What To Do During (Unconfirmed) The Last Days of MCO: A *Very* Specific List

By Farhira Farudin

There can never be enough what-to-do lists to be published during the quarantine. What else can you do during this quarantine besides making another cup of Dalgona coffee or learning a new language? If you are running out of ideas on how to pass the time, here are 12 things you can do at home until 12th of May. We have precisely 12 days left until (hopefully) the end of our MCO, so you may try these activities each day to avoid yourself wallowing in intense boredom at home. Enjoy:

1. Watch #KumanPicturesChallenge on Youtube

In the beginning of the MCO, Kuman Pictures organised #KumanPicturesChallenge, a short horror film competition in hopes for filmmakers all over the country to showcase their take on producing horror films at home within a month. By the end of the competition, they received up to 200 entries. You can watch all of them here on Youtube. Some of them are downright scary but all of them are guaranteed to entertain you. Here's the winner of the competition:

2. Go to a Concert... From Home Obviously

How can 2020 gets any worse for concert goers? GoodVibes is officially cancelled. Stormzy who was supposed to be jamming for a sold out show at The Bee's last March 20 had to reschedule the show to November. Riot Fest has been postponed with no confirmed future dates and so are a lot of the upcoming shows from your favourite bands. For all we know, it'd be long enough until you could relive the excitement of being among the crazy crowd jumping along to the beats of your favourite tune. Don't get upset though. A lot of musicians are spending their time during the quarantine by organizing virtual live concerts at home. From international to local artists, expect the quality experience of live music from your living room... or your bedroom... or wherever you may watch these concerts from as long as you're staying at home. Check out below:

INTERNATIONAL:

Asia Rising Forever - featuring Asian artists making names internationally such as Hyukoh, No Vacation, our own Yuna and many more. (FREE)

Billboard Live At-Home - watch pop stars performing live rendition of their hits from home just for you. Featured artists are Jason Mraz, Alessia Cara, Hozier and many more. (FREE)

Radiohead - the grandiose rock band has been posting live concerts on their Youtube Channel since the beginning of the quarantine. They have been known to be one of the best performers EVER, so expect to experience the beauty of live rock music in the comfort of your own home. (FREE)

LOCAL:

MPO at Home - Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra posted a series of their musicians playing beautiful, like crazy beautiful classical music piece from their respective homes. Not many of us can afford to actually go to their actual concerts so this is your chance to do so! (FREE)

Indie Takeover Ramadhan - local artists who have been garnering the indie scene for the past few years or so are having their own virtual concert this 1st May. Expect Iqbal M., Loko and Leaism among others to entertain you from 3 PM onwards. (RM 10)


3. Give your own take on the most iconic paintings with Paint By Numbers

Paint by Numbers is an easy activity you can do at home with your family or friends or whoever you're stuck at home with. Basically all you have to do is match the colour according to its number and once you've finished painting, you would have *technically* painted a Starry Night of your own. Most of the paintings are taken straight from renowned artists, but certain websites might offer you a custom painting of your own choice. It might sound easy, but apparently it's also veryyy time consuming. But the outcome is beautiful and once framed, it could also be a great gift for your loved ones. Various paintings are available on Shopee. 

4. Watch Sepet the Musical on Youtube

Sepet the Musical is the stage adaptation of Yasmin Ahmad's beloved 2004 movie Sepet. This isn't only a fresh take on the movie that garnered cult-following, it's also a musical as well. Sepet proved to be a hit among Malaysians even a decade after its initial release as the play became a success with its sold out shows. Missed out on the shows? Consider yourself lucky as the live adaptation is streaming on Youtube from May 1 - May 9 so don't forget to set the reminder and reminisce this unforgettable gem by Yasmin Ahmad!

5. Pay a visit to over 2500+ Virtual Art Museums

I am hopeful that someday I'd be able to visit the Van Gogh museum but as for now, I can virtually live that dream thanks to Google Arts & Culture which offers over 2500+ Museums that you can visit through your computer. It's a great way to look through various iconic artworks and perhaps ignite the inspiration to unleash the hidden artist in you. Who knows?


6. Write a letter to your future self

When I was a teen, I'd write letters to my future self and put them into a box and keep them away. I'd write about how I'd meet my celebrity crushes when I turn 18 or I'd have a house by the age of 25. Fast forward to ten years later none of those things will actually happen and perhaps my teenage self should've been a little more realistic. I found FutureMe, a site which allows you to write a letter for yourself and set a date on when you will receive the email. It's a great opportunity to give advice to your future self. Five years from now you would've already forgotten about the letter and one day you receive an email from your past self telling you everything is gonna be okay. Wouldn't that be a wonderful surprise?


7. Give your best shot at Doomsday Bunker Game

I found this game when I was scrolling on Twitter. It's a fun game created by Hadi M. Nor. The game is easy: You are hiding from the virus in a bunker and you may only allow five people in to accompany you. The game is easy and it's very funny. You could go back again and again for different choices. Just make sure you're making the right choices though. Try it here.


8. Discover the process behind your favourite songs

I am a huge fan of SongExploder. It's a podcast which invites musicians to tell the creative process behind their notable songs. It's a great insight to see how often a great tune would probably take years to be completed. I love the episode with Lorde in which she discusses her song 'Sober' and explains hidden meanings and ideas behind the song. It makes you appreciate music even more (as if you already aren't doing it in the first place.)

9. Read a book. An e-book. Maybe lots of them.

National Library Malaysia offers unlimited access to their library which has over 10,000 e-books and over 500 audiobooks you can loan. Maybe this is a great time to catch up on those classic titles you've been wanting to read or simply look for books that can help you with your assignment. All you have to do is sign up and you may loan up to 10 books. Have fun! 

10. Plan future trips with your loved ones

Here's something I did to get my mind off the fact that we will be in quarantine for a long time. I would plan an exhaustive list of places I'd visit with my friends once the quarantine is over. Like a complete, detailed plan. You could plan your next trip to Penang with your friends, and you could do so by writing down everything important detail that walks you through your entire trip. Which hotel are we going to stay in? What about the places we wanna visit? What would I wear on this day? What about the budget? And how many tourist hotspot restaurants I can visit in a day? It's a good way to fill in your time. It'd be more interesting if all of your friends could chip in an idea or two. We may not get to experience it in the nearest time but for the very least, it's hopeful that we will someday.

11. Remake the best food from movies because whyyy notttt?

I hope no one is feeling the pressure on learning how to cook during the quarantine, because apparently everyone else is a cook now. Cooking is honestly fun and satisfying, it can be messy and sometimes the outcome could be the internet's joke of the day. All in all, it's an essential skill that should be practiced by each one of us. So how do you boost up your cooking skills? How about trying recipes from movies? Binging with Babish offers a series on Youtube where Oliver Babish teaches you to cook mouth watering meals from some of your favourite movies. Most of the recipes might be familiar to you and perhaps you'll finally know the satisfaction Harley Quinn gets from her beloved egg sandwich.

12. Listen to your favourite song... forever.

Have you ever listened to a song and just wish it would last forever? Well, Eternal Jukebox is a site that rearranges the song you just can't get enough of and make them sound like they last forever. It's nice but it also gets weird at times but it leaves you wondering whether your favourite tune is already at its perfect length or whether it needs to play eternally. Try it here.