Campus Plus Magazine November 2015

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107 NOVEMBER 2015 FREE AT ALL CAMPUSES

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

18

Feature

Young Malaysians Who Work Hard and Play Hard

From gymnastics to modeling and acting, these five Malaysians are talented and well-rounded in their unique ways. We’re totally inspired!

22

Unplugged

Beatburns – These Beats are Sizzling

Get to know local band Beatburns a lot better – how they juggle school and music plus who they’d like to rock with onstage

36

FEATURE

Make-up Bag Essentials

Blogger and beauty enthusiast Jessica Chaw gives us the low down on the make-up essentials we will definitely find in her bag

38

Beauty Buzz

Beauty Must-Haves Under RM50

Feeling a little empty in the moolah department this month? Fret not, for we at CP have a list of the make-up items you need to have, and they’re all super-affordable

42

Feature

Money-Wasters

You don’t want to get down to your last 10 bucks before you realize your wallet’s in dire need of rescuing. Here are five things that could be draining you of your cash

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COVER STORY

The New Viral Fever

Did you know that the Facebook post you shared today is likely to be part of a marketing plan? We break down how marketers in modern times present their brands and products to you


Audio Dome GoGear GPS1500 Sound Dome

It’s Got The Look Cute to the point of adorable, the Sound Dome is a wireless portable speaker great for any occasion and place.

Wireless, Of Course

Using Bluetooth 3.0, just pair it with any of your smart devices – from phones and tablets to laptops and you’re good to go.

Multifunctional Dome Built-in mic conveniently frees your hands while taking calls. Management of your music and calls has never been easier – it’s all at the touch of a button.

Audio King-dome

Small in size, yet big on sound. Play your fave songs and start jiving away!

Also available in black Contact: Gibson Innovations Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. 100.2.051 Block J, 129 Offices, Jaya One, No.72A Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Customer Care 1 800 880 180

For more information, please visit www.my-gogear.com/


november2015

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Chow Down

Fabulous Fusion Food

Ruyi & Lyn is where you’d want to visit if you’re craving for untypical Chinese food set in a lounge-like environment. You’ll score some brownie points if you’re taking a date here, too, promise

FEATURES

46

CONTENTS 46

REGULARS

Career Chat

Jenn-uinely Jolly and Lovable

This YouTube sensation and 8TV Quickie host is no stranger in front of the camera. She shares her tips for breaking into the media industry and yes, you can actually make money from it

News ............................................. 08 Music............................................. 20 Movies.......................................... 24

52

WIRED UP

PLUG INTO THE FUTURE OF TECH

Where all the latest gadgets reside

Fashion Buzz................................ 32 Campus Couture........................... 34 Beauty Case.................................. 40 Off the Shelf................................. 41

60

Wanderlust

Guys’ Stuff.................................... 44

Jeju, all set to charm

Weird Wacky World ..................... 51

South Korea’s prettiest island has wowed us with its picturesque landscapes and fresh air

Anime ........................................... 55

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Arts & Culture .............................. 58



SIGHTS & INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITOR

takenote

FROM THE EDITOR

EDITORIAL

THE TEAM Mac Sivanesan

Publisher

MAC@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

Editor

Jade Yong

Deputy Editor

Sherelyn Goh

Sub-Editor

Sonny Leong

Writers

Grace Chan

jade@campusplus.com.my

SHERELYN@campusplus.com.my

sonny@campusplus.com.my

grace@campusplus.com.my

Rachel Fong rachel@campusplus.com.my

Contributers

Ivy Chin Jessica Chaw Rowena Jo Fernandez

General

Editorial

CREATIVE

NEWSDESK@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

Art Director

Suzanne Chuah

Junior Graphic Designer

Ahmad Faidhi

Visual & DI

Kamil Haziq

CORPORATE

ZANNE@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

studio@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

HAZIQ@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

Corporate Communications

Nancy P

Events Manager

Jeyasekhar M

nancy@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

jeya@CAMPUSPLUS.com.MY

Sales & Marketing Nicholas Ng Director nicholas@CAMPUSPLUS.com.My

SPONSORS

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Sales

Jaccqueln Lee

jacc@CAMPUSPLUS.com.My

For sponsorships, please send proposals to events@campusplus.com.my

Published by: Campus Media Resources Sdn Bhd (810574-K)

A

s our ringgit plunges, and everyone looks at tightening their purses, and their belts, we figure it’s ripe for us to put out our ‘Wealth & Money’ issue. Yes, our readers are always at the top of our priority list! Living paycheck to paycheck? Your pocket money never seems enough to stretch you to the end of the month without scrimping? It’s so easy to clock up big enough overheads with tiny little life luxuries that the next thing you know, you’re hardly left with anything after all the bills are paid. Fret not, there are financial potholes in our lifestyles that we can easily avoid. Look out for the so-practical-it-hurts feature story about the five biggest money wasters on page 42. We also help you zone in on some awesome beauty products under RM50 that you should totally get your hands on, on page 38. Member of Bloggerati, Jessica Chaw, also shares with us the five things that she absolutely must have in her make-up bag, on page 36. Want some inspiration? Take a leaf out of these five students’ careers, on page 18, because being a student doesn’t stop them from achieving greater things. Speaking of extra-curricular activities, CP talks to Beatburns on page 22 and how they’ve been rocking up the scene while juggling their studies. Another upcoming mover and shaker of the entertainment scene is Jenn Chia who expanded her wings from the internet to the TV screen as co-host of 8TV Quickie. Read about her on page 46. Last but not least, our cover story this month highlights how marketing permeates all layers of our modern day lifestyle on page 26. In spite of the costs, we’re all suckers for something better, bigger, lighter, brighter, faster, shinier and more luxurious. We all want the best that life has to offer. So here I end my note with what each of the CP team unapologetically spend on as our guilty pleasure.

Jade

Jade:

“Delicious and really unique cocktails”

Sherelyn:

“Good food and wine”

Sonny:

“Mountain bike parts”

Rachel:

“Clothes from online boutiques”

Grace:

“Green tea and Carl Jung books”

P.s. Our all-new website is finally LIVE! Go see campusplus.com.my and tell us how much you love us.

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© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from Campus Media Resources Sdn Bhd. The publisher has made every effort to ensure that the contents of this material is accurate at the time of printing, and therefore will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Opinions and advice expressed by advertisers and contributors in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editors, staff and the publisher.



campusnews

THE LATEST FROM YOUR CAMPUS

november 2015

Unleash The Power Of Your Mind! Tapping into the infinite potential of the mind, the Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement (MMLM), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) joined forces in organizing the 11th Malaysia Festival of the Mind. Held on 8 August, the much-anticipated two-day festival highlighted 14 talk conferences, seven workshops and an exhilarating exhibition with over 22 booths. The fiesta was officiated by Guest of Honor, UTAR Council Member Hew Fen Yee and saw an overwhelming attendance of over 2,300 visitors encompassing students, families, teachers, and staff. Amongst the many intriguing talks on harnessing the brain’s power were interesting subject matters ranging from emotional intelligence, secrets of rewiring the brain to the law of attraction. Coupled with the demonstration of amazing mental feats by Milik Duyar, other activities like mind games, magic of science, MENSA admission test and Leonard Personality Inventory test, were instant crowd-pullers.

The Future Is Yours To Design With a creative industry that is expanding quickly in terms of workforce, there’s no denying the rise in demand for individuals with expertise in this area. KDU University College’s School of Communication and Creative Arts (SCCA) is responding to this trend with a Master of Design (Innovation) program, which is a dual parchment program awarded by KDU as well as the Rome University of Fine Arts (RUFA). Comprising various disciplines in design, it is split into three main areas, namely Visual Design, Multimedia Design and Advertising and Communication. Apart from lectures by industry practitioners, students will also learn with workshops, seminars, meetings and out-ofclassroom sessions.

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campusnews

THE LATEST FROM YOUR CAMPUS

november 2015

‘Silent Salesmen’ Returns With A Bang As the concept of the “silent salesman” continues to dwindle over the years, The One Academy took the initiative to collaborate with Brandcare Sdn Bhd to reignite the role of using packaging as an essential marketing strategy. Dubbed the ‘Brandcare Packaging Competition’, students were required to revamp the packaging design for Munchy’s product, Captain Munch. They were also engaged in creating a cutting-edge festive gift packaging for Munchy’s Music Wafer Rolls. Fu Mei Yan shined in both assignments as she charmed her way through a charismatic presentation, fine execution and appealing concepts and storytelling in her design. The competition champion is now considering packaging design as one of her potential career paths. “This competition is more than just exposure to the industry. On a larger scale, it has opened my mind to receive criticism and different points of view,” Fu wisely said.

UTAR’s 21st Convocation Takes Off In A Big Way A staggering 2,281 graduands from 81 programs including Bachelor (Honors) degrees, Master’s degrees and PhDs received their convocation scrolls recently in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s (UTAR) 21st Convocation held at Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik in UTAR’s Kampar Campus, Perak. Several guests of honor were seen at the convocation, including UTAR Council Chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and former PM Tun Dr Mahathir. The event also witnessed the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Doctor of Medical Science) to Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, for her contributions and leadership in the fields of public health, medical sciences, literacy and drug abuse control. Guests of the three-day occasion were entertained by the UTAR Chinese Orchestra and performances by UTAR students. 10

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campusnews

THE LATEST FROM YOUR CAMPUS

november 2015

Poetic Slam Down It was a creatively fulfilling day for 13 amateur poets at UCSI University, as they poured their hearts out into verse for their university’s first ever Poetry Slam Competition. Organized as part of UCSI’s Right to Read campaign, the slam showcased the students’ literary talents in their full glory as they touched on love, relationships and feminism. In the end, it was a law student from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) who blew the competition out of the water. Fadzlin Roslee impressed a panel of judges filled with industry names and veteran poets with her piece on sexual discrimination.

Taylor’s University Lakeside Celebrates World Tourism Day Marking World Tourism Day 2015 with the theme, ‘One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities’, more than 700 students, lecturers and representatives from various tourism agencies gathered at Taylor’s University, Lakeside Campus recently to celebrate. Deputy Minister of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, YB Datuk Mas Ermieyati Binti Samsudin was present to officiate the event. A variety of activities were held, including stalls that represented local arts, an Orang Asal cultural demonstration and cultural performances by students. The celebration aimed to increase students’ awareness and knowledge about the importance of tourism diversification and its contribution towards the nation’s socio-economic development. Taylor’s University was also recently awarded the 2015 PATA Grand Award for Education and Training for its ‘Tourism Academy at Community College Langkawi, Malaysia’ project. This initiative aims to transform the pedagogy of the Langkawi Tourism Academy and help make Langkawi among the top ten island destinations for tourists with qualified manpower in the tourism sectors. 12

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lifestylenews

THE LATEST FOR YOUR WORLD

november 2015

Sweating For A Cause One Thursday night on the rooftop of Avenue K in the heart of KL, more than 500 participants united to contribute to the noble cause of cancer awareness – by sweating it out. They were part of the launch of Adidas’ latest ClimacoolR Anti-Perspirant, which was held in collaboration with National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM). For every 1km the participants ran on the treadmills, RM500 would be donated by Starasia (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. At the same time, the runners kept up their morale with the new antiperspirant, which releases microscopic capsules under friction and humidity to boost freshness. By the end of the hour, a whopping RM100,000 was raised. Nice.

