. Yet, Cooney has never once propagated diet tips of any sort; instead the witch-hunt and condemnation towards a person who might be struggling with psychological disorders shows a true lack of empathy. It also reflects the human nature to sweep things under the rug to prevent their perfect, safe and non-triggering bubbles from bursting. It is, however, perfectly normal to feel uncomfortable. Keep close to heart the golden rule of ‘agree to disagree’ that we cannot cater to everyone’s preferences and interests, and vice versa. Respect and rationalisation are key to approaching an issue considered sensitive. After all, in the vast expanse of the Great Big Web where everyone is clamouring for their voices to be heard, being upset over online content may seem trivial in the long-run. By FARHAH SYAMILAH MAZMIL The lifts are one of the troublesome aspects of Chua’s daily life on campus. The Taylor’s Education Group has strived to build user-friendly campuses for all occupants, especially their students. One of the best examples is the Taylor’s University (TU), which provides all disabled students with the necessary facilities and services designed to ease students’ lives on campus. But is this true?
Wheelchair access campus facilities “They have basic facilities for wheelchair users but the we can’t go freely anywhere on campus. For example, at LT19, there is no space to fit wheelchairs. “However, the facilities are mostly user-friendly,” said School Of Computing And IT student, Christina Kang Xiao Xi, 25. TU Counselling and Psychological Services (CPSC) Disabled students are also provided with a consultant with TU CPSC, who assists in arranging a suitable classroom for them. “They arranged all my classes to be located at LT11 and there would be an adjustable table for me to write on,” said School Of Pharmacy student, Sharence Chua Chi Yuen, 20. Besides classes and venues arrangement, CPSC also helps to counsel the students in case they are having any problems or challenges as well as raise funds for disabled students’ needs. “Previously, I didn’t have a suitable wheelchair but they helped me find someone who could help me to raise funds for a new wheelchair. “We managed to raise the required funds and I’m excited for my new wheelchair which will be coming soon,” said Kang. Access to laboratory facilities As a pharmacy student, Chua requires access to the campus labs and facilities such as the lab tables. “Recently, they lowered down one of the lab tables to suit my height. Another disabled friend and I were able to work together compared to previous times when the table was placed far away from all my classmates,” said Chua. School Of Biosciences student, Amelia Tan Cheng Wei, who also uses the laboratories, added that the lab assistants are also willing to help her with her practical work if she requires assistance. No elevator priorities Similar with other disabled students, Chua said the campus elevators have always been a hassle for her. “The lifts can only go to certain floors and it takes very long. It is difficult for me whenever I want to go to class or the library. While most people can just take the stairs, my only option is the lift and the lifts are often full,” she said. Abusing OKU Parking Tan is disappointed with the non-disabled people who abuse the OKU parking lots by parking there because it causes her so much difficulty every time she goes to campus later in the morning. “The guards understand my needs, so they would allow me to occupy two regular parking lots if the disabled ones are taken. “The problem arises when there are no two empty adjacent lots, so the guards often have to call the police to help me search for a wider lot where I can park my car,”she said. Tan added that she hopes that there will be stricter parking enforcement rules in the future. Despite the basic facilities and services provided by TU, Vice President of TU Facilities, EHS, Security and Sustainability, R. Murali Rajoo assured that he is open to suggestions for improvement. “If disabled students channeled their requests to us, we will be sure to address them,” he said. By EDELYN CHOW WUI HENG "Check your lemons", an infographic guide to check testicular and prostate cancer. Health issues are something that should be talked about more, with more efforts of awareness carried out. As November has come and gone, with an abundance of facial hair along with it, ‘Movember’ comes to a close.
