Poco A Poco. Fantasy Vs Reality

The Forces of Life

2011-05-14T01:09:00.009+08:00

"Cherish all lives around you hard enough so that when they're off someday, you know you've given your best, without regret, and still be able to find joy in the midst of grief."

It all began with this statement, and what lies beneath is something worth the thought.

For the entire afternoon, I sat in the living listening to numerous repertoire my band had played in recent times. Quite a number of them, like Portrait of a City (Philip Sparke), The Thunderer (J.P. Sousa), brings upon an extraordinary, unexplainable feeling, with no words to replace. As though an arrival to enlightenment, the neurons up there went crazy at lightning speed, a record in recent memories. For what was supposedly a milestone for celebration, my emotions plunged into the trough for there were too much subconscious reflections even I myself can't factorize.

The music went on, and so did I; falling asleep on the couch. The dozing-off moments were at best five to 10 minutes, the feeling was heavenly nonetheless for it was the most quality rest I've ever gotten for years. I knew I had gone into deep sleep by then, and everything was great for the next one hour or so until awaken by my phone.

'I just realized, only until now, that I ain't a metal soul.'

Subconsciously this was the message I've sent, and received, internally. I'm only human, and yes, I should be getting more than just a quality rest. Where the shit is my inner peace? I wondered, but thoughtfully. All the chaos within, with stems from the past failure, anger and inability, I figured, has led to the current disappointment and struggle. Any further stimulus will lead to further damage, and this is the state of well-being I'm in. I'm not anymore capable of the role that has spoken of me since the dawn of time, perhaps even leading to your belief that all these while I've been one whom you believed to be. This isn't healthy, at the very least. What more the perceived damages it is to cost. Scratch below the squeaky clean surface you'll find all flaws.

At this very stage and condition, recovery work will further multiply the damages done, so rather, I would do nothing this time round, with fingers crossed. That said, already a choice has been made by choosing to remain idle. Something's on my side this way, I believe. This is the first and only step I will take to achieve peace of mind, regardless of what comes along the way, and shall remain to be seen and rediscovered.

There had been relationship problems, with one that is very damaging and I'm starting to see the effect now. A year on, even after an attempt for moving on, sees the worst side of my emotions emerge. The fear of disability, the energy-draining worry for the unprecedented, the phobia for another round of drama, the lost of real confidence, the shiver upon the thought of new chapters, and the courage deeper down than ever before. I'm afraid without proper pathway to guide me out of this trench I'll forever feel numb, consistently trying to hide in the slumberland which actually has nothing better than the 'outer' world. I ain't a saint.

I've since practiced the 100% self-responsibility rule without much fanfare but pure bitter determination, and yet it is very much to blame. I've been absorbing bits and pieces of rubbish deemed too small for others to swallow and now I become, yes, just full of rubbish. Saturated that is. It is proven in this living example that any ritual worth getting rid of should have been done so long ago, without having to remorse in the days ahead over what have or haven't been done or appreciated. It got increasingly tiresome to have kept pushing the boundaries for the people who didn't seem to care a bit, what more the long presence of this expectation that any outgoing deed should be returned in due course, unconditionally. I was utterly wrong in this sense, despite putting this "for it is in giving that we receive" message across to an audience of over 400 last year. I shudder to even think that among the other less-than-trivial, mention-worthy issues, imagine the closest friends have been leaving my birthdays uncelebrated, sometimes unnoticed, for all these years, when whether or not it is just by coincidence everyone else got their well-planned special day except myself. I'm not in the position to answer this question though. It may not be important, but this shows how much care there was. Whether is it of importance till this very day, it is for sure that this cup of tea has gotten cold.

I would make some reservation on family issues, which is no punier than everything else. I would say, a large part of my time is spent on discussing on various issues, certainly life-threatening.

There are just too many self-destructing thoughts I've had to fend off from within, and it is in the midst of establishing these ailments that I found lots of inner blame, which is accumulating, and still do, until I found a way out in this continual, determination-hungry battle. I've always wanted to say ' I GIVE UP' easily for the amount of weight i'm shouldering, but considering all the beauties of life and based on this phrase 'there are more colours than white', I spurred on, albeit with so much problems.

Few days back, I received a note that KH's Dad had passed on, and it once again struck me with an unprecedented sense of frangibility at a new level. Being of the same age and with similar background, I could feel that his life is not going to be easy anymore (point to note is that his life was not any easier anyone would have thought). But his winning attitude of resilience, forward-vision, determination and strength would lead him to a better path for him and his family. I really respect such attitude towards life, for life is extremely vulnerable and is worth nothing less than pure love, joy and a great sense of purpose. The rest of the matters would in comparison seem to have taken a back seat and would appear punier than before a disaster. Sadly, it is only after a crisis that we truly learn. But not surprisingly, it takes someone with these values to overcome faster and further than others actually could.