Bright Eyes With Lacelle Jewel Lovers of colored contact lenses will delight in Bausch + Lomb’s latest offering, Lacelle Jewel. It is as the name suggests – the lenses come with jewel patterns in its design. It also incorporates a unique feature where the lenses darken and seemingly enlarge the iris to make eyes look bigger and brighter. Comfort is a given, as Lacelle Jewel lenses are thinner and comes with 38% water content to provide ultimate comfort for wearers of its colored lenses. Get dazzling, radiant eyes in Melanite Black, Topaz Brown, Crystal Gray, Amber Brown, Amethyst Violet, Sapphire Blue or Peridot Green, at RM68 per box. 14

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Superdry Gets Edgy With Its AW2015 Line Superdry recently launched their Autumn/Winter 2015 Collection at a VIP party that saw customers, media, partners, local celebs and other VIPs rock out at Superdry’s Pavilion and Mid Valley stores. Superdry also debuted a sizzling fresh line of sportswear for women, with bold, fluoro hues fused with fun, vivid details. Hero pieces include moisture-wicking capri leggings, double-zip hoodies, padded sports bras and lightweight running shorts. The Superdry AW15 Menswear range features inspiration from outdoorsmen style and classic military to retro gym-class hero; while women’s knitwear is enhanced with Nordic motifs, lurex twisted yarns and Breton stripes, as well as jacquard leggings. Also look out for sequins and embellishments, as well as lace and dip-dyed effects for the ladies.


lifestylenews

THE LATEST FOR YOUR WORLD

november 2015

A Star-Studded Line Up In Skechers’ Holiday 2015 Campaign The holidays are right around the corner and Skechers footwear is already celebrating with three personalities signed up to be part of their upcoming Holiday 2015 campaign – singer Demi Lovato, boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and New York Yankees baseball player Mariano Rivera. In addition to the print campaign, Demi will star in two new commercials featuring the brand’s Holiday 2015 and Spring 2016 collections. The shoe brand also unveiled the Skechers Go Flex Walk, which is footwear designed with Skechers Performance technology and materials specifically for athletic walking. The design of the Resalyte sole provides ultra-flexibility and memory retention to help absorb impact and provide durability and stability. The upper part of the shoe is built in the memory Form Fit design with a nearly-seamless knitted fabric and memory foam padding around the heel to give its wearer a custom-feel fit. Check out the BTS video and pictures on campusplus.com.my!

Guess Watches AW2015 Walks On The Wild Side Guess Watches takes a note of inspiration from the animal kingdom yet again where two of its main ranges – Indigo Illusions and Precious Metals – from the Autumn/Winter 2015 collection has wearers flaunt their wild side. Precious Metals pairs a rose-hued palette with chic grey for a fashion forward edge. Indigo Illusions steals the spotlight with a gorgeous combination of emerald tones, which gets into a close tango with exotic blue hues and flecks of gold. ‘Showstopping’ is the word to describe Guess Watches’ theme for the season.

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Step Up And Dance Hiruscar Post Acne recently initiated yet another springboard for youth to freely express themselves with confidence through dance. Dubbed the Hiruscar Post Acne Step Up Dance Competition 2015, the competition featured a series of choreographed dance moves where teams were required to inject their own unique blend of style and choreography into their performances. The champions of the competition were revealed following the final showdown at Paradigm Mall with 10 finalists meticulously tabbed based on their dance videos and according to their respective campuses. Rejuvenate Dance Crew, hailing from Klang, beat the odds and were proudly crowned the champions. They walked away with the grand prize of RM2,500. Inversion Crew and Hyperactive crew’s immaculate performances scored them the 1st and 2nd runner up titles respectively.

Grab The Tinge with Spritzer & Zalora Spritzer and Zalora recently concluded a contest where winners will take home prizes from Spritzer and Zalora. All participants needed to do was go to Spritzer Tinge’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Spritzer.Tinge, click on ‘Join Now’ and key in the serial number from their Spritzer Tinge bottles. They were then entered for the ‘Grab The Tinge’ contest and stood a chance to win prizes by playing a game. The contest received a warm reception from Tinge drinkers, and a winner is expected to be announced soon. In conjunction with the game, Spritzer Tinge has released a new drink variant called Mango Tango, which captures the fruit’s juicy flavor. A sure win with mango lovers, for sure!


feature by rachel fong

Malaysian Student Entrepreneurs

November 2015

When spare time appears somewhere in between your group assignment and mid-terms, it’s understandable that all you want to do is eat, sleep, rave, repeat (or even take raving out completely and replace it with eating because FOOD). Who has time for anything else? Well, apparently these five overachievers do. On top of being fulltime students, these peers of yours have somehow found the time to add a few more feathers in their caps, whether it’s singing, modeling or even representing Malaysia at international sports events. Read on to find out more about these homegrown all-rounders.

Young Malaysians Who Work Hard and Play Hard

Ling Big Yong, YouTuber

This Bintulu, Sarawak native can easily be mistaken for an average high schooler, so try to keep your jaw off the ground when we tell you that his YouTube channel boasts 406k subscribers and his videos have been viewed 52 million times already. Now a student at Cyberjaya's Multimedia University, he has a penchant for slice-of-life videos that poke fun at the trials and tribulations of being a Malaysian high school student, or just being a teenager in general. His humor may admittedly be too random and all over the place for some, but if you understand or appreciate Mandarin and dialogue peppered with local slang, the hours will fly by as you devour video after video. They may sometimes look more like amateur home videos than professionally edited shorts, but Big Yong keeps it real, and that has obviously gotten him to where he is today.

Venice Min, Model, Actress and Blogger

A multi-hyphenate who also happens to be a Mass Communications student, we secretly believe Venice has 48 hours in a day instead of the 24 allotted for the average human. She is a familiar face and name to many now, thanks to sprawling HSBC billboards featuring her in various getups, romantic comedies like My Mr. Right and a sultry FHM cover. You might even catch her right before watching a movie sometimes, as she’s a regular in commercials, having appeared in ads for Pizza Hut, Baskin-Robbins and Ogawa. Being a Penangite, Venice also frequently travels back and forth between her hometown and the bright lights of KL for modeling gigs.


Joshua Jarrett Ganesan, frontman and guitarist and Zijunn Tan, bassist and backup vocalist for Son of A Policeman (SOAP) Yes, we know we’re cheating a little by putting a two-in-one bullet point, but it wouldn’t be fair to separate these bandmates now, would it? While they may be students by day, by night Joshua and his bandmate Zijunn (more commonly known as Tan) rock ’n roll in a successful band called Son of A Policeman (SOAP), which has played live gigs all over the nation. In fact, Campus Plus even ran an article on them way back in May 2014, so you might say we have a bit of an eye for talent *wink wink*. Categorizing themselves under a unique genre called 'indie rojak', these boys have made it as far as 8TV Quickie for a live performance segment as well as Fly FM’s Stripped. If that’s not impressive enough, they can also count an appearance on Astro Vinmeen HD and an interview segment on BFM Radio among their already impressive achievements.

Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, National-Level Artistic Gymnast You must’ve been living under your soundproof, airtight rock this past year if you've never heard of Farah Ann. While her initial claim to fame was a glorious one – winning a whopping six medals for Malaysia at the SEA Games – it was soon tainted by the negative comments of netizens who blasted her for her 'revealing' gymnast costume. Since then, it's safe to say the headstrong Farah Ann has done it Taylor Swift-style and shook it off, as she is back to focusing on her studies at Sunway University and balancing them with her national athletic duties. All that noise over her leotard has brought more good than harm too, as the young lady has landed features in Elle Malaysia and Women's Health Malaysia, and even booked a cameo in local band Paperplane Pursuit's newest video, 'Who's Gonna Stop Me'. The rising star is also gradually becoming a fixture in the local events circuit, as she’s appeared at luxury store and fashion collection launches.

Bob Low Sze Yie, Miss Malaysia World 2014 1st Runner Up, Model and Actress Currently taking on a degree in Mass Communications at INTI International College Subang, Bob’s star has risen since emerging as 1st runner up in Miss Malaysia World 2014. She has kept herself firmly in the public eye with appearances under Miss Malaysia World as well as modeling gigs for AEON, the retail store giant and EcoWorld, a property development group. That’s not all – the photogenic beauty has also dabbled in acting, appearing in various short films by local YouTube filmmaker Dan Khoo such as What if Cinderella was Malaysian? (yep, that’s got to be seen to be believed), and Strum Me A Song, a romantic short film by TheSaladShow.

nov 2015 | CAMPUS PLUS |

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music

RELEASES AND REVIEWS

november 2015

REVIEWS

Start Here

| Maddie & Tae

I’m In Love With A Monster

| Fifth Harmony

If you don’t know who Maddie & Tae are, let’s Start Here. This talented American

Christmas, or more like Halloween, came early, courtesy of Fifth Harmony’s

female country music duo not only sing, but are the guitarists and songwriters too. The journey begins with ‘Waitin’ on a Plane’, a dreamy song that speaks about chasing your dreams. It’s a great starting point for the rest of the album. But it is ‘Smoke’ that shows off the pair’s perfect chemistry. The dramatic moments demand your attention and keep you glued to the earphones. Though tagged a country album, the lyrics reach beyond the genre, making this debut album universal and relatable. If this is a sign of things to come, then the future is indeed bright for these young lasses.

contribution to the movie, Hotel Transylvania 2. I’m In Love With A Monster is nothing like ‘Worth It’ and ‘Reflection’, the hit songs from their album Reflection. That’s only because it sticks to the theme of the movie it’s from: being in love with an actual monster. Still, that’s not a bad thing as the song is incredibly catchy and funky with heavy beats and boasts a large variety of influences. I’m In Love With A Monster is a remarkable mix that’s full of creativity. Entertaining and highly hummable, this single is evidence that Fifth Harmony’s music has become more powerful and distinctive.

Twelvefour

Water For Your Soul

| The Paper Kites

The Australian indie rock-folk band returns with their sophomore album, Twelvefour. It has been two years since The Paper Kite’s last release and this album instantly impresses. They are bold enough to take risks to keep things fresh, yet without losing the magic that made them electrifying. One of the standout changes is the increased use of electric guitars, providing their music with an edgier feel. We can’t really pick a favorite track here because all the songs are unique and wonderful in their own way. This album has been on our playlist for over a week and we still haven’t gotten bored with it at all.

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| Joss Stone

This is the seventh studio album for the sultry English soul singer, songwriter and actress. Like most of her previous albums, Water For Your Soul proudly lacks any chart or radio intentions, which means it stays musically rich, boasting of deep emotions and soul-healing effects. ‘Clean Water’ is definitely our favorite of the album. We love the friendly, breezy groove that’s laced with spiritually uplifting lyrics. Stone’s voice lends a deeply meaningful touch to the lyrics, soothing the soul and leaving us feeling good. Joss Stone has surprised us once again! Water For Your Soul holds your attention from beginning to the end and inspires you with its highly relatable lyrics. Thank you, Ms. Stone, you made our day.


the latest bond theme

november 2015

The Name’s Smith.

Sam Smith The suave superspy is back and its theme song gets the Brit treatment

A

lbert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-GoldwynMayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment confirmed that Sam Smith has recorded ‘Writing’s On The Wall’, the theme song to Spectre, the 24th James Bond adventure.

