EDC UK 2015

Yes, i am finally doing a post on EDC UK 2015. Saturday, 11th July 2015.

It was sick.

They say you remember your firsts. Your first kiss, your first love, your first dance, your first car. I remember the first moment I fell in love with EDM. That is why I am so honoured to have EDC UK 2015 listed as my first EDM festival. What's more is that the Kinetic Cathedral was brought all the way from Vegas to UK for its first year debut here! So blessed I swear!

We don't need to pop to get on the same high.

Of course, the line up was incredible. Four stages in total for the whole day and Bernie & I were at the main KineticField- Kinetic Cathedral stage 90% of the time. It was really tiring though, the crowd, the people, the heat. It was tiring but it was so worth it. There were so many DJs playing but then we chose a few to stay in the middle of the floor during the entire set and we rested and refuel-ed for the next set. I didn't go for the alcohol, or for the sake of going to a festival just to say I've been to one, or to get high and completely wasted or to torture my body with laughing gas or pills. I actually went because I loved the line up. My favourite people were going to be playing all in one day and it was pretty affordable and it didn't go on for three days and the timing was great. I didn't need to put any crap into my body to have a good time.

Hardwell. Steve Aoki. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and of course the king himself, Tiesto.

They slayed it, one after another. Without even trying. Hardwell pulled out all the stops, he killed it omg. Steve Aoki got the crowd wild. It was so good! When he did a tribute to Disney I was smiling from ear to ear. From Lion King to Madagascar to big hits like Wonderwall and Holy Grail. Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, what else can I say? Tremor was literally a crowd pleaser, as expected. To be honest I was hoping that Martin Garrix would appear as their special guest on the set and do Tremor with them. I was disappointed but oh well, next time! They spun their new track too, Higher Place, it was a collaboration with Ne-Yo. When it was 9:30pm, the crowd was chanting for Tiesto. Literally. Chanting. His name. Before he even appeared and even after he ended the festival at 11pm. When Tiesto did Red Lights I felt emotionally high i swear! It was so so good, as always! Honestly, it's a whole different experience being at a live festival where you could feel the bass bouncing and vibrating off the grounds and going through your body and watch the effects take place. Now I can't blast their tracks in my room or through earpods without the thought that it isn't anything as amazing as being at a live festival.

The crowd was pretty amazing as well. There were a lot of Americans. And Asians. Tons of Asians. I was surprised. Needless to say, a few of them had the resting bitch faces then they gave me the famous Asian bitchy up-down glares. Typical *sigh*.

One of the most amazing things is that -> patriotism to one's country was evident. People from different nationalities gathered in a group in different parts of the crowd and raised and waved the flag of their country. It was a sign of unity. I thought it was so beautiful, that the world in a way came together as one at an epic music festival, regardless of their beliefs or political situation or even race or color and just enjoyed the music. It would have been perfect with Calvin Harris, Zedd, Martin Garrix, Alesso and Markus Schulz too but then it's alright, there's always next time!

When we arrived at the hostel after the festival at 3 in the morning, my sneakers were completely filthy. We could tell, because they were brand new and were black in the morning. The next two days, my voice was gone and my entire body ached like crazy - truly the aftermath of an amazing time. It was a reminder of the incredible time and experience at EDC UK 2015.

Repost : Tiesto.

If you say "EDC UK 2015" to Bernie or I, you'll see a smile creep up. It was truly amazing. I wish I could do it all over again, without the queuing. Who wouldn't though? Looking at this photograph above, professionally taken of the Kinetic Cathedral, I can't help but smile and just reminisce the good times. I still can't believe I was there.


BIG DREAM OF MINE
A group of us should go together and raise the Malaysian or Filipino flag. 
Like a huge group, at least 10. I'll pretend to be Filipino if I have to, honestly. 

My instagram was filled with videos and clips and magic after the 11th of July. Check out @pokerfaceeeyyy for the videos! 

University Open Days

This post will be about *drumrolls* University Open Days - this is as obvious as it gets!

As you know, I'm on my summer break now and I'll be back in college for A2 in September. Regarding university? I'll be applying for the 2016 intake and I'll start applying for it in a few months. Many people told me that it is important to visit the universities I'm interested in mainly to get a feeling of the place and bask in the vibe it gives out. True enough, i get why they told me to do so after I visited Bristol University and University of Reading.

It isn't enough to do a ton of research on the university. It also isn't good enough to take someone's word for it. If that someone is respectable, has good knowledge or legitimate ties to the city or university then great! However, if that isn't the case.. then don't. Especially if it's a younger, inexperienced wannabe who voluntarily throws advice at you.

Lesson here : DO go to open days. Or at least visit the university grounds.

Bristol. Absolutely beautiful, lively, colorful and hot! Seriously, it was hot and sunny. I have a hideously ridiculous tan line where my leggings ended and mocs started. Bristol University is a city university- as in 3 in 5 buildings you walk by in the city belong to the university. Literally, the Wills Memorial Building, the beautiful tower in the third picture below is just ONE of many other buildings owned by the university. In a way, the students are exposed to the "Real world". The city itself is darling. The art and graffiti would usually be considered vandalism but somehow it fits in with the city and contributes to the urban, artsy and edgy vibe. It is also home to a famous political street artist/graffiti artist Banksy.

The course I was looking into was just as great as expected. It didn't really take me by surprise. Maybe it's because of the fact that Bristol University is one of the Russell Group Universities. The Student Union got me beyond excited. In addition to the ridiculously high number of clubs and societies they have, they are involved with the environment, charity work and student life. They also have a Cheese Club!

However, one thing that honestly bugged me was the crowd and the traffic. I know they're all about going green but hun, the gridlock did not help at all. Part of me felt like I was back in KL when I was stuck in a traffic jam for about 30 minutes. Another thing is the fact that being a city university/campus, random people or tourists or beggars or unsavoury characters could wander around, loitering even and you can't say anything about it. It is a free country after all. It's probably me being paranoid and probably because I'm so used to North Wales. I just can't imagine the fact that it is too exposed and free that you could be living in the heart of the city, going to classes and your home surrounded by not only students but strangers as well. Literal strangers. It isn't a big deal, but the idea just irks me.

Reading is the opposite of Bristol. It's a campus university where everything is in a specific area. The university has its own lake and that is pretty cool. They have nature trails and clearings where one can sit, be close to Mother Nature and watch the ducks and swans. That. Is. Pretty. Amazing.

I love the fact that the student union in Reading is pretty amazing too, they have their own night club and student hangout spots and club nights. Yes I know I shouldn't be checking out the party life, but I can't help it, it's a bonus. Most importantly, I love the structure of the law course. Honestly, I'm impressed with Bristol but the law course in Reading offers so many different options and has great depth. I love how they approach it at another angle, and how the professor is so direct and honest about the course. In addition to that, the law building (picture below) used to belong to either Oxford or Cambridge, according to Nathalie, my guide around the campus who was really nice. The building - so gorgeous. The red brick walls do not actually make me miserable but it feels homely and "Harry Potter-ish".

I didn't take that many pictures when I was at Reading because we were in a rush. With the support of Christine and Diane, I got through the day. Thank God. After that, we went for an early dinner. We ate in an adorable pub in a quaint little town nearby. Posh, gorgeous and peaceful Henley on Thames. Yes, like the river.

Overall, it was a really good couple of days. Shopping at Cabot Circus after the Bristol open day and a short drive around beautiful Henley on Thames after Reading Open day. I've only been to two open days and I already feel conflicted.

Dear God, help me.