Cherish life to the fullest, that is. What lies beneath is the forces of life, some of which we have no control of. Yet, the decision we make in life hovers around the different choices that we have, something in which we're empowered as a human. Some call it the human rights, others call it the God's gift, while the rest call it opportunity. In Chinese, we have a term called '危机' (weiji) in which it's literal meaning is 'danger' and 'opportunity'. I'm still trying to learn to look for opportunities in the midst of danger. To put into context, there is no danger, but just some troubles in life.

Nothing internally is going to change for the time being. I'm going on a self-proclaimed 'holiday', away from all the nonsense life has in store for me and savor only the good ones for there are more colors than white. In just about a week I'll be off to Brunei for a work trip, it's also time for a serious disposal of all the rubbish - all done so responsibly - and quietly.

I will recover in due course. I will move on. I really hope I do.

Jammed Jan

2011-01-28T20:34:00.005+08:00

Omg... it's been long since my last post. Long = super long = a few months? Just as I was wondering if the idea of blogging have become a thing of the past, a surge in interest returned abruptly after finding no other channel to rant. Twitter is rubbish. Facebook is too exposed. Blog? Yeap. Here am I.

Where's my 2011 resolution??? 2010's was overdue by almost two months, and I think this year's is not gonna happen altogether. Lazy!! What a sluggish month. All work outs have gone into waste, and I haven't been very motivated lately. Feels like shit!!! What the fart. GRRRRR. Wanna stay at East Coast Park forever to listen to the waves!!!

Rant rant rant. Never is enough. Lots of things to do, say, listen, play, work blahlahlahlahlah. The worst part is the difficulty of keeping things in line. What's that? Scratch your head no more. I'm just ranting, nothing really matters. I'll be fine in just another second. Trust me.

I'm fine now :) See? The power of blogging.

Thanks for grabbing my rubbish, but oh well, let it off or don't come back!! =) Cheers, my friends.

Dec 2010

2010-12-02T22:50:00.003+08:00

I think my life seriously needs an overhaul, doesn't it?

Have been quietly cruising along uneven roads, with thorny bushes by the sides but has a beautiful landscape. Isn't life's like that? Beauty comes with a price.

Probably it's time to unwind. Take a day off to the beach and enjoy the wind, sipping starbucks and listen to the universe - as they cruise past me. Resume.

The year is coming to an end, yet again. Next year would be like this, where I push myself to the limits and achieved them all anyway. New year resolution soon!

BMT again

2010-09-30T22:11:00.009+08:00

Going back to P. Tekong for BMTC Graduation Parade rehearsal on 29 Sept 10 has never had such an exciting affair with relative to my feelings on Day 1 - enlistment - last year. I actually couldn't really sleep well the night before. Upon reaching the mainland ferry terminal, memories started flashing back effortlessly, as if they were moments of yesterday; everything image remained clearly dotted with much details. Every part of the island, or at least the places I've gone yesterday, I've seen it in a different light. Quality accommodation, million dollar sea view, good food - you name it - but other than the training. Now back again as an LCP, things looked less scary than more than one year ago when the recruits' way of life is to keep going irregardless, don't think.

Probably somehow that's also because cousin Leo's passing out, that made the parade more worthwhile. Saw him at Cookhouse, very familiar sight. But I was too tired to talk, after consecutive hours of playing.

2 Oct, Graduation Parade (formerly Passing out parade 'POP) will be held on Marina Bay Floating Platform. First ever. Will be there for a sound check with 14 mics planted all around, and with that, more occasional pitching mistakes will be slightly more audible. Uh oh..

Repertoire

And finally, Bandstand:

Optional Inspection march: Pride, Discipline & Honour (Favourite inspection piece!!)

I had thought this would be my last moment (or photo) there... who knows I got to be there again, and happily so when so many others dread to enter this so called shutter island. lol. Don't blame me, but seriously BMT is fun, a life's experience and a big School to begin with: where we learnt life's skills.