The song, released by Capitol Records, debuted earlier in September. And it is multi-platinum selling artist Sam Smith who co-wrote the theme song with fellow Grammy Award-winner Jimmy Napes. It is the first James Bond theme song recorded by a British male solo artist since 1965. Smith’s debut album In The Lonely Hour opened at No. 1 in the UK and bowed in at No. 2 in the US, and has since earned five No.1 UK singles, four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, six MOBO Awards, Q and AMA Awards. Commenting on the announcement, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the producers of Spectre said, “Sam and Jimmy have written the most inspirational song for Spectre and with Sam’s extraordinary vocal performance, ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ will surely be considered one of the greatest Bond songs of all time.” According to Smith, “This is one of the highlights of my career. I am honored to finally announce that I will be singing the next Bond theme song. I am so excited to be a part of this iconic British legacy and join an incredible line up of some of my biggest musical inspirations. I hope you all enjoy the song as much as I enjoyed making it.” The 23 previous James Bond theme songs make up some of the most memorable movie music of all time. The previous Bond theme song, ‘Skyfall’ was performed by Adele and was honored with the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, the Brit Award for British Single of the Year, and the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. (Feature Courtesy of Universal Music Malaysia)

music


unplugged by grace chan

keep your soul burning

NOVEMBER 2015

These Beats Are Sizzling

Get Personal Get out the candles and throw the confetti as we feature local alternative rock band, Beatburns, this month. The ensemble has been rockin’ since 2009 and comprises a concoction of distinct musical influences from six collective souls; Lynd on vocals, Moe and Zik shredding it up on the guitars, Aron on bass, Eman playing the synth and last but not least, Gast rocking the drums. The band’s recent triumph in bagging the title of champions in the Shaftsbury Square’s Battle of the Bands further cements Beatburns as one of the esteemed alternative bands in the industry. Embracing the spirit of team effort, Lynd contributes through her canny ability with words while Aron and Moe alternate as composers for the band – merging the forces of two different worlds into a palette of creativity. Coupled with Eman’s gift as a multi-instrumentalist and his formal expertise in the musical scene, it’s no surprise he’s deemed to be the backbone of Beatburns. Indeed, what is a band without the prowess of sound crafting and production? This is where Zik comes in with his slick touch in music production while Gast powers the songs with his sick drum beats. A songstress still in the pursuit of tertiary education, vocalist Lynd shared on the hurdles of playing duo roles of fulltime student and musician. “There are times when inspiration would peek into the window of my mind during an ongoing class. More often than not, I just couldn’t help but to jot down the song ideas and drift away for a while,” giggled Lynd, who is currently an American Degree Program (ADP) student in Segi College. Despite the need to juggle between assignments and composing songs, she dug her heels in to excel at both.

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Music Conversation

Albeit the funky name, Beatburns was actually randomly conceived (believe it or not) whilst one of the band’s ex-members zoned out into the void of nothingness during a class. While it’s not particularly a glorious venue to spawn a band’s flag, the team continues to retain the name due to sentimental reasons. “Aside from the fact that it’s grown on us, Beatburns also speaks for the songs that we have written since the day we debuted. Be it slow, heavy or loud, our music carry a blazing beat to it,” explained Gast. Over the years, as Beatburns grew together through thick and thin, the band has now surpassed a threshold where they will just do whatever feels right for them. Aside from Eman who is a certified music teacher and Lynd with her trained vocals, the band essentially regards itself as a bunch of peeps who thrive on creating music from instinct. “If we were to pin it down, we’d frame alternate-indie or “altindie” as our musical style,” said Moe with a grin. Despite bearing some similarities to female fronted pop-punk bands like Flyleaf, Paramore and VersaEmerge, it may surprise you that Beatburns draws influence from assorted genres – pop, R&B, post-hardcore, garage, metal and alternative rock to basically anything that comes to mind. However, the six members are on the same page in that their music should be free from limitations. “We’d listen to Foo Fighters, Circa Survive, Anberlin, Of Monsters and Men, Kimbra, Mumford & Sons, Ellie Goulding to even Sheila on 7 and Faizal Tahir,” Aron pointed out.

Live Gigs Amusingly, the band’s first ever show was for a wedding where they played their own tracks of unconventional love songs. “We didn’t even have love songs to begin with, we weren’t into sappy material back then,” Lynd recalls with laughter. From there on, Beatburns started racking up their list of shows - from playing in small-scale gigs to making it to Laundry Bar, One Café and subsequently around the country at venues in Ipoh, Taiping and Penang. Perhaps the most memorable milestone is when the band found themselves playing on bigger-scale stages such as Rock The World and venues abroad, like in Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok. “Playing in Jakarta back in 2012 for JakCloth Festival really got all of us super stoked. As we

ALL IN ALL If you guys could perform with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Foo Fighters! Uncle Dave and co have been the top of the list, for as long as we can remember!

Is there anyone you would like to acknowledge for supporting you this far? It’s a baffling document of names to put on the table, but we’d very much like to acknowledge our families, close friends and friends (we never really use the term ‘fans’, to be honest) who’ve been supporting us since day one.

What is the band’s favourite self-composed track to date? ‘Thank You’. It’s a song originally written based on a mellow pop ground but as we revamped it, the track turned into something that exceeded the structure of a normal pop song. We’ve experimented a lot on the song, especially with strings and percussions – making it more of a symphonized piece.

Describe your music in three or four words. Bring in the noise!

What advice do you guys have for people who want to take their passion in music one step further? Perseverance and patience are always key, and we’ve been holding on to that. It wasn’t easy for us, but it could’ve been worse if we did not have those embedded in our faith. Be humble, be fair and be just. Uphold what you think is the best for you and your band and stay the course. Most importantly, have fun and rock on!

stood before the crowd representing Malaysia, it immediately dawned on us that it’ll be an experience that we’ll always hold on to dearly,” Zik enthused. To date, ‘Tanpa Hari Esok’ boasts the most local airplays and is quite possibly a track that has gained them the most recognition, while ‘Thank You’ is deemed their most challenging song for live gigs due to its lyrical intricacy. If you happen to spot them around local open mic arenas, be prepared to indulge your ears with ‘Ice Cream’ – their newfound onstage favorite.

Music Platform

If you wish to track down their dope tracks, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/ beatburns. The squad is also in the midst of releasing their songs on various digital

platforms, namely iTunes, Spotify and Raku.

Down the Road with Music

Ultimately, Beatburns strives to be recognized as a collective whole. “Regardless of the musical direction that we are going to venture into, we seek to be known for who we are and not judged for whom we are not,” Eman stated thoughtfully. As for the moment, Beatburns is dedicating their utmost effort towards releasing an album that will be in line with the benchmark of being together as a band for six years. Right off the bat and through their hits (from ‘Rebirth’, ‘Tanpa Hari Esok’ to ‘Reflections’), Beatburns’ music is sure to engage you with just the right dose of pop-driven music laced with catchy and neat structures. NOV 2015 | CAMPUS PLUS |

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movies

THE LATEST CINEMA FLICKS

NOVEMBER 2015

PREVIEWS

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 STARRING: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Jena Malone, Sam Claflin, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Natalie Dormer, Willow Shields

Jem And The Holograms

STARRING: Aubrey Peeples, Stefanie Scott, Hayley Kiyoko, Aurora Perrineau, Juliette Lewis, Ryan Guzman

RELEASE: 19th November 2015

RELEASE: 26th November 2015

Katniss (Lawrence) teams up with her closest friends, Gale (Hemsworth), Finnick (Claflin), Peeta (Hutcherson) and the District 13 unit to liberate the citizens of Panem. As President Snow (Sutherland) becomes increasingly obsessed with destroying Katniss, he devises a ‘game’ for Katniss to conquer the Capitol at the risk of losing her friends and loved ones.

This is the live-action Hollywood version of the popular 80s cartoon of the same name. It follows the story of Jem and the Holograms, from being an underground video sensation to becoming global superstars. These four musicians will begin an amazing journey of discovering their special talents and taking the world by storm!

The Hallow

In The Heart Of The Sea

STARRING: Joseph Mawle, Bojana Novakovic, Michael McElhatton, Michael Smiley

STARRING: Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson

RELEASE: 26th November 2015

RELEASE: 6th November 2015

Don’t ever ignore the warnings of locals, especially when you’re moving in to a new place. This family chose to ignore it and the movie is all about the resultant consequence of that fatal decision. Throw in horrific demonic creatures and plenty of scares, and you’ve got a nice little horror flick to catch at the midnight screening.

In the winter of 1820, a New England whaling ship, the Essex was assaulted by something unbelievable: a mammoth size whale with a strong sense of vengeance. After the maritime disaster, the surviving crew was left stranded at sea for 90 days, more than a thousand miles from land. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair (plus that vengeful whale) over that long period ultimately forces the crew to resort to cannibalism.

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AUG 2015 | CAMPUS PLUS |

Get yours by

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GSC mobile app OR visit www.gsc.com.my


coverstory

by rachel fong and grace chan

marketing in the 21st century

november 2015


A

woman with kind blue eyes, a soft figure and short blonde hair walks into a seemingly abandoned warehouse. There, she meets, or rather, sees the back of a 40-somethingyear-old man hunched over a drawing board. She is directed to sit behind a curtain that hides her from his sight. She has no idea what she is asked to do there, but as she settles on the couch, the man starts asking her questions about her facial features. She visibly tenses as a dreadful thought forms in her mind: “Oh man, now I have to talk about myself, and think about my looks.” It’s clearly distressing her, but as she is already there, she goes through with it anyway. A few minutes prior to the sketching, she had met a man whom she knew nothing about, but was asked to get friendly with. After she left, the man then took her place at the couch, and started describing the lady he had met earlier to the silver-haired man on the other side of the curtain. Much later on, the woman is welcomed back into the warehouse. This time, however, it is not as bare as it was before. This time, the space is filled with pairs of sketches of various people. The woman is led by the artist, whom she has finally met, to one of the pairs, which depicts two women who look alike, yet a lot different. While the person drawn on the left looks sadder and closed off, the one on the right seems to radiate kindness and openness. She is told that the sketch on the left was described by herself, whereas the right sketch showed who the male stranger had described. The woman is left speechless, tears gradually forming in her eyes as the weight of realization slowly sinks in. The message is clear: we are often harsher on ourselves than necessary, nitpicking at and seeing only the imperfections, while strangers notice our most pleasing facial features first, which results in them seeing a more beautiful face. The takeaway is, you’re more beautiful than you think. If that sounded like a moving short film to you, you’re half right. In reality, that was a summary of one of Dove’s most famous viral campaigns.

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Viral Campaigns We all know one, or we’ve all seen one. It’s the advertisement/public service announcement (PSA)/short film that you see plastered all over your Facebook newsfeed, with a thumbnail so compelling that you just have to give in and watch despite your best efforts to ignore it. Maybe it’s gut wrenchingly sad, or makes you laugh till your stomach hurts, or just really, really hits home. Either way, they’re all connected by one thing: emotion. According to Jonah Berger, who teaches marketing at the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania: “Emotion is one factor that drives sharing. We see lots of funny stuff go viral on YouTube, but we also see angry political rants get shared. Any emotion that fires us up – humor, awe and also anger and anxiety – drives us to share.” Even if the marketed message is obvious, if the entertainment value of the video is high enough, we’d help the brands do the work for them by spreading it among our nearest and dearest anyway. And, if the video leaves us with a feel-good vibe, the brand is associated with it, thus creating a positive brand perception. Despite the immense difficulty of actually nailing a viral campaign (the ones that get to us are only one in a thousand, if not more), companies still put their heart, soul and money into it because when it works, it really works, and the rewards absolutely outweigh the cost. Production costs notwithstanding, a good three-minute clip is technically free of advertising fees, because when the message is impactful enough, all one has to do is post it up and wait for one or two people to latch on to it. Once they do, the rest is wildfire. It’s the ultimate domino effect.


