The clouds, the sky

I didn’t realize I was going back Malaysia for the Qing Ming festival too.
From what I know, it’s a festival for ghosts. Sort of like Chinese New Year for
the departed. What those still alive do is pay a visit to the graves of their
ancestors, clean up if need, make food offerings and burn paper money and
stuff.


So I got dragged along but I didn’t mind it anyway. If memory serves me well,
this is the second time I’m visiting my mum’s grandparent’s and parent’s grave.
We left in the morning and finished around noon. I got sunburnt because I
refused to use the umbrella cos I wanted a bit of tan. Hell, people get sunburnt
at the beach but I get sunburnt at a cemetary. [X|]


Other than the festival, making my new Malaysian IC was a breeze. Just
collect my number ticket, photographer takes my digital photo, another takes my
digital thumbprints, confirm address, done.


Food is definitely more delicious in Malaysia. At my mum’s hometown (Lunas,
Kedah), we stopped by a small stall by the road for a plate of wanton noodles.
Mum says this stall is very famous and people come from far places just to eat
for their noodles are handmade. [XD]


A plate of wanton noodles here, slightly lesser than what you get in
Singapore, costs RM$2, which is slightly less than 1 Singapore dollar! Meh,
average tasting noodles at Maxwell food centre here costs S$3.00. [8|]


In Malaysia, I stayed with my mum’s sis at Sungai Petani, Kedah. There aren’t
much tall buildings here except for a few shopping malls. So it’s easy to get a
good glimpse of the sky.


Ever tried to grasp how huge and wide the sky is? I did and felt overwhelmed.
Things you see everyday are easily within your sight radius but not
the sky. It’s so huge it makes one feel helpless.

Seer’s!

Back to the game, I took 5 days to level both my white and black mage jobs to 29. Somehow my EXP parties decided to disband before I reach 30. Doesn’t really matter since I just want to be able to put on the Seer’s set and get rid of the ugly San d’Orian tunic and other low level mage equipment.


I bought part of my Seer’s set from this Galka’s bazaar back then. He was shouting about quitting the game and selling his stuff at dirt cheap prices. Bought the mitts, tunic, slacks for a price of 10,000gil only. The crown and pumps I had to get them myself later on.


Now that I’m done with my mage jobs, it’s time to set new goals. For my dark knight job, I need 1 more sniper ring and if possible, an amemit mantle+1. Total cost approximately 1.5 million gil. I have on-hand, measly 300,000gil. Probably visiting the mines again and try again to seek for a party this coming Sunday.


——


My thoughts of WHM and BLM to 29.


Levelling white mage at Valkurm Dunes was a little stressful. There’s a high possibility of having novice players in your party. But somehow I managed to survive from 16-29 without any deaths! But of course, I have members who die. Some because of goblin/bogy aggro, links, and 2 deaths because I couldn’t get Benediction activated for them in time. I just needed 1 more second!! ( T-T)


Overall I didn’t find playing white mage exciting. All the while I do repetitive stuff. Protectra! Shellra! Paralyze! Slow! Dia! Regen! Spam cures! Then rest and recover MP.


Black mage is the same for me. Shock! Blind! Blizzard, Fire, Thunder! Rest a tick for tanks to get a good amount of hate before getting up and start nuking again to kill it off.


To be safe and courteous, I crafted my own Pineapple Juice and put {Amateur} {White Mage/Black Mage} in my search comments to warn people before inviting me.


——


During the course of levelling both mage jobs, I got invited by Japanese players on a few occasions even when I’m not on seek and with empty search comments. It’s not surprising since both mage jobs are highly sought after and since it’s in the low levels, it’s not a big deal to lose exp through deaths.


While in JP PTs, I sometimes respond to sentences they say. Then when asked if I understand Japanese, I say “hai, sukoshii” (yes, a little), and they seemed glad. I still don’t understand how the Japanese players think of NAs but I’m quite sure getting an invitation into a Japanese party for higher levels like my 62 dark knight is near impossible. And don’t tell me about forming my own parties because I have received either rude or no response at all from Japanese players. Enough to discourage me from forming my own PTs forevermore.


And so, I whine! [X|]


——


Here’s screenshots of me in Seer’s set equipment. Low res because I took them at work and my PC in office sucks.


Seer's set
Love the markings and color scheme.