Fixing a Broken Heart

2010-09-27T00:08:00.006+08:00

There was nothing to say the day she left
I just filled a suitcase full of regrets
I hailed a taxi in the rain
Looking for some place to ease the pain, ooh
Then like an answered prayer
I turned around and found you there

You really know where to start
Fixing a broken heart
You really know what to do
Your emotional tools can`t cure any fool
Whose dreams have fallen apart
Fixing a broken heart

Ever could understand what you're going through
There must be a plan that led me to you
Cause of the hurt just disappears
In every moment you are near, yeah
Just like an answered prayer
You make the loneliness easy to bear

Soon the rain will stop falling baby
Let's all forget the past
'cause here we are at last

PS: It's a lovely song, by the way.

Woman's Charter Enhancement

2010-09-18T10:51:00.005+08:00

So there's this new rule on divorced men for their one-beloved wives. If you're a man, you'll for sure feel unfair. Where the heck is the proclaimed sexual equality in Singapore? Looks like going to Vietnam is the way to go, buddies!!

And there's this funny comment too, and I feel it's true:

"Look, the whole episode is about the garment using Woman’s charter to castrate men. Men’s contribution to the family has been overlooked and women these days can fuck around and still have the cheek to ask for compensation.

Can Singapore women cook? Most of them can’t. That’s why so many hawkers and restaurants are filled. Singapore women simply cannot do house work.

Then its the maid. What’s the point of making S$2-3000, pay most of it to the maid, and then on transport eat out and cloths. How many women dump their kids to Pino maids and failed their duties as mothers? Too many! What is the role of the women? The education system has been training the women to compete with the men. That is what its so fucked up because most women are supposed to raise the kids and not fight in the field. If they want to, they will be miserable and stressed out. Its simple common sense, but they do not have it. They just want to drive big cars and get high pay, without first look into the mirror.

How many local women will please the husband? Please the husband? I know many Singapore women are damn good in scolding the husband in public and make the husband malu like fuck. How many times you see women hit the men in public and scold vulgarities openly. Why they worry? Got women charter what, I can hit you you cannot touch me.

No wonder, no wonder, 30% of Singapore women past 35 years are all single. These women can be damn critical to local men, but their legs can spread damn wide when they see Angmo. We all know that!

Lets see what the news been telling us these days. Men refused to pay. Men refused to maintain the divorced wife. Of course lah! Stupid ah kenna trash by the stupid women still must pay money ah? How many women fabricate stupid stories to file for divorce? I have seen too many! Everyday, 40 cases in the family court file for divorce, and many are raised by the WOMEN! And if you read the case carefully, it all boils down to the women having adultery or not doing her basic duties, then, BLAME THE MEN, of course!

Lets see if LKY’s wife given him a green hat, will he still pay maintenance? Of course he will, because his wife wrote the Women’s charter to grab him by his balls.

I see only female rights activists and females kaw peh kaw bu about men not paying. FINE. Very soon all local women will be singles and attached to angmo for free fucks. There will be no more local women producing babies but China women or Vietnam women. Good luck!

(For those men who want to get married, you better read the Women’s charter carefully before hand. Its damn biased and very scary. If you sign ROM without knowing it, you are a damn bloody stupid idiot.)"

Adapted from Temasek Review, WomanAreSuperior:

September 18, 2010 at 2:14 am

IR Shuttle

2010-09-15T00:33:00.001+08:00

Gov’t takes action on free bus rides to casinos

Read: Yahoo! Singapore Fit-To-Post

My comment posted:

Why probe over this nitty gritty thing? I think they have nothing better to do. Election is coming, so wayang abit and show that they care... lol... The free shuttle is definitely a good initiative, because people go there for tonnes of other reasons, i.e. wine and dine, have fun in theme park etc. This is also the reason why the PM and his administration (who approved the plan) called this an IR, 'Integrated Resorts' to be exact, and prohibits the media from using the term 'Casino'. Now, they slap themselves on the face with this probe because gambling has instead become THE thing to do at the Resort.

I'm puzzled to the max.

and please, don't remove the shuttle. Heartlanders are really enjoying it. Don't take away something that will make us happy. Don't take away our LIFE.

Time Flies

2010-08-26T12:51:00.011+08:00

My blog is seemingly more boring nowadays, thank goodness it hasn't become a new spiders' habitat. Am I busy? Not quite so, neither am I restful, although what I can say is I'm highly occupied. New template again!

Well in just a few days, I'll flip the calendar again! And very soon, it's time to change one too. Time really flies!!

9 months in the SAF band. in just 2 more weeks, I'll be left with just 1 year to serve. Woohoo!

Moved house twice, settled. In a beautiful house.

Weight wise, the story goes like this: it had peaked once, but plunge after BMT, gone up slightly after December trip, down again to a record low in Feb - at 73kg, then progressively went up at a slow rate till now, and it is set to go down again to somewhere near the record low. Thanks to the exercise regime that has kicked in few weeks ago.