Social Media Contests There are more of them than we can count, or – if we’re really being honest – tolerate. We’re talking about contests that bump up your chances of winning through likes, shares and tags. (Not so) deep down inside, we know these competitions are using us to get the word out. So we might need to spam half of our friends on Facebook Messenger with the same copy + paste message to like a photo, or share a post while tagging three of your girlfriends, hashtag-ing the competition’s desired keywords. It is still free, and will take up to 10 minutes at most, depending on how cooperative your Wi-Fi signal is. If, or when you do nab the coveted prize, you’ll hardly have time to worry if you’ve annoyed some acquaintances with your constant bombardment of their inboxes. Ultimately, though, the biggest winner is the organization behind the contest. Potentially, they get more followers, likes and most importantly, message delivery with your help, and exposure is the first battle won in the war. Much like most other internet marketing tools, it also carries the irresistible advantage of being inexpensive, or in some cases, even completely free. With a handsome enough prize, the target audience will naturally be drawn to it like moths to a flame. For others, contestants eager to win a competition by garnering the most likes will easily be motivated by their own determination. It’s all just a matter of tapping into the most innate needs and wants that exist inside each and every one of us, whether it’s vanity or glory.

Sponsored Articles Basically an evolved version of advertisements and advertorials, sponsored articles, whether in magazines, dailies or websites, are a relatively newer form of marketing. Instead of selling the product or brand straightforwardly, the message is buried within a story that reads like any other editorial article, with the exception of the company’s logo or brand name at the bottom or start of the piece. On the Internet, sponsored articles are relatively newer ground for marketers, but that’s good news for editorial teams as it means there are a variety of ways they can play around with to help companies convey their message. One of the more common ways is a piece that conveys the spirit of the brand or product, with only a small mention of it here and there. For example, if a university is sponsoring online content, the website may put out an article about ten things that’s awesome about being a university student. Another method is a review of the product, which boosts its credibility as readers can see that it supposedly delivers on the brand’s promise. That said, they are not without their pitfalls. As subtle as sponsored articles might seem, the illusion breaks once readers get to the part that highlights the brand or product. Any goodwill that might have been built up before could get jeopardized as soon as readers realize it’s basically advertising. The fallout could be worse as well since the readers feel tricked into thinking it was a ‘normal’ article, to the point of eroding their impression of the publication’s integrity.

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Influencer Marketing If you spend any amount of time online daily, you’d see that YouTube influencers and bloggers (aka social media influencers) possess a large social reach that helps in “influencing” the decisions their audience and followers make. In our world today, where likes, shares and follows propel messages, influencers are akin to a leader in a cult whose opinions are highly valued in the space. When influencers incorporate a brand into their lifestyle, followers who are eager to own a fair bit of that lifestyle would desire that certain brand more than ever. They have a wide range of outlets with which to pimp the brand or product out to, be it a vlog, a blogpost or an Instagram post. The less subtle forms of postings include product placements, product endorsements, branded content, branded advertising and native advertising. We know this may sound a little ‘digital back-alley’ but there is really nothing new or shady about this form of outreach. In the past, we had major celebrity endorsements (and we still do!) from Nadal cashing in US$525,000 just to sport a watch at the French Open to Tiffany & Co. paying Anne Hathaway US$750,000 to don their glitzy jewelry at the Oscars. Today, all thanks to the upswing of social networks, the bar for endorsements has also been lowered, essentially making it accessible to anyone with big enough of a following.

g n i t e k r a M a Social Med i Forget the archaic and corporate Mad Men marketing. What was once a spot for family and friends to share pictures and stay in touch has now morphed into a well-greased marketing behemoth, ready to target audiences with accurate advertising algorithms. Quite simply, social media is akin to a peer influencer when it comes to shaping buying decisions. Believe it or not, a staggering 71% of consumers actually have purchased an item based on social media referrals. After all, when a social network gives you unparalleled knowledge on products and services with peer feedback to go with it, it’s easy to see why we’d think we are making smart consumer decisions. Something else worth considering is the popularity of newer apps like Snapchat where traditional rules are quashed into features we sometimes cannot fathom: blink-and-miss photo and video shares. Embracing social media on a whole new level, brand and content creators are now squeezing every ounce out of Snapchat to produce daily stories that engage and excite audiences through video narrative - something we could all relate to. From a consumer’s standpoint, it might feel like we have exclusive access to live, unscripted events, which is exciting. Coupled with contests, perks or promotions that are typically delivered exclusively to Snapchat users, most of us can’t help but fall for the setup. Regardless, perhaps the most enticing piece that Snapchat has to offer is its ability to take us behind the proverbial scenes. In fact, many major brands have used this to their advantage already.

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The Word on the Street

What do your peers have to say about Internet marketing? We decided to ask a few of them of their thoughts on it, but before that, we made them watch a couple of videos. Both are campaign videos by big, influential brands that went viral, and each of them fall on opposite ends of the spectrum. ‘You Just Got Milked’ by Malaysian YouTuber TheMingThing blatantly promotes Dutch Lady’s chocolate milk, but with a hilarious spin, while the other is ‘Dove Real Beauty Sketches’, a moving PSA/brand awareness short film of sorts. After watching both clips, 25 year-old graphic designer Eric Leow commented that ‘Dove Real Beauty Sketches’ was very subtle in its product marketing and branding, while finding ‘You Just Got Milked’ to be a good laugh. However, neither one made him eager to get off his seat and buy their products, although he agreed it was good branding. In relation to brands he couldn’t live without, he said there weren’t any as he enjoyed having choices, although he admitted to being a victim of brand positioning, in which he believed in the quality of a brand more if it was well known. 22-year-old software engineer Azliyana bin Azlee had a slightly different take on the videos. While she did find the Dove short film to be ‘deep and meaningful’, she thought the Dutch Lady video seemed like ‘they’re trying too hard’, and made her doubt the credibility of the brand. As for brands she couldn’t live without, she cited brands like The Body Shop’s facial wash, soaps and shampoos, and Glade’s car air freshener. For fellow 22-year-old Kim, however, her must-have product is one that many students her age will agree with – Apple’s iPhone. “Aside from the fact that it just does everything, I have my heart set on Apple because their products last ages. I’m using an obsolete iPhone 4 and it still serves me well.” While the multimedia student acknowledges the tech giant’s nifty marketing tactics, such as limiting the number of iPhones for purchase, she confesses that it ‘works like a charm’, and states that Apple never fails to rock the psychology behind the fear of loss. Like most trendy things to come along or evolutionary milestones, the arrival of the Internet as a marketing tool is neither good nor bad. What really matters is how it’s used in the right (or wrong!) hands, and whether we, as consumers, are smart enough to look past the smoke and mirrors to make the choices that truly benefit us. Just remember: education is vital in all things; even if you think you’re already being educated, it never hurts to turn the page and find out a little more.

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fashionbuzz by rachel fong

Outerwear and Cover-ups

november 2015

Wrap!

It’s A

While our country remains immune to the charms of fall and winter (pffft… geography, am I right?!), it doesn’t stop the giddy shoppers among us from searching high and low for outerwear to carry us through the seasons, especially if we’re jetting off somewhere colder for the holidays. Better yet, options are aplenty, from your classic trenches to less conventional sequin embellished coats. Of course, coverage is crucial in all things, so even if it’s a summer locale, you would still need your lighter parkas and kimonos to keep the sun from getting to you. Thinking ahead, we’ve accounted for both kinds of getaways, and now present to you the coolest + hottest (puns totally intended) outerwear for the upcoming months.

Sequin Embellished Jacket, approx. RM490.15, H&M

Belted Trench Coat, approx. RM346.52, H&M

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Sheer Parka, RM39, F Block, fblock.com.my


Disney Project Ultra Light Down Compact Jacket, RM249, Uniqlo, uniqlo.com/my

Textured Knit Long Cardigan, RM65, Something Borrowed, zalora.com.my

Waterfall Front Parka Jacket, RM329, Topshop, my.topshop.com

Printed Fringe Kimono Cardigan, RM99, Something Borrowed, zalora.com.my

Fluffy Yarn Fleece Long Sleeve Coat, RM149.90, Uniqlo, uniqlo.com/my


campuscouture

Spotlight on ESMOD KL

november 2015

Models line up on the runway to showcase the designs

The

Grand Cultural Mish Mash

1

70 years – that’s how long ESMOD International, one of the world’s premier fashion schools, has been around for, and represented the milestone celebrated during the ESMOD International Fashion Show 2015. Malaysia was chosen as the proud host this year, with Pavilion Kuala Lumpur selected as the venue. When asked about the reason behind Malaysia as the host, the President of ESMOD International Group, Mr. Satoru Nino said, “As a multicultural country, Malaysia offers a very rich cultural experience especially from the Chinese, Indians and Malays. This could be very useful to foreign fashion students.” The decadent event hosted over 400 guests, with a glittering list of attendees that spanned students and professors from ESMOD schools around the world, celebrities and other respected guests. All in all, there were 22 schools from 15 countries that showcased their best and brightest talents that night, in the form of stunning collections that stemmed from each nation’s culture. More than 180 garments, from

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Scott Tian Yung Han (middle) accepts the Golden Needle Award from Mr. Satoru Nino (right) and Mr. Tatsun Hoi (left)


A design from ESMOD KL

A design from ESMOD Istanbul

A design from the ESMOD Tokyo Batik apparel for the Modern Batik Fashion Competition 2015

A design from ESMOD Berlin’s menswear collection

France, Japan, Indonesia to name a few, were paraded down the runway, featuring a myriad of elements like animals, insects and Goth culture to keep the audience enthralled throughout the night. A homage was also paid to the host country in the form of the Modern Batik Fashion Competition 2015, where students from 16 of ESMOD’s schools in Bordeaux, Osaka, Rennes, Seoul and so on, competed for the best Batikmotif designs. The high point of the night, however, came in the form of the Golden Needle Award prize presentation. The accolade was bestowed upon a pupil of ESMOD KL, 21-year-old Scott Tian Yung Han, who became the new recipient of an authentic golden needle fashioned into a necklace by none other than Mr. Satoru Nino himself. Closing the night was a spirited performance from 24 Festival Drums, which lent the evening’s events a touch of traditional Chinese culture.

A jeweled sweater top from ESMOD Roubaix


feature by jessica chaw

never leave home without it

November 2015

My Makeup Bag MustHaves Blogger Jessica Chaw shares with us the makeup essentials that she cannot leave home without.

I

have an intense love for cosmetics and I have this strong desire to buy a new makeup product each time I visit Sephora. I take whimsical pleasure in exploring the depths of makeup, how different products work on my face and sharing the good ones with my readers. As my makeup bag is not as big as my cosmetics drawer, I have to sort out a few of the essentials and keep them in my makeup bag, which I bring with me everywhere I go! So here are the staples that you will to find if you raid my makeup bag.