The movement is an annual event to raise awareness on men’s health issues such as testicular and prostate cancer. Yet, the topic still remains as a sort of taboo that shouldn’t be talked about amongst men. There seems to be a certain stigma that comes with talking about the subject matter, especially since it involves the male population. Resident Consultant Urologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Dr Ambikai Balan Sothinathan seems to think that the taboo of it all comes down to the issue of masculinity. “That’s the problem; they feel if they lose one of the testes, they become less manly - unable to provide sexually and rendered infertile. Some go as far as to think that they become more effeminate because one of your main hormone providers are taken out. “All of these are just myths; by word of mouth from person to person,” he added. School Of Hospitality, Tourism And Culinary Arts student, Ryan Christopher Newman, 21, seems to agree with what Dr Balan had to say. “A lot of men kind of associate their privates with masculinity, and when they know something might be up they get shy about it, though I don’t know whether shy is the right word to describe it,” he said. Newman added that it might also be because men feel that losing their testicles would result in losing their identity altogether. The belief that masculinity is being threatened when men open up about their issues and problems is a long-existing belief. Some might say that the birth of the stigma is attributed to the media’s portrayal of men in talking about their issues. Such is the case for Design School student, David Ho Ming Aun, 20. “The portrayal of men in media doesn’t really seem to encourage such intimacy in seeking or providing advice among men. Even if you look in films, men are almost never shown hugging or being gentle with other men. “There is always some sort of barrier between them; don’t act too close or you’ll be branded as gay, which is wrong because your actions don’t define your sexuality,” said Ho. While the media may be a main contributor as to why the stigma exists in the first place, there are those that might argue that it is mainly the Asian culture that takes the phrase ‘talking about your privates’ a little too literal - the operative word being ‘private’. “It’s probably because we are brought up that way from young; we don’t really talk about sex education and the sorts of it. “Parents don’t really explain and take it jokingly even when kids are curious and ask about it,” said Taylor’s Busines School student, Daniel Quah Chie Weng, 23. “I’m not saying that people have to talk about it all the time, but it shouldn’t be something that people should be ashamed to talk about,” added Quah. “Culture plays a big role here. Sexual organs and sexuality in general are a taboo topic. Talking to someone on certain subjects may not be as easily accepted by someone else,” said Dr Balan. School Of Engineering student Mohamad Haris b. Mohamad Subki, 19, feels that people should talk about it more just so they are aware of it and can take the necessary actions to get checked regularly. “I don’t think it should be talked about every day, but a refresher once in a while is a good thing. So people know what it is, and how to get checked or treated. “Even though some people know it exists, they might not know how often to get checked or if there are any symptoms at all,” he added. Newman, however, said men should be comfortable enough to talk about their health issues. “I think anyone should be able to talk about what they’re going through. “It’s good to know more about it - to what extent prostate or testicular cancer affects men worldwide and in Malaysia, as well as the causes, symptoms and preventive efforts against it,” said Newman. All this talking about being able to open up about this would be of no use if you don’t open up yourselves. After all, it’s always easier to know that you are not alone in dealing with an issue, much less something as threatening as testicular and prostate cancer. So, a message to all the guys out there: if you’ve shifted a little in your seat after reading this, it may be time to get to know your privates a little more intimately by being more open about it. By FARHAH SYAMILAH MAZMIL Giving someone a compliment is also another form of kindness that would make someone’s day. When was the last time you treated someone to a cup of coffee just because you thought he might need it? How about just saying ‘thank you’ to that cashier at your favourite shop?
Despite all the innovations in today’s modern world, there’s still one thing that people often overlook; kindness. Kindness is something which everyone has the power to share yet it is not widely practised in the world. It isn’t something difficult to do. Thus, in conjunction with World Kindness Day on 13 November, here are some different forms of kindness that may come as a surprise to you which you can practise in your daily life. Do you need help? “After a long day filled with classes, I saw my friend who was trying to sell desserts for a charity. After talking to her, she told me that she felt it was pointless because her stock wasn’t selling as fast as she had hoped. “As her friend, I helped her out and although we didn’t manage to raise that much, it was better than before. This was the only time that I felt that I truly helped someone without expecting anything in return,” said School Of Communication (SOC) student, Ahmad Azrul b. Tarmizi, 23. Forgive and forget “I had a cousin who was envious of me ever since I graduated from high school because I’ve always known what my goals were and I had decided to actively pursue them. “My cousin wasn’t satisfied with me and tried to do things that painted me as the ‘bad guy’ in the family which turned them against me, especially during family gatherings. “It became worse until at one point, I had enough and I didn’t talk to her for years until recently during my uncle’s funeral when I realised that our family members were decreasing in numbers. “So I decided to let the past go and now our relationship is mended, despite the awkwardness,” said School Of Engineering student, Anis Raihana bt. Abdul Aziz, 23. Don’t be too hard on yourself As humans, we can’t escape from making mistakes and we can’t beat ourselves up about how we’ve handled them in the past. Instead, we should always try to forgive ourselves. “The kindest thing I’ve ever done, and am still doing, is learning to forgive myself. “Forgive that one stupid thing you did five years ago because at the end of the day, you have to survive no matter what, and you can’t do it unless you can uplift yourself,” said SOC student, Dharshini Chandran, 22. Acknowledging good deeds School Of Computing And IT, Ezra Alamsyah Rezky Abdullah, 20, was in the middle of a crowded train when he saw a man giving up his seat to an elderly lady. Although it was kind of him, what happened next was what truly touched him. “A tattooed man approached the guy who gave up his seat earlier and tapped his shoulder. He smiled at the guy and gave him a thumbs up. “Their interaction made me realise that appreciation should be practised because no matter how small an act of kindness may appear, a small appreciation, giving a warm smile or even gratitude can do wonders,” he said. Do not underestimate the power of kindness even if it is not immediately apparent. By SULAIMAN SHAFIQ One may not realise that they need someone to lean on. | Photo Credit: NedHardy.com I remember being introduced to this quote when I was little. My mother was teaching me about a life lesson - I don’t remember exactly what the context was, but somehow the quote stuck. According to Dictionary.com, the quote comes from a sermon by a seventeenth-century English author, John Donne, that meant no one is self-sufficient and that everyone has to rely on one another.