Hillgrove Alumni

HGA is seeing its fruits of labour. Very soon, it'll commence into being and with that, it will mark the team's hard work for the past 12 months into something we must be very proud of. It's definitely a mile better off than the first half of this year. Thanks to Yong Qing, Shu Qin, Yee Kiat, Khian Chong and Ren Sen for the hard work, particularly the first three aforementioned. =))) Frankly, never before has it been so fulfilling to perform a huge voluntary task. I am satisfied with the results thus far, all thanks to the strong and serious support of the School, and best of all, the quality volunteers in the Exco who together forms the pillar of the soon-to-be success story of our own.

Once it is up and running, we will then transfer the energy to helping the kids improve, whether academically or otherwise, including CCAs and life's skill. Some may not want to face the reality, that some parts of the School has a really bad situation. Not the physical premises, if you don't already get it. As a neighborhood school, it may be the norm per se, but things will get worse if it is left a sacred cow. Discipline wise, as usual. Last week, I visited and was shocked to find Sec 1s in the band don't even know where the middle G note is. Omg.

Dream.

Everything aside. Now, dream wise, I've further reinforced my plan to build and run a hotel group decades down the road, with some significant but confidential plans.. =P What comes along the way shall not be made known.

2020.

Back to reality.

I'm super proud to be able to take part in the upcoming OCS commissioning parade on 18 Sept, as well as the BMT passing out parade on 2 Oct. In the former, Wengkin will be commissioned as an SAF officer and it'll be kinda significant for me to be able to play music for his parade. Likewise, cousin Leo is scheduled to pass out of BMT and I'll be taking part in it as well. Remember, let's take photos!! No matter how difficult the situation is. =)

On 5 September, Sunday, come down to Orchard Road if you're interested in the Changing of Guards (COG - Pictured above) parade at 5.40pm beside the Old Chang Kee kiosk near The Heerens. The contingents, including myself in the band, will march down the shopping belt at about 5.45pm, and join the guards at the Istana at about 5.55pm. The Provosts, after the guards' sworn in ceremony, will perform two precision drills, support by the music from the band. After that, at about 6.10pm, the band will march off the Istana, bound for Handy Road (outside The Cathay) for dismissal and photo-taking, passing by Plaza Singapura and Macdonald's House.

We'll be marching at speed of about 35 steps per 15 seconds, or 2.5 steps per second. Rather fast huh.

See you there!

Thickened Skin

2010-08-04T23:16:00.004+08:00

It started out as a mere toothache. Then infection with fever. Swollen face came right next. As a result, it is something not as simple anymore.

I went to the dentist this morning and she was shocked to see pus in the gum, which she suspected there is more up in the sinus region. Gotcha, when she tried to drain it. The whole process went through with pain and shiver. The moment the anesthetic jab touched the infected gum, chill went all the way down to my feet and up, which I couldn't help but to howl in agony.

"Sorry.....", she exclaimed. "Yes, i know it's painful. But we've got to drain out the pus, which otherwise would move up to your eyes and ultimately the brain. It's a serious condition."

I couldn't at all speak a word, and I wanted to tell her 'please go ahead'.

In total, there were about 6 jabs, with the subsequent attempts after the third got less painful.

Once done, she pried open a section of the thinned skin and according to her, the pus flowed right out. Like a river.

I had mixed feeling then: good as in finally the substance that caused my face to swell were getting out; bad because I was disgusted by the fact that the large amount of pus was entering my mouth. Pretty yacks. Her assistant gave me a mirror and my specs, omg, I couldn't help but to grin further. Blood and pus, a mixture of mayonnaise and chilli sauce. When the flow almost stopped, she applied some pressure on the affected face, more came out.

She referred me to the Alexandra hospital for follow-up, which I'll be going tomorrow. And I'm fully aware that the experience I got this morning was just the beginning; more treatment will come because the swollen face has yet to deflate.

Looks like I'm going to miss the NDP actual parade. But I'm so gonna perform as it would render the past 10 weeks of rehearsals useless should I miss the actual one. Someone please save me!!!

For now, I'll just stick to wearing a big shades while I'm out of house.

Of Style and Wow III

2010-07-01T22:51:00.003+08:00

Updates. Excitedly.

Of Style and Wow II

2010-06-23T13:34:00.006+08:00

Here comes an update on the current development of my house!

Picture tells a thousand tales.

Wall tiles are up. [Top, Bottom]

Kitchen cabinet's shell is completed. Washing basin fitted in. Now awaiting for door panels and black granite table top to be put up.