Jessica Chaw is a blogger with

Follow her at www.jessica-chaw.com and www.instagram.com/jessicachaw


1) Lipstick (Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Sheer Shine Lipstick) Lipsticks are definitely my musthave product in my makeup bag. Lipsticks give me hope, as they bring life to my pale lips. I carry at least 2 lipsticks in the bag because if one goes missing, I still have another one to save my day!

5

2

1

2) Powder (Laneige

3

3) Cream

blusher

6

I love cream blushers because I can apply them easily using only my fingers! I love the Canmake cream cheek blusher because it adds an instant radiance to my complexion. Wearing it just makes me feel passionate.

makeup remover and cotton pads (Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover)

4) Mascara (Urban Mascaras can instantly open up my eyes and make me look more awake and fresh. I always

(Clinique Even Better City Block Anti-Pollution SPF40/PA+++)

6) Travel-sized

(Canmake Cream Cheek Blusher)

Decay Perversion Mascara)

5) Sunscreen

Sunscreen is the most basic product that one must have in her makeup bag. Some of my friends don’t wear makeup at all, but I always advise them to at least put on some sunscreen before stepping out of the house. Sunscreen is proven to prevent skin cancer as well as defeat women’s worst enemy – wrinkles!

BB Cushion) The Laneige BB cushion gives me happiness. Not only does it moisturize my skin but makes it look dewy, bright and flawless. The best thing about it is that it can always give my makeup a fix anytime I want.

make sure I bring one with me so that I can always give my lashes a few sweeps, anytime I want.

4

You will never know when your eyeliner or mascara will smudge. My lids are rather oily, so my eyeliner and mascara smudge easily, especially during a hot sunny day. My travel-sized makeup remover always comes to the rescue when my eyeliner or mascara smudges!


beautybuzz by rachel fong

I

Ringgit Saving Beauty Products

november 2015

n these trying times of economic strife, it might seem harder than ever to get your make-up A-game on, especially with the effects of currency exchange rates spilling over to our beloved imported make-up. Thankfully, drugstore brands are there to save the day! Chains like Watsons and Guardian are stocked to the brim with cosmetic labels from the US, UK, Japan and more, and some of them can even trump costlier brands for a fraction of the price. Let’s not forget about some Malaysian make-up brands that are not only extremely affordable, but also formulated perfectly for our skin’s needs and wants. Here, we’ve taken the guesswork and research out of the equation for you, and put together a must-have list of additions to your beauty armory – and you won’t need to break the bank for them, either.

Miacare Acne Defense Concealer, RM24.90

Going beyond masking imperfections, this concealer stick penetrates the skin barrier to deliver natural mineral particles which clear acne from within. The particles originate from olive leaves, which eliminates the dreaded breakout by removing excess sebum. Don’t mistake it for a harsh agent though; this is supremely gentle on the skin. As a plus point, its stick form makes it easy to tote around and apply on the go.

Collection Cosmetics Fast Stroke Eyeliner, RM23.76 Said to be one of the UK brand’s cult products, this deceptively simple looking eyeliner excels with a fine felt tip nib that enables precision lining. It’s also easy to wield, so you can alternate between thin and bold lines, especially when you’re trying to nail that all too crucial cat-eye wing. Thanks to its lasting power, you don’t have to worry about reapplying either, even if you’re out and about for most of the day.

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For Un


Bourjois Healthy Balance Compact Powder, RM41.85

Originating from France, Bourjois is one of those brands that – for lack of better words – looks expensive but isn’t that pricey at all. Described as a ‘unifying powder that evens out your complexion and boosts your radiance’, it gets its ‘Healthy Balance’ branding from its Asian fruit therapy formula, which moisturizes dry areas while absorbing excess oil at the same time. We like that it can stay on for up to 10 hours, yet feels lightweight on your skin, almost as if it’s not even there.

Revlon Powder Blush, RM39.76

For a natural flush of color that’s highly blendable, we always gravitate towards Revlon’s Powder Blush. Equipped with a compact brush, it benefits from a soft, silky texture that glides across your cheek with ease. Despite being in powder form, it doesn’t fade easily, thus ensuring you get that just-workedout glow all day long. Variety is also one of its strong suits, seeing as it is available in nine shades that range from warm to cool tones. One of its shades, Bronzilla can double as a bronzing powder as well.

Maybelline New York Volum’ Express Hypercurl Black, RM31.68 Wet ‘n’ Wild CoverAll Cream Foundation, RM29.50 While it’s not technically a drugstore product since it is sold in SaSa outlets, Wet ‘n’ Wild products deserve a mention on this list for their great value for money. Despite its creamy texture, it feels practically weightless on the skin and can be built up to turn the coverage from sheer to medium. The result is skin with a silky, semi-matte finish that resembles your own skin, without the sizeable pores and uneven, dull complexion.

It goes without saying that Maybelline makes some of the most kickass mascaras, and the Hypercurl in Black is one of its classics. Its Instant VolumeBuilding Express Formula makes volumizing eyelashes a cinch, and if you’re worried about spidery lashes, don’t, because the patented Curved Anti-Clump Brush separates them out into a nice fan-like shape. Being waterproof, it also stands the test of time – or rather, day – and can last up to 18 hours.

s e v a H t s Mu

0 5 M R r e nd

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beautycase compiled by rachel fong

november’S BEAUTY PICKS

november 2015

Laneige Lucky Holiday Makeup Palette Price Unavailable As a way of greeting the holidays, Laneige has introduced a limited edition Lucky Holiday Makeup Palette, which comes with some of its bestsellers in festive colors. In the palette, you can make your holiday look come to life with two shades of the Pure Radiant Shadow, two Lip Gels, one Nail Polish and a fun Nail and Body Sticker set. As a nod to the palette’s Lucky theme, it is emblazoned in poker card colors of red, black and white. Available at all Laneige boutiques and counters

L’Oreal Paris False Lash Miss Manga Mascara RM39.90

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette RM199 Thanks to the Holy Grail status of the Naked palettes that came before this, the Naked Smoky Palette was greeted with enthusiastic fanfare, from bloggers and YouTubers to just about every beauty aficionado. Finally, a new Naked palette that would bring the most seductive of smoky eyes to life! Created for both newbies and eyeshadow experts, the palette comes with a look book that contains step-by-step instructions, as well as a double-ended brush for seamless application. Choose from a dozen sultry neutral shades – from matte to satin to sparkling finishes. Available in Sephora outlets nationwide

Created with the Japanese baby doll look in mind, the latest lash curling wonder from L’Oreal is Asian-oriented in every way as it targets straight, sparse lashes. As it is formulated with collagen spheres and polymers and comes with a precise wand, it is able to latch on to every lash and give it that much needed lift. It’s a curl that lasts too – for up to 24 hours, no less, and even stays sweat-proof for 12 hours. The result is visibly lifted lashes with a significant amount of volume, and brighter, bigger eyes by extension. Available at Watsons and Guardians outlets nationwide

Belif The True Tincture Mask – Chamomile 50ml RM120 A lot of skincare products may be made with chamomile, but how many of them contain actual chamomile petals? The True Tincture Mask is a wash off natural herb mask with a chamomile-enriched transparent gel cream base, and works to instantly soothe and heal tired skin. Apart from its ultra-natural ingredients, it is also free of synthetic preservatives and dyes. To use, all you need to do is apply a thin layer after cleansing and toning, then rinse off after 10 to 15 minutes. Available at Sunway Pyramid and IOI City Mall

OPI Starlight Collection RM74.20 Coming to light up your manicures this year end is the latest, 18-colour strong collection from OPI, which is inspired by constellations in the night sky. Featuring new finishes and textures, the shades range from rich jewel tones to glitters, and even come with Swarovski crystal and metallic embellishments to give them that extra nighttime spark. Available in both nail lacquer and GelColor formulas, they bear OPI’s trademark punny names such as By the Light of the Moon, Is This Star Taken, Infrared-y to Glow and Celess-tial is More. Available at Colour Culture OPI Nail Bars, OPI kiosk and leading nail, beauty, hair salons and spa centers


selection of New Products

NOVEMBER 2015

offtheshelf

Asience Hair Spa Therapy Enjoy a luxurious hair spa experience in the comfort of your home with this series’ specially formulated Hair Beauty Serum that crystalizes the benefits of six natural ingredients into a single serum. Its Hair Beautifying Technology repairs hair fibers and increases the renewal and regeneration process of hair keratin. There are two variants – Inner Rich Shampoo & Conditioner for dry hair, and the Nature Smooth Shampoo & Conditioner for oily hair. Available in AEON, AEON Wellness and Watsons at a recommended retail price of RM23.10 (200ml) and RM34.80 (480ml).

Baby Foot Easy Pack Bid farewell to tired, overworked feet with rough soles and laced with dead skin and say hello to your new feet caretaker! Containing Fruit Acid and 17 other types of natural extracts yielding high moisturizing power that penetrates into layers of dead skin cells, Baby Foot Easy gets those pesky dead skin cells to peel off naturally. Want soft, baby-skin like feet? Get yourself a few packs at all Watsons, AEON Wellness and Sasa stores nationwide at RM54.90. For more information, visit www.tokyoninki.com.

Purevivi Cleansing Lotion Save money and space with the Purevivi Cleansing Lotion as it can be used as a cleanser, make-up remover and moisturizer that soothes stressed skin. This water-based 4-in-1 multipurpose cleansing lotion contains Kidachi Aloe, a type of plant widely used in Japan for its healing, nourishing and soothing effects. Moreover, it contains nine different natural ingredients to hydrate and cleanse your skin effectively. Get yourself a bottle now at all Watsons stores nationwide at a recommended retail price of RM48.90. Log on to www.tokyoninki. com for more details.

Toms Bag Collection Since its launch in 2006, Toms has revolutionized the way we shop with its ‘One for One’ commitment – every Toms’ product purchased goes toward helping a person in need. Now, bags join their lineup and philosophy. Purchases of Toms bags provide funds to their giving partners to help support training for local birth attendants, along with many vital equipment needed to help women deliver their babies safely. Three distinct categories are offered – artisan, travel-inspired and campus & tech. Visit www.toms.com or www.facebook.com/toms to find out how you can improve someone’s life.

Meadow Gold Indulgence Collection Treat yourself to the Meadow Gold Indulgence Collection, which comes in new gourmet flavors made with real dairy and authentic high quality ingredients. The four delectable variants are Bold Chocolate Decadence, Delectable Caramel Pecan, Heavenly Macadamia and Lush Red Velvet. Packaged in 750ml tubs, each retails at RM21.90 and is available at major supermarkets and hypermarkets in West Malaysia. For more information, visit www.meadowgold.my. CAMPUS PLUS |

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feature by rowena jo fernandez

Stop wasting money

November 2015

Moneys r e t s a w

Life is great until reality catches up with us and we realise we’re empty in our pockets and low in our bank accounts. Here are how money wasters infiltrate our lives without us realising it.

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ike many of you out there, the increase in cost of living (thank you GST and inflation!) and decrease of our valuable ringgit is painful. This is a somewhat nice way of saying, “I work hard and want to play hard but life is expensive and towards the end of the month, instant noodles and the TV series marathons become our best friends” because let’s face it, it’s easier to save money at home and adult-ing didn’t come with a blank cheque. Even more so, we have to make sure that the consumption decisions we make will help us stretch our ringgit all the further. Here are five top money-wasters and how to counter it:

1. Cable TV

Before horror strikes you, take a minute to think about it. Every other household is subscribed to Cable TV service such as Astro, with too many channel packages that goes unwatched. Save your RM100 plus a month and enjoy cheaper alternatives.