As I began to dig deeper into what the saying wanted to teach, my naive rebel mind wanted to prove it wrong. I wanted to show the world that I can be independent, I can be self-sufficient, I can be a one-man island. “For now, I need to rely on my parents for shelter but I will move out as soon as I can. I need money from my dad; food from my mom occasionally. Besides this, I don’t need anyone else,” said the 15-year-old me. I have never been so wrong. On 12 March 2012, my sister passed away due to pancreatic cancer. On the day of her death, I was in a state of limbo. I didn’t feel anything, and just concentrated my energy on all the things that I had to do. I guess I thought this was a form of strength, so I took advantage of it. “I have to get my things together now, I can’t afford to screw up,” I told myself. After a few months of being 'strong' for the people around me, I began to realise how weak I really was. While everyone had reached a place where they could carry on with their daily lives, I found myself struggling with studies, struggling to keep friendships and even a good relationship with my own family. I was struggling to live. This made me realise how much I depended on my sister and how wrong I was about being able to live my life alone. I realised how truly alone I was. I had no idea what was going through my head as I stumbled into a six-month long deferment in university. I was failing my studies, broke up with my girlfriend at the time and didn’t have anyone that I could call close friends. As it turns out, this situation was a good thing as it forced me to face myself while being alone. I looked into the mirror and saw a person who was running away from all the issues in his life. I didn’t like the person I became. Then I thought to myself - no wonder the people around me are unhappy. I was barely around because I was too busy ‘looking after myself’. I had spent so much time in my head, thinking about who I wanted to be until I didn’t see all the things that were going on with the people around me. I soon began to truly realise that other people have their own lives, each with their own difficulties that they were unable to share with me because I just wasn’t there to share it with. I felt I was arrogant for being who I was, and selfish to think that I had the strength to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. It was arrogant for me to think that I could be a one-man island, because the truth of the matter is, there will always be people on my island. I was humbled by the realisation that at that point in time, I was insignificant to my family, my friends, myself, and the world. There was no true purpose for me to live anymore. That was when I decided that I can’t keep the mindset that I had all these years, and I needed to change. I had spent so much time trying to make my island smaller and smaller, but no matter what I did, there was always going to be an increasing number of people coming into the island as I grew older. Therefore, I decided to spend my time trying to widen the island as much as I can. I decided to make my island as comfortable as possible, to accommodate as many people as I possibly can to make the people around me happy. After almost four years of being who I am today, I realised that I am much stronger than I could have ever dreamed of. I am stable with my studies and I have a good set of friends who I know will have my back whenever I need their support. Last but not least, my heart was content with itself. I could concentrate on myself much more and I know that I was on a stable foundation to do what I want to do in the future. I can’t speak for everyone reading this, but I believe that if you want to live a happy and true life with the people around you, you must look outward first, and put someone else’s needs or wants ahead of yours. In everything that you do, make sure to think about how it would affect the people around you before deciding. Be careful of what you say as you never know how the person in front of you would react. Be nice to everyone to the best of your ability, only then can you find true happiness and love. Always remember, ‘no man is an island’. By KYLE ROSHEN JACOB Rekhraj's form of escapism. | Photo Credit : Hardip Singh Rekhraj Everyone comes to a point in their life where everything that’s going on is just all too overwhelming. You may either be slumped to the top of your head with work or may be juggling a myriad of personal commitments. Whatever it may be, each and every one of us has the right to discover just what it is that is able to keep our minds at ease.