Seer's Set
Here’s one showing my new pants and shoes. [8|]

Motivation Lost

Hitting level 65 on DRK now feels like an impossible task, let alone 75. When I come home from work, the NAs are asleep or going off to school/work. The JPs would start forming their EXP PTs and I, stuck in the middle, end up idling at Lower Jeuno. By the way, and I learnt NA isn’t North American. It means Non-Asian. [8|]


So I went to level up a few crafts. Took fishing to 11, clothcraft to 22, alchemy to 20. If only the stuff I crafted from these skill up sessions sell, I have made some profit. [:D]


On my last EXP session, I ended up with 1200 to next level. My paladin tank logged out without a word when I asked if he could stay a little longer till I level. Oh well. [:|]


Later that day I managed to get another Crawler’s Nest escort party going. Evasama, Triston, Ladyrikku and me. I felt bad being the only person to benefit from this easy quest. Ladyrikku failed when Olavia (the NPC we’re supposed to protect), took a sudden turn and aggroed 2 lizards and a bee. [X(]


Obtained the Miratete’s Memoirs scroll, the reward for this quest. Just using it gives your current main job some experience points. With luck, I received 12xx experience points and attained level 62. But I expect to delevel on my next exp session or whatever crazy stuff I decide to do.


I had an interesting JP party last night, all thanks to a JP friend of a fellow Doom member. Note I was not levelling my dark knight job but my black mage. The JP monk expressed worry when he noticed my warrior friend’s english TP macro. But our JP friend, Pim, explained that we’re Singaporeans. To my surprise, she seemed glad. We had casual conversations and laughs, and she even asked us questions in english.


Sigh…

Malaysia

Going back to Malaysia next weekend for a few days. My purpose there is to renew my Malaysian Identification Card. Like I said before, I dread travelling out of Singapore. Having to go to places where there’s no internet connection or places I have difficulty moving around. Call me insecure but I’d prefer laziness. And without an internet connection, I’m as free as a bird without wings. (T-T )


Anyways, since it’s going back to my relative’s place, it won’t be as bad as going to Paris or Hong Kong for work. The only things I dread are the 7 hours long bus rides and the awkwardness of seeing playmates I haven’t met in years. But the latter shouldn’t be too much of a problem once the ice gets broken. [:|]


I could use this chance to enjoy some sun, taking afternoon walks and the crowded “Pasar Malam” (Night Market in Malay) at the field opposite my relative’s home. Every Saturday, people drive in in trucks and vans all carrying groceries and food. They set up their stalls on the open field. By 6pm, it’s bustling with lots of activity. It’s the only chance the people in the neighbourhood can shop for groceries without having to travel too far out.


Leaving on 31st March, be back on 4th April. I’ll be bringing along my Nintendo DS and a novel, Farenheit 451, which I never seem to have time to read. I’ve been playing FFXI all the way to 1am before I sleep, making me feel extra sleepy in the morning. [X|]


By the way, I bought one of Kokia’s album Trip Trip. All I can say is it’s good stuff, worth my S$19.90. And no copy-control crap! [>)]

More accuracy!

Kept my mining gear and went on seek for some EXP PTs. During the weekdays, I
ended up levelling Alchemy. On weekends, I went on a total of 3 EXP sessions.
First one was great. 4500 exp an hour. could’ve been better but our Ranger had
to leave an hour after the PT started because of linkshell issues. I
did a search later to find him in Behemoth’s Dominion, as a level 75 Ninja. King
Behemoth spawned I guess.


Next one sucked. This little taru monk formed an average PT and we were
headed for Valley of Sorrow. Where Velociraptors and Perytons lurk. I was made
the puller, no one else had a ninja subjob for utsusemi. I ended up reaching
back to camp with less than 50% health half the time and died once when the
raptor continuously critical-hit me. At first he invited a level 63 Paladin. Too
high! We had 100+ exp each kill.


Then I supposed he asked the paladin to leave. And he brought in a level 58
Paladin. Too low! He couldn’t tank the Peryton well and ended up saying he wants
to leave soon.


After this second EXP PT, I’ve decided to keep 2 different types of sushi.
Bream sushi, the cheapest I can find, which still gives +15% accuracy and Sole
Sushi, the most expensive NQ sushi that gives +6 Strength and the usual +15%
accuracy. The cheap one for those lousy exp PTs and the expensive one to use in
good PTs.


Also went on a skill up PT at Kuftal Tunnel. Reached 200 skill in Great Sword
and learned Sickle Moon. I’m gonna need a Sniper Ring should I have to use Great
Sword in an EXP PT to close Distortion. I also claimed Amemet! Not knowing it’s
a low HNM, in other words it’s too tough for my PT, I all of 4 members
of my PT killed. [X|]


And to summarize what I’ve learnt over the weekend, I need an Amemet Mantle
+1! Currently 1~1.2 million gil. I figured I need it’s help to do at least 100+
per swing in EXP PTs. As of my last EXP PT, I’m doing 80~120. In my
own words, higher strength raises damage cap, example: 130
instead of 120, and higher Attack increases minimum damage, example: 90 instead
of 80.