Counter this: While you may or may not assume we’re suggesting illegal downloads, we’d actually like to introduce you to the Malaysian version of Nextflix called, iFlix. It allows a one-month free trial, after which the monthly subscription is only RM8 a month and comes with a wide variety of movies & TV series of varying genres and age suitability.


2. Dining Out

As eating is a pastime in Malaysia, there is no doubt that the food scene is a booming industry with brunch cafes, burger joints, hipster eateries and a plethora of restaurants opening on a weekly basis all over the city.

Counter this: Instead of eating out with your friends, stretch your dollar and enjoy picnics, pot luck dinners and put aside a set budget to try new dining places. We know, we know, the temptation to indulge in ice-cream and waffles for the third time this week is STRONG.

3. Gym and fitness classes

With intense eating comes intense weight and the need to fight it off and work towards a healthy and wholesome lifestyle will be undoubtedly strong. However, this is only true if your willpower is stronger because some of us pay for gyms and utilize the sauna more than the equipment [Guilty! Jeng jeng jeng]. Counter this: Forget the expensive gym fees and scour the internet for exercise videos and programs. Better yet, grab a buddy and plot out a schedule that switches up between workouts at home and in the great outdoors. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a hike up Bukit Gasing or going for a jog along the MPSJ track, it’s healthy, great for the soul and most importantly, free.

4. Online Shopping

This one is a true killer, time and time again. I know too many of us are guilty of spending way too much time on online shopping sites, often picking up items you wouldn’t have a need for. This is especially true when online sites offer fabulous discounts, voucher codes and the likes of it. If you don’t have the time and energy to hit the mall and purchase it, then chances are, you don’t really need it.

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Counter this: If you must shop, allocate a budget and learn to bargain hunt. Shop during festive periods and keep an eye out for good sales. The danger of online shopping is that you often spend with your credit card and buy more than necessary. Ugh, terrible!

5. Drinks

We all love a good night out but when you’re trying to save, entertainment drinks is a big money waster.

Counter this: Instead of hitting high-end speakeasies, try a house party with duty-free liquor and wine, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll be saving. nov 2015 | CAMPUS PLUS |

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guysstuff by rachel fong

This Is Denim

november 2015

Like the Cool Kids

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mbitious and audacious, Topman’s latest campaign ‘This Is Denim’ announces its purpose as straightforwardly as one possibly can. For this Autumn/Winter season, the menswear label has latched onto the comeback of denim, and is introducing its biggest collection yet, celebrating the classic fabric. Combining classics such as the ‘Stretch Skinny’ with new fits such as the Japanese inspired ‘Wide Leg Crop’ and ‘70s Kick Flare’, there is undoubtedly a pair for everyone in this range. The ‘Wide Leg Crop’, being one of the newbies, is naturally one of the most hyped about. Derived from Japanese streetwear, it has a wider cut, is rolled at the hem and made in raw rigid denim for an edgy look. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is a denim chino, which creates a more relaxed and contemporary silhouette. For the traditional types, the line also includes a ‘Standard Fit’ which – duh – comes in a straight leg. You can also expect a range of selvedge

jeans which come in washes like rich indigo, coated cobalt blue and stone wash. Of course, denim doesn’t stop at jeans, which is why the campaign also showcases brace dungarees and bibs. Made in a utilitarian fashion, the dungarees come in a durable black twill and are embellished with light fading and minor tears at the knees. In the tops department, you can look forward to denim jackets and shirts that have been updated with contemporary cuts and silhouettes. Extending beyond the racks, the campaign has also resulted in every Topman outlet having a designated denim expert to walk customers through the full collection. For a fun twist on proceedings, you can spin the Denim Roulette to see which denim piece you ought to try on. Purchasing a single denim garment will entitle you to a 15% discount, while purchasing two will entitle you to 20% off. You can also pick up a copy of Topman AW15 Zine: The Denim Issue in stores.



careerchat by grace chan

THE NEW VOICE OF JENN - Y?

NOVEMBER 2015

“Kecil-kecil cili padi” is just the perfect catchphrase to sum up the ever-endearing “Crazy Bra Lady”, Jenn Chia.

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hile you might recognize the 24-year-old lass from her downright hilarious YouTube videos, you may not know that Jenn had recently been charming her way into the hearts of TV viewers as an 8TV Quickie host. Despite juggling a hectic schedule, we managed to have a quickie with her (not that kind!) as we got up close and personal with the talented entertainer.

Campus Plus: Thank you for having a career chat with us, Jenn. First off, please tell us more about yourself. enn Chia: I’m the kind of person who will ask you unorthodox-first-meeting questions like, “Have you been happy?” and actually mean it. I think in far too many occasions, people forget what makes them happy, or what happiness means to them. In this way, stories excite me. Connecting with people excite me. This is probably why I do what I do. I make YouTube videos about people and our everyday lives, I write songs and sing about the transitory impulses we call emotions and lately, I also started hosting the 8TV Quickie Show where I have the blissful chance to connect with people through a different medium.

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C+: What is the story behind your YouTube channel? J: It started with a simple concept: narcissism peppered with self-doubt. It all happened when I was in college; I doubted my songwriting and singing abilities, which oddly led to a narcissistic need to film myself on the piano while singing the first song I’ve ever written. The video was then uploaded on YouTube with the purpose of gaining feedback to clear my doubts and to improve by constructive criticisms. Swiftly, words of encouragement poured in and I found myself doing more videos of my originals as well as cover songs. Singing then led to talking, where I started speaking into the camera about my observations of people. C+: From ‘That Crazy Bra Lady’ to ‘Types of People at IKEA’, you have been consistently producing funny, witty and yet surprisingly truthful videos. Where is all this inspiration coming from? J: People. I love people-watching but in the non-creepiest way possible, I swear. I enjoy paying attention to the way we communicate. It never fails to tickle and yet fascinate me at the same time.

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C+: Realistically speaking, many wonder if YouTube stars can actually make a living. As a fulltime YouTuber, can you share with us your two cents? J: Being a YouTuber had indeed opened up many channels for me to meet different people from different industries, and this subsequently gave birth to many work opportunities. There were brands like Hotlink, Dominos, and Shu Uemura that approached me to conceptualize and produce videos for them. It is also because of YouTube that I had the opportunity to work with 8TV Quickie. I suppose it all boils down to what “making a living” means, what is enough for you, and what you are willing to sacrifice to do things out of love instead of fear. C+: You’re also a singer-songwriter. How did you get started with singing and creating music? J: Growing up, it was mandatory for me to learn an instrument that was “predestined” for me and it turned out to be piano. Coupled with my love for poems and the beauty of language, it felt like the next step I should venture into is songwriting. I wrote mainly sappy breakup songs at first (because nothing fueled me more than heartbreaks… just ask Taylor Swift. AHAHA), but as I acquired a richer life experience, my music took to more in-depth themes like “friend zone,” happiness, death, and making a positive change in life. C+: What has been your biggest challenge as a musician? J: Sometimes, I tend to forget why I perform. I get caught up by noticeable details such as the quality of the speakers, the crowd’s reactions, the attire I happened to be wearing and with just about anything but the message that I intended to deliver. More often than not, it also disrupts my intention to connect with the audience. C+: On a lighter note, can you share with us your favorite joke/punch line? J: I enjoy food too much, so the only way to not expand horizontally is to voluntarily work out and sweat like there is no tomorrow. So my favorite punchline is ‘Train like a beast to eat like a king’. C+: What advice do you have for people who want to take their passion in producing YouTube videos (pssst… especially for girls) or music one step further? J: Ask yourself, “What is the worst that can happen?” and then hit that “upload” button. Be sure to catch Jenn on the 8TV Quickie (every other day) at 11.30pm and follow her on her YouTube channel at SoImJenn. 48

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www weirdwackyworld

our eccentric world

November 2015

Bathrooms with Adolf Hitler Erotic Mannequins Reincarnated?

Donning the signature toothbrush mustache with jet black hair slicked to one side, a Kosovan man, Emin Djinovci believes he is the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler, the dictator to whom he bears a striking and eerie resemblance to. Djinovci even carries copies of Hitler’s hate-filled autobiography, Mein Kampf wherever he travels. Perhaps it’s all just a coincidence but the Hitler look-alike once left Germany for Kosovo in 1998 to fight for secession from Serbia. “It is easy. I find myself in Hitler’s character because he fought against my enemy. Enemy of my enemy is my friend. Yes, Serbs are my enemies; I make no bones about that.”

Faced by a (rather) scantily-clad mannequin gazing back at you, this is not your average everyday trip to the chamber pot. An eccentric restaurant in Taiyan, China has taken on the challenge of jazzing up its toilet by mounting a string of female figures around the urinals. Dressed to thrill, visitors to the lavatory are greeted with mannequins who are more than eager to flaunt their figure-hugging pink dress with stockings, revealing skirts with yellow croptop as well as a see-through pale dress.

fact: Some male customers started nitpicking on the practicality of the bizarre installation claiming that the realistic-looking models disturb their urinating process due to the overly sexy appearance.

fact: The Fuhrer reboot earns his living as a Hitler look-alike by charging tourists roughly US$90 (a mind-blowing RM384!) for a photograph with him.

Bored with Body Art? How about Teeth Tattoo! It seems pretty evident by now that people have apparently run out of places to ink their bodies and are now turning to their teeth. Dubbed as “tatteeth”, the tooth tattoos are emerging as a trend as more people seek to decorate their mouths with images of their favorite things; from football team logos, cartoon characters to messages dedicated to a loved one (for real!). The downer is tattoos can’t yet be applied to healthy teeth and therefore can only be done on those who require dental crowns. If you are a fan of body art but aren’t gutsy enough for the pain, this could be your viable option.

fact: A dental stain tattoo costs only between US$75 (RM320) to US$200 (RM860) and is no more painful that just having a typical crown fitted. JAN 2015 | CAMPUS PLUS |

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wiredup

plug into the future of tech

november 2015

Razer Diamondback The iconic gaming mouse from Razer gets the latest updates. Retaining the superior build ethos that made the previous iteration the gaming mouse of choice by pro eSports athletes, the new Diamondback retains the slim, ambidextrous design that gives both left- and right-handed players an equally comfortable grip in a highly mobile form factor. Likewise for the strategically placed side buttons. New rubberized grip pads provide more control and coupled with its 16,000 DPI sensor, makes the Diamondback unmatched in tracking accuracy, no matter your style of play. And did we mention that the customizable Chroma lighting lets you choose from a whopping 16.8 million colors? Retails at US$89.99 (approx. RM395). www.razerzone.com/gaming-mice/ razer-diamondback

SanDisk Extreme 900 Looking for a speedy portable SSD for your 4K videos, high-res images or large graphic files? Then look no further than SanDisk’s Extreme 900. Touted the world’s fastest line of Type C-based portable SSD, the drive boasts lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 850MB/s, instantly reducing wait times and allows you to access and share important data in mere seconds. Rest assured, your data is safe and secure wherever you go, thanks to its compact, durable aluminum case. Storage capacity comes in 480GB, 960GB and 1.92TB capacities at the price of RM2,119, RM3,199 and RM5,299 respectively. www.sandisk.com