Sometimes, all we need is a little time to ourselves, putting our daily lives on hold in order to recollect and rejuvenate, so that we’d be in tip-top form once we’re back to work. Call it a sense of ‘escapism’ if you will. For Taylor’s University School Of Communication program director & senior lecturer, Hardip Singh Rekhraj, it was a four-day solo ride on his super bike that did the trick. In August last year over the end of semester break, he had covered 2,334km on a coastal road journey around Peninsular Malaysia. “The nature of my job requires me to interact with scores of people all day long. I’m always in and out of meetings with students, staff, parents, etc. So if I’m going to ‘escape’ for a couple of days, the last thing I want to do is be amongst people,” he shared. Rekhraj has found that riding alone is his form of ‘escapism’. He described how riding solo allows him to spend some time with himself. “When you’re riding a 200kg high-powered motorcycle, there can be no margin for error. For the first 100km or so, all your five senses are at play. Eventually, you will surrender and let the motorcycle do its job. “Once you’re on ‘autopilot’, that’s when you start enjoying the ride – you become one with the bike; man and machine. I find this stage highly pleasurable because your mind will be in a contemplative state,” he added. This four-day journey of riding on the old roads through Peninsular Malaysia’s small, forgotten towns, lush landscapes and breath-taking sceneries served as a kind of ‘mental detox’, as Rekhraj calls it. During this trip, he decided to challenge himself and do everything against the way he usually did things. “I don’t usually do budget hotels and I don’t really like roughing it out. To be very honest, I do prefer proper comfort,” he explained. “I had set a few rules: no riding at night, no riding in the rain and just simple things like that; I broke all these rules. I broke them because I was enjoying the ride so much that all the timing estimations that I made just went down the drain. After all, what’s a little rain? It’s just water,” he added. “This trip was about decluttering the mind and I did just that; but not to say I returned home a whole ‘new’ person, I was just so happy and grateful to have had some time to myself to think over a few important matters,” said Rekhraj. He expressed how he used this time on ‘autopilot’ during this journey to contemplate on everything that was going on in his life such as work, family and even the plans ahead of him. “When you’re at a certain stage in your life, juggling between a million commitments, you look forward to these simple pleasures. These ‘rides’, for me, are so fulfilling in a sense that you return home rejuvenated and you actually look forward to getting back to work,” he jested. Rekhraj revealed that all these solo rides are part of his preparation to ride to India in year 2018 with his older brother who is also a biker in Singapore. “The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is expected to be ready by next year and it’ll take us only five days from Malaysia to India!” he explained. Rekhraj believes that it is important for everyone to engage in recreational activities that provides relaxation to the body and rejuvenation of the mind. “While riding superbikes may only appeal to some, there are ample indoor and outdoor activities that render similar relaxation benefits – all it takes is some exploring to find what suits you best,” said Rekhraj. “I’ve come to realize one thing: going on these solo rides, helps me so much and I’m just going to keep doing it,” he added. Since this trip, Rekhraj has embarked on his next adventure, exploring towns near the Crocker Range and rest assured he most certainly has many more rides to come. By TAN TEE MAY A player of Pokemon Sun and Moon showing that she has managed to get her hands on the game. | Photo Credit : Phoebe Boey Wei Xian Pokémon Go has been a worldwide sensation, breaking a record of being the most downloaded game in the first month with a total of 130 million downloads, setting five new records in the Guinness World Records since its release. It has converted previously ignorant bystanders into dedicated Pokémon trainers with a raging determination to catch all 151 of the little monsters.
However, the hype on Pokémon Go has reduced significantly these few months, leaving most players to uninstall the app to free up space or revert back to games that are not so demanding on battery power. Since then, a new game has taken its place; the newest release for 3DS by Nintendo, Pokémon Sun and Moon. The newest release in the game series boasts a set of new features the in-game has to offer- Z-moves, Alola Form, and Pokémon Refresh. School Of Design student, Priscilla Bulan Josehua, 20, who is also a huge fan of the game, explained Z-moves are a feature which can only be used by certain Pokémons. “I’m especially looking to forward to Extreme Evoboost as it grants all Eevee’s evolutions’ powers to the Pokémon temporarily,” said Bulan. Although the two games have originated from the same world, the gameplay and concept is very different. While Pokémon Go requires an interactive gameplay, Sun and Moon follows a story-oriented plot. When asked which game she would prefer to play more, Bulan answered without hesitation. “Definitely Sun and Moon, because it offers many features that Pokémon Go lacks and more. “Pokémon Go has a buddy system which you can choose your favorite Pokémon to walk with you, but Sun and Moon allows you to create deeper bonds with your Pokémon through a feature called Pokémon Amie, which allows you to pet, feed, and train your Pokémon personally. “Players can also trade with their friends, bond with their Pokémon, and experience seeing Generation 1 to 7. In Pokémon Go, you can only catch Generation 1 and some of them aren’t even available yet,” she added. School Of Design student, Tan Tee Jane, 19 agreed that she would rather play Pokémon Sun and Moon over Pokémon Go any time. “When you’ve been a fan of the games for as long as I have, it’s hard to not be excited for a new release. Every launch they introduce something new, and it never disappoints, so I believe it is worth it. “Plus, there are many features that are offered outside the game, like they give you a new legendary Pokémon each time you log in every month. There is also the breeding system and competitive battling once you finish the game. The possibilities are endless,” she added. However, not everyone else shares the same opinion. “I understand the appeal of a Nintendo game, but I’ll continue sticking to playing Pokémon Go," said School Of Computing student, Ryan Lim Wai Chean,18. “The reason is simply because I do not have the money to buy a 3DS, and beating the whole game will require time. Updates on Pokémon Go may admittedly be slow, but it is improving, and is incredibly addictive for me.” he added. “I think the most convenient benefit that Sun and Moon has over Pokémon Go is that we don’t actually have to get up and walk to search for Pokémon,” Bulan added. |
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