Laneway Festival 2016

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Among the many things I plan to do this new year, one of them was to try my hands at YouTube. I'm a huge fan of YouTube. I've learnt how to do makeup, solve Excel problems, discovered The Sims 3 cheats, 'travelled' around the world and more just watching people on my computer screen. I decided that it's time I do something too, starting with a vlog at Laneway Festival just last month. The Meadow at Gardens By The Bay was a perfect scenic spot for the occassion. Me and my pals enjoyed ourselves and we were lucky to catch our favourite acts including Grimes, Chvrches, Purity Ring and more. 

I hope you enjoy the video and if you do, give me a like and subscribe to my channel ULIMALI. I look forward to your thoughts (please, anything!), stuff you wish you see, and making more videos like this in the future.

I'm wearing PAPP UP paper sunglasses, Taobao top, Feiyue sneakers, and Uniqlo x Hana Tajima Hijab.

Fragments Of Time

Picnic with Nigel at the Singapore Botanical Gardens, November 2014.

En route to Jurong East MRT and bus interchange, early 2015. 

A dear friend with her daughter, February 2015.

At the Fullerton Hotel dressed in ZARA lace dress, February 2015. 

Spent a day at my late grandfather's Shanghai home after he passed away in June 2015.

My grandfather was a physics professor. His home was soulful but humble. Your space reflects your character.

Surprise birthday celebration with my best friend Mandy, November 2015. I had turned 22.

Christmas house party with a pine tree, December 2015.

Yun Jing at the National Gallery of Singapore, December 2015. 

St. Jerome's Laneway music festival with Nigel and Nic, January 2016.

Yun Jing at Mosburger, February 2016.

Failed attempt of a self-portrait, dressed in vintage French Connection, February 2016.

Today, I sent in my long-accumulated Kodak negatives to develop. It's always an exciting process because by the time I finally made it to shot number 36, which took me two years, I would have forgotten completely what was in there. In a hyper-instant digital world like today, the beauty of film photography lies in not knowing, which is liberating and really hones your eye for detail. On the other hand, it is daunting to realise how limited our memory is. If I couldn't even recall capturing a moment just two years ago, what would make me visualise my twenties on my deathbed?

Shot on my thrifted Pentax ESPIO98M. Photos unedited, selective photos desaturated. Negatives developed at Triple D Minilab Centre, Burlington Square, 175 Bencoolen St, Singapore 189649.

Begin Again

Styling, makeup and photography by Selina Tan. Edited by Selina and I.

You be the moon I'll be the earth

And when we burst 

Start over oh darling

Begin again 

Begin again

Happy Lunar New Year, and thank you for sticking around. I say that because I know I'm not the most consistent with my writing. But for those who follow me, I am grateful and you can trust my writings come straight from my heart. It could be with age that I take so much longer to ease into a new year. Frankly, a new year is no different. You don't just move on from your problems no matter how you want to. That is why I am afraid to make new year resolutions. Do we really stick to those? Having said that, I look back at the past two months and realized I've been subconsciously making changes to better myself, and I'd like to give myself credit for that. At the end of the day, I am just like anyone else who wants to feel proud and worthy of my littlest achievements. I'll share with you in this post.

(Instagram @ulimali)

One

I got featured in the January 2016 issue of NUYOU magazine, under its 30 Under 30 list of up and coming local talents. Among the names were many industry professionals who really excel at what they do. It's a huge honour to even be considered, I cannot help but feel undeserving, and I don't need anyone's empathy nor sugar-coated words. In the interview, I spoke about how music is the backbone of my vision and how I would like to work in the advertising industry. Let this be a solid recognition for my creative work and a reminder to work very hard. Thank you, Louise from NUYOU for making this happen.

Two

It would be a miracle if I ever get onto the treadmill, let alone getting into a new sport — Yoga. Yes, I cannot believe it either. I began going for professional Yoga lessons at my local sports centre under the ActiveSG scheme. I really like Yoga. It occurred to me that perhaps my reluctance to workout could be my poor choice of sports previously. I was pretty much useless during P.E. lessons. My fear of ball games didn't help either. Running was my only option then. Now, I might have found my pursuit in this fascinating, very (fashionably) glamourous world of fitness. I thank my best friend Mandy for introducing me to Hatha Yoga. Since then, my backaches had reduced dramatically and I feel like a new person. 

Three

A colleague's brief advocation of the famous Konmari method, by Japanese tidying guru Marie Kondo, prompted me to question my material possessions. After watching a few episodes of Rachel Aust's Minimalism Series on YouTube, boy, I was convinced. Partly, it was the mold problem (from Singapore's insane humidity) which left me little choice but to do some spring cleaning. How could I have lived with so much of the excess without realising? The Konmari method urges one to only keep what "sparks joy". The simplicity of the statement blew my mind and made me disgusted with myself. With this new perspective, I culled my entire room — beginning with makeup, then papers, clothing and so on. It was extremely uncomfortable but necessary to make sure my room is well curated, and after endless mental battles, I have never felt more peaceful at home. I highly recommend this life-changing concept to everyone.

Four

Laneway was a hell of a blast! I attended my first ever music festival in Singapore last month with my boyfriend Nigel and Nic. Besides catching some of our favourite bands — Grimes, Chvrches, and Purity Ring — I decided to vlog too! If you're thinking, "is Uli going to be a YouTuber now"? Not really. But I did make a conscious choice to get some footage that day and going to make a video out of it. For now it's just for fun, I'll see how that goes, don't want to expect too much of this new pet project.

Final thoughts

It's time I stop undermining myself and begin to truly live in the moment. To own less and to do more. To live, not regret. To love myself and be selfish if I needed to. To accept criticism but not broken. To see the world without losing myself. Easier said than done, but I am only human.