ASUS ZenFone Selfie Brand spanking new, the ZenFone Selfie (ZD551KL) from Asus promises amazing selfies and fun within a feature-packed and elegantly cased smartphone. Boasting a 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD IPS display, the viewing experience is second to none. It operates on a brand new Asus ZenUI and Android Lollipop that complements the phone’s competent hardware to give users an intuitive and smooth experience. The killer feature is the 13MP cameras both front and rear – offering a plethora of image and video capture goodies from selfie panorama, real time beautifications to HDR and Night modes. Retails for RM1,049. www.asus.com/my/

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Samsung Galaxy Note5 Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Note line gets some brand spanking new upgrades. Not content on being the pioneers of the big screen smartphone (phablet, if you will) market with its original Galaxy Note in 2011, the new Note5 boasts of an incredibly powerful processor, the latest fast wireless or wired charging tech and an increase of 4GB of RAM. Its design, derived from its Galaxy S6 brother, is sleek and ergonomic with a narrower bezel and curved back, the better to fit into one hand. The icing is the all-new S Pen that’s more solid and balanced in the user’s hand, offering unparalleled writing capability and a variety of practical tools. Retails for RM2,699. www.samsung.com.my

JVC Xtreme Xplosives The HA-SR50X around-ear headphones comes under JVC’s popular Xtreme Xplosives range and has largerthan-normal driver units – 40mm to be precise – for larger than life bass. A padded headband and soft, cushy earpads provide hours of comfort while you listen to your rocking tunes. It’s compatible with most smartphones and rocks a thick and robust 1.2m pure copper cord that ends in a gold plated 3.5mm slim plug. An all-black polymer design completes the headphone’s look. Price unavailable. www.jvc.net/my

GoGear GPS1600 Nicknamed the Sound Cannon, this wireless portable speaker is great for blasting out your favorite playlist, whenever and wherever. Bluetooth 3.0 equipped, the speaker is compatible across a range of devices – from your smartphone and tablet to laptops. Max range is up to 10m and with a play time of three hours, the Sound Cannon is bound to entertain you for hours on end. Includes a built-in mic that lets you shuffle between your music and calls with a simple touch of a button. Price unavailable. www.my-gogear.com/

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wiredup by stephen kheng

Philips BT5580

november 2015

Portable

Boom Box Philips BT5580

Remember the shoulder-wielded boom boxes of the 80s? Well, say hello to its updated 21st century iteration – the Philips BT5580 portable speaker. Design Square with rounded edges and a handle carved into its upper body, the BT5580 resembles a mini handbag/tote. The form is simple and functional, plus it’s lightweight (about 1.2kg) – making it easy to carry around like an additional accessory. Gone is the clunky boom box design of yesteryear that weighed a ton. The speaker grills are on the front, and two rubber strips at the base to anchor the unit to the surface when it’s positioned upright. A USB port and 3.5mm port is located by the side (more on the USB port later). Three buttons occupy the top – the power, Bluetooth pairing and call buttons. An old school volume dial is located on the top right corner, obviously a throwback to analog radio designs.

Features & Performance We encountered our first functionality plus point with the power button itself. It’s smart and power saving because it turns the unit off if there’s no connection or music playback from an external device after 15 minutes. Next up was the pairing of the music source to the speaker via Bluetooth or NFC. We went the NFC route as it was much easier, just tapping the two devices together got things started. The audio quality was pleasantly rich, and the streaming was smooth. It’s even better if your smartphone supports aptX and AAC Bluetooth, because the BT5580 supports these technologies, which yield better sound fidelity and ‘CD-like quality’. Bluetooth connectivity and range is good too – up to 10m before any connection breakup is experienced. Because 54

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it sports a decently big 3-inch woofer and ¾-inch tweeter cranking at an output of 10W, we expected the speaker to be LOUD. And we weren’t disappointed. Which means the speaker is a great companion for pool parties. It feels right at home playing in open spaces, though we do feel that it’s bass-biased. If your music taste is in bass-heavy tunes, then this speaker gets full marks. Trebles and mids are sometimes drowned out when played at loud volumes, but overall, track details come out sounding crisp and clear. Concerning the USB port, it’s a nifty functionality trick as the speaker also doubles as a charging device for your other devices. Another party trick is using the 3.5mm audio-in port to charge your phone while simultaneously playing music from it through the BT5580, all through a single port. The speaker’s two built-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries only require the occasional charging up depending on usage. For straight up music playing, it provides enough juice for eight hours of untethered and cable free tune-playing time. There’s even a built-in mic for maxing out your phone conversation convenience.

Conclusion Sound-wise, the BT5580 is a lively beast. It’s made to play music loud and clear, so rock and EDM fans are sure to have a blast rocking to their fave playlists on this speaker. It scores high marks on the functionality report card too, with a variety of thoughtful bits shining through – from its portability, ease of use and

GOLD

NOVEMBER 2015

super smooth streaming to its ability to pull double duty as a charging station for other devices. So, if you have the burning desire to reignite the boomNOVEMBER box trend2015 of the past, this is the right box to do it with.

Specifications •

Speaker drivers: 3-inch woofer, ¾-inch tweeter

Output power: 10W

Connectivity: Bluetooth, NFC, Audio-in (3.5mm)

Supports AAC music playback and Bluetooth aptX streaming

Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (x2)

Maximum range up to 10m

• Play time of up to eight hours.


COLORFUL AUTUMN VIEWING

NOVEMBER 2015

anime by ivy chin

r o F l o Too Co

! l o o h c S Summer has ended and fall is here, leaving us with a number of awesome anime shows that could probably be the best of the year! We are passionately fond of school-life themed anime as they usually spice up the mundane and boring school-life that most of us had or are in the midst of soldiering through. So, check out our picks for this month that have exceeded our expectations and left us with a zest for the season.

Aoharu x Machinegun (Aoharu x Kikanjuu)

School-Live! (Gakkou Gurashi!)

After a series of misunderstandings, Tachibana Hotaru, a high-school girl cross-dressing as a boy finds herself joining a survival game. Without realizing her latent talent, skills and passion that she has towards this type of game, she forms a team to challenge in the competition. And her teammates are… Masamune Matsuoka, a shady stranger standing (or was he stalking?) outside of her apartment and Yukimura Tooru, the perverted erotic-manga artist. Through a strange chain of events, the trio decided from just making up the numbers to becoming the best team in Japan. Would Masamune and Yukimura realize that Hotaru is a girl one day? Would they be able to become the best team in Japan? Watch it and see for yourself!

Are you ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride? Don’t be fooled by these kawaii girls and expect this to be a normal school life anime. Believe it or not, these girls are actually the sole survivors in their school after a zombie apocalypse. In hopes that someone will come to rescue them, they form the School Life Club to keep themselves alive and functioning. But when the number of crazy-assed zombies gets greater and greater by the day, danger lurks in every corner, and sometimes the best laid plans just aren’t good enough.

Charlotte In an alternate world, a small percentage of children possess the ability to develop supernatural powers upon reaching puberty. For Otosaka Yuu, his is the ability to temporarily possess others and manipulate them into living a “normal” school life. However, his ability has been noticed by Tomori Nao, another child endowed with supernatural powers. In order to protect Otosaka from being caught by nefarious scientists and being used as lab rats, Tomori finds and approaches him. Together, they become allies and set out to look for other supernaturally gifted children. Their journey entails uncertainties, hardship as well as fun and excitement.

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chowdown by sherelyn goh

Modern eats

november 2015

Fabulous fusion food

Yin & Yang

Ruyi & Lyn turn it up a notch with standout dishes to whet the appetite

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hen you first step into Ruyi & Lyn in Bangsar Shopping Centre, the first thing that you’d probably realize is that it doesn’t look like a restaurant but rather, a lounge and club. But don’t be deceived by appearances, the dimly-lit setup allows for some pretty intimate dining, so it’s great for dates (hint hint). There’s even a runway as you walk in, and a stage right in front of the dining area. And diners who want a private setting can book one of the restaurant’s private rooms with its glass windows. But onto the more important thing: the food. Beginning with the very Instagrammable Ruyi’s Sushi (RM43), its unique combination of Hainanese chicken rice, nasi lemak and mango sticky rice, all on one plate, is one of the venue’s signature dishes that you just have to try.

Bikini Island

Pagoda of Dreams

Fantasy Flight

Chocolate Embrace

The Hainanese chicken rice sushi has a ginger flavor to the grains and is topped off with a slice of chicken breast and a dollop of fragrant, garlicky chili paste that ties the mouthful you get, together. The nasi lemak sushi also has all the elements of the traditional dish – sambal, peanuts, anchovies and tiny quail eggs on top of coconut rice, enveloped within a cucumber ribbon. Finally, kind of like a dessert, the mango sticky rice wraps things up with blue-tinted sticky rice and a slice of mango with coconut cream. A pretty well-rounded appetizer, we must say. Next, we tried two dishes with deliciously crispy coatings – the Bikini Island soft shell crab with a mint leaves dipping sauce (RM58) and the Krabi Chicken (RM38) with crunchy skin and a Thai-inspired sauce. The crab was golden perfection on the outside and juicy on the inside, with the mint and tamarind sauce bringing out its natural sweetness and not overwhelming it at all. We experienced the same thing with the chicken, finely matched with a sweet-andsour chili sauce. Another crisp offering was the Fantasy Flight (RM38), which is a vibrant tri-colored layering of purple and orange sweet potatoes with crispy duck and a side of coleslaw. It is a filling dish

as there is a generous portion of potatoes to fill you up, but it can get quite messy to eat as we found that once we used our knives and forks to get it down to bite-sized pieces, the filling falls apart. But apart from that, it is quite tasty when eaten with the house-prepared coleslaw, which is light on the dressing, and makes a good accompaniment. Finishing off the savory dishes was Ruyi & Lyn’s creative take on the Cantonese yee mee noodles. The Yin & Yang (RM38) is a dramatic dish of seafood vermicelli and egg noodles with a chunk of noodles presented standing upright on the plate. Once the eggy, starchy sauce is poured onto the noodles from a teapot, the noodles soften somewhat and the fresh and springy squid, prawns and fish beautifully tie it all together. For a sweet finish, we tried the Chocolate Embrace (RM28) – a warm chocolate lava cake with vanilla parfait, biscuit ‘soil’ and berry coulis. It might be a heavier ending compared to the usual Chinese tong sui but this is worth saving space for as the cake oozes rich chocolate sauce when cut in the middle, and is just the right level of bittersweet. Ruyi & Lyn also have competitive happy hour deals on drinks and a well-stocked bar, so if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Bangsar and just chill out in someplace quiet, their lounge is a great venue to do so. Ruyi & Lyn, Level 4, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur. https://www.facebook.com/ruyilyn


arts&culture by grace chan

gentlemen, get your ‘stache on!

NOVEMBER 2015

Real Mustaches for Real Issues

“Mo”: Australian slang for mustache and November’s the only month that you should look like Nick Offerman

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ut down the razor, hide those clippers away and trouble the barber no more. Yes, it’s that time of the year again and we are referring to the particularly hair-raising month of Movember (nope, that’s not a typo). While the hippie culture has made growing a ‘mo’ an all-year round fashion trend for men to sport bushy beards, goatees and designer stubble, not many are aware of the cultural movement behind it. Exactly 12 years since it first debuted (hey, it’s been ongoing for more than a decade), the month of November now brings with it one of the most original global movements in support of our health (in this case, men’s health). Movember, a combination of the words ‘mustache’ and ‘November’ swiftly took the world by storm as it became an initiative for collective awareness mobilizing thousands of men who for one month a year, could finally stop fretting and let their mustaches sprout wild.

Mo History

Over the decades, the mustache has evolved from a roughly cut block of hair in prehistoric times into what we can (safely) term today as a genuine work of fine art. Moustaches have theoretically been possible since flint razors were first fashioned around 30,000 B.C., although it remains unknown whether or not Stone Age man actually sported the first ever example of “bro-stache”.

What is known is that the oldest portrait showing a shaved man with a moustache is an ancient Iranian horseman from 300BC

The status of the mustache in society has enjoyed a long rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. Over the course of history, men with facial hair have been credited to various attributes from wisdom, sexual virility, and masculinity to manhood’s pride. Equally, the mustache has also fallen from its throne with its popularity dwindling for awhile - a result of being donned by a handful of least likeable characters (think Hitler, Genghis Khan and Stalin).

Long live the mighty mustache!

Rise of

Back in 2003, a group of friends in Australia decided that the mustache was too rarely spotted in public. In order to revive the scene, they initiated a game to bring back the long lost “mo’s”. The 30 men made a pact to let their mustaches grow and subsequently started to raise awareness for prostate and testicular cancer (two often ignored diseases that significantly affect men around the world). The initiative promptly became a worldwide phenomenon when the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) also hopped onboard by raising donations to tackle the awareness of prostate cancer. In 2004, the event flourished to 450 participants and together they raised US$4,300 (around RM18,425). If that figure fails to wow you, here’s the blow. As of last year, Movember has grown into a fullfledged annual event with 21 countries dotted around the world taking part in solidarity to raise a whopping US$109 million (RM469 million) - all for the noble effort of mobilizing vital funds towards cancer awareness.


Mo Bros and Mo Sistas

Who are they? Mo Bros are basically the male members who took a pledge to keep their mojo for the entire month of November.

How? The ‘cookie duster’ will serve the purpose of an ice breaker that’ll spark conversations about issues that affect men. But don’t be disheartened ladies, Movember is not just limited to guys – you too can play your part as a ‘Mo Sista’. A ‘Mo Sista’ essentially sums up the role of a woman who is devoted to support the ‘Mo Bros’ through

their mustache growing journey, be it a spouse, boyfriend, friend, colleague or family member. At the end of the month, it’s also traditional for ‘Mo Bros’ and ‘Mo Sistas’ to celebrate their awareness and fundraising efforts by throwing a Movember party.

Release your Inner “Mo” and Help Fight Cancer! The whole idea behind Movember is that participants sign up as donors and proceed to shave on the first of November. Generally, a ‘Mo Bro’ prefers to leave a mustache, but there are men who opt to go clean-shaven and sprout a beard instead. The catch is to not shave again until the first of December. Below are five steps how you can be a “Mo Bro”: 1. You must begin on the 1st of November with a clean-shaven face. 2. For the entire month, you will grow and groom a mustache. 3. Forget about joining the ‘mo’ to your sideburns, that’s considered to be a beard. 4. Forget about joining the handlebars to your chin, that’s considered to be a goatee. 5. A ‘Mo Bro’ conducts himself like a true gentleman. For the ladies, appoint yourself as a ‘Mo Sista’ and join in Movember by encouraging participation and lending your hand in raising funds. Also, don’t forget to flaunt your ’stache accessories! Since we’re already well into November, nudge a lad around your circle of friends to forgo his razor and become a Movember ‘Mo Bro’. If you are still sceptical on how to rock the look (yes, we have taken into account the Asian genes in us), check out our Guy’s Stuff feature on pomades that is sure to fill your pockets with bars of mustachioed gold.


wanderlust by jade yong

Honeymoon island

november 2015

Jeju, all set to charm CP editor Jade Yong, packed her bags for a whirlwind trip and traversed a land so pretty and mystical in a span of just four days. Here she list five ‘musts’ on a trip to Jeju Island, South Korea.

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rom cavernous hikes underground, to the peaks overlooking volcano craters; the interactive Alive Museum and creepy but quaint Grandfather Stone statues, there’s something for everyone on the honeymoon island of Jeju.

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Must-eat: The local Black Pork of Jeju Island

Being an avid foodie, one of the things I looked forward to was the local Black Pork of Jeju Island. Upon landing, the first chance we got to explore, we sought out Heuk Dwaeji Street, which is where all the famous black pork BBQ places are located. From Ocean Suites Jeju Hotel entrance, where we stayed, it was a short 10-minute walk down to the left.

We spotted McDonald’s, and I made a mental note to try their Bulgogi Burger later on (but alas, that’s not to be. That’s okay, I’ll come back to South Korea again I’m sure!). Heuk Dwaeji is one of the streets adjacent to McDonald’s and has a landmark arch over the street with a cute piggy on it. We went to one of the many restaurants along that row, and partook in the delicious local delicacy.


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Must get camera ready: Jungmun Tourist Complex

The Teddy Bear Museum, set in the middle of the Jungmun Tourist Complex, is probably best for families and those who love the more kawaii side of things. The name of the museum is pretty much selfexplanatory. There were all shapes, colors, and sizes of teddy bears doing all kinds of things, in all kinds of environments and scenarios. There are three main themes to the museum – History, Art and an outdoor area. Across from the Teddy Bear Museum is Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! and a decent-sized Starbucks for those who might be experiencing a frappucino withdrawal at this stage. We were then taken down the street to the Alive Museum. Here’s an experience which blows our own Penang 3D Trick Art Museum out of the water.

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The sheer space dedicated to all manner of selfies is staggering. There are five types of trick art photography to experience in the Alive Museum – objet art, digital art, trick art, sculpture art, and also Provence art (which I found misplaced and a tad strange). You’ll need at least two hours to go through all the pictures, and if you were to make it your mission to snap a photo at every single exhibit, you’d have to be prepared to spend your day there. When I walked in, I thought it was tacky, but some of my peers took pretty cool photos there, so I softened up as I went along. Again, the journey ends with a garden – which became my favorite part of the experience because I got to be outdoors, and the sculptures out there were pretty much… out there. Fun!

Must climb: Seongsan Ilchubong (Sunrise Peak)

Another one of my favorite parts of this whirlwind of a trip was the hike up Seongsan Ilchubong peak in Seogwipo. It’s a steep hike and rather crowded in August, but it’s green and the air is cool and crisp, and you’re generously rewarded by an amazing view of the coast and deep blue sea, the humbling volcano crater and the quaint city all at once. Even if you don’t make it to the top, a short trek down the stairs towards the water is worth the journey. If left to my own devices, I’d spend at least half a day there.

Perhaps bring some snacks, find a more secluded spot away from the higher traffic areas, enjoy a picnic, stretch out on the luscious green grass and read a book. You can have a snooze, play in the ankle deep water, and attempt to chat with the women free-divers of Jeju - one of Jeju’s three UNESCO World Natural Heritage attractions. These women are called haenyeo, and they represent the matriarchal structure of Jeju’s families.

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Must visit: Hallim Park

One of my favorite experiences on this short trip was Hallim Park where we enjoyed a ton of greenery, outdoor time and especially the amazing caves deep underground. Just outside of Hallim Park is Hyeopjae Beach, which gave us an amazing view of a lagoon. There were black lava rocks, set against pristine white sand and crystal clear waters. Inside Hallim Park, we quickly got organized. After a brief introduction to the park, we were taken through some beautifully landscaped gardens – Palm Tree Avenue and Wild Grass & Flower Garden – before we arrived at the caves. First was Hyeopjae Cave, and the second was Ssangyong Cave (no relation to the car brand!). Jeju Island, though humble in size, boasts the longest lava cave network in the world – Manjanggul Cave (more on this later). What makes these two caves geologically unique is the presence of stalagmites and stalactites in them, which are rarely found in lava caves. It gets cold in the caves, even in the middle of summer, so you’ll want to bring a jacket, wear pants and also footwear with rubber soles because the ground is wet and slippery in some spots.

In between Hyeopjae Cave and Ssangyong Cave was a garden full of ‘Grandfather statues’. These Grandfather stone statues, ‘dol hareubang’ in Korean, are like a mascot of Jeju island. They are symbols of protection and fertility (note its phallic silhouette, and no, that’s not a top hat he’s wearing!), and are placed outside gates of homes or places to protect the space and people inside from demons that jump between dimensions or worlds. They looked freaky at first, but after a day or two, they’ll grow (pun totally intended) on you like they did on me. Onwards to the 2.5 million-year-old Ssangyong Cave, which is even longer than Hyeopjae Cave. It may be all in my head, but it felt even colder than Hyeopjae Cave, and I immediately regretted not bringing a thick jacket and proper footwear. And out we came to a unique part of the gargantuan Hallim Park – to bonsai trees and stone sculptures. Then a quick round through Jae-Am Folk Village and a basic Bird Garden, which would be a hit with the kids.

5 This trip was sponsored by AirAsia X. AirAsia X flies between Kuala Lumpur and Busan four times weekly. For more images of Jade’s Jeju journey, go to campusplus.com.my.

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Must explore: Manjanggul Cave

Back to caves, Manjanggul Cave, while further out of town, is worth a visit. I dare say it’s even more spectacular than both Hyeopjae and Ssangyong caves. One of Jeju Island’s UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites, Manjanggul is 7km long, although only 1km is accessible.

Looking back, I’m surprised we managed to cram so much into four short days, after which, we were on a flight back to Busan, to catch a connecting flight back to KL via AirAsia X. The journey between KL and Busan isn’t long – just an additional hour compared to a car ride between KL and the docks to Langkawi.


It’s All About The $$$

campustalk

November 2015

What are your spending habits? It’s our ‘Wealth & Money’ issue this month, so CP takes to the campus of Swinburne University to question some students about how they spend, how they save, and what makes their world go round in spite of the cost.

Meher Khan, 19,

Mary Okorie, 19,

Computer Science

Computer Science

“I do get monthly pocket money, but I don’t really need to save so much because I’m still living with my parents. But I do save to buy things like clothes and accessories…. I buy a lot of clothes, but now I’m trying to control that. (Laughs)”

“I try and save on meals by sharing my meals with friends. On transportation to go home, (my housemates and I) will share a taxi home together. I’m not big on shopping, but I like playing Internet games, and sometimes I have to pay for them.”

Stefan Janssen, 31,

Usama Ashfaq, 23,

Media Design

Mechanical Engineering

“I save money by going to the food courts and small street kitchens that are more tasty and cheaper than restaurants. Also I don’t buy so much stuff, back in Germany you can use Amazon and buy things, but here (I mostly spend on) vacation and fun. Travel is my guilty pleasure (when it comes to) spending.”

“Sometimes I can manage my monthly budget; other times, not so much! (Laughs) I save money by not going to the expensive places. As a student here, we spend on entertainment, like the movies and shopping. When I go over budget, I make sure I spend less; I don’t eat outside, I cook more (at home).”

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r u o y e l ood d , d a e Go ah y!!! a w a boredom

HUMOUR

I hate this new toilet paper I just got. It’s tearable.

I want to get a job cleaning mirrors. It’s just something I can see myself doing.

Why was Skrillex banned from the kitchen? Because he kept making the beets drop.

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