Construction of false ceiling and curve light box have been completed. [Top, Bottom]

Great. But when it comes to workmanship, it is bad. When I say bad, it's truly so. Same thing, pictures tell a million tales:

Tiles are not in line with one another. No just that, they are shockingly uneven with the rest of the surfaces.

The gaps are so uneven that, from the picture below, shows the extremity of what else they are capable of delivering.

Cracks on the new tile aside, hairline cracks on the cement can also be found above the skirting, which is barely two weeks old. I couldn't imagine what will happen 10 years later. Obviously I don't want to witness tiles exploding due to heat expansion or falling off from the wall. Not just here, but everywhere. The designer says it's due to a negligence in inadequate amount of water added to the cement mixture, hence the crack. She will get them to redo, promised but hopefully.

P-YOG Fever

2010-06-22T21:51:00.005+08:00

Oh Yeah, Oh YeaH, oH YeahH, HEY! HO! OH YEAHH, OOHHHHHHHH YEAH!

Hey ho.

Other than the dubbed 'lyrically brilliant' official YOG song by Mr Brown, there is actually much more fanfare to this inaugural worldwide sports event to be held locally in Singapore. It's first, it's held at Home, it's Sg's first 'five-ring' event in history, and what not.

But that said, I'm aware that many of us, even the youths of my age, are clueless about the period and commencement date. The government has even urged us Singaporeans to 'be part of it', which would be needless if it has already created a big bang nearing to the event period. Probably the only relation close to heart is none other than the Oh Yeah song.

So here I am starting my own! Yeah!

Introducing the P-YOG - Personal YOG!!! On the 14th Aug, I will draw my own five intersecting rings representing a dream of mine - AUDI + a Merc without the 3-point star. Cool isn't it? Rearranging them to make it three on top, and two bottom. This logo symbolizes my will to drive, or the drive towards will. Oh, yeah, and probably the whole game will revolve around, well, just running. It's probably my favorite 'game' of all anyway. The spirit of 'Quattro' 4-wheel drive + the stability of merc - it will be a good attitude to good running. Afterall, it is a personal one. Yes, personal.

So why P-YOG? None other than that; I'm still a Youth anyway. It's true, even at heart.

3,600* young athletes between 14 and 18 years of age
5,000* young athletes and officials
205 National Olympic Committees
1,200* media representatives
20,000* local and international volunteers
370,000* spectators
26 sports and culture & education programmes
1 RUNNER.

14 - 26 Aug, Singapore, HERE I COME!! At Bukit Panjang only, sorry.

Health = Wealth

2010-06-14T23:51:00.003+08:00

I'm so gonna start a healthy diet from 8am tomorrow! Derived from: After hearing lots of stories about how illnesses and diseases come upon human body after a certain age has really frightened me lots and big time. Just yesterday, one of my friend's pal died of breast cancer, at a young age of just 23. Don't know how did it eventually happen, and simply I just feel so sad for her.

On Sunday while shopping at furniture, a salesman whom we chatted with revealed that he just had his by-pass surgery not long ago and is now on many types of different medication on a daily basis. He also cannot carry more than a 5kg load or risk damaging his arteries. He is 52. Few months back while he was warded in TTSH for surgery, one of the patients in his ward was bedridden, in total dependent on others for event a slight body movement. Still, he gobbled up the Mee soto and mee rebus his wife had cooked for him, consumed cola, and did not watch his health. He passed away.

Among many other stories.

Health = wealth, this is true. I'm afraid. Other than buying more insurance, which is very important, I'll also watch the slightest thing I eat too.

New New New

2010-06-13T10:11:00.001+08:00

New template, new beginning! =D

Nice right??

iPhone

2010-06-09T19:34:00.008+08:00

At first I thought: what's so magnificent about it? Why are people so crazy over this little gadget? Then as more and more people around me own it, holding it in their hand, I condemned it as a 'commodity at a premium price'.

After the introduction of the iPhone 4, I thought: remarkably yes - it has got quality, form and functionality, design and most importantly, it's not a phone but iPhone. Apple does not invent a phone just so to sell a phone; it makes sure industry partners follow the trend as well. For instance, if it's not with the wide range of useful applications, many would probably not want to buy simply because it would be so much useless. Sometimes reinventing the wheels do works; it also think out of the box! Wonder how often do you use your video calling capability? None? I'm guilty of that too, even after owning more than 3 dual-camera 3G phones. Apple's FaceTime is set to create another wave from older technologies. Kudos! Although its competitors such as Samsung, Nokia, SE and Motorola have had a fair share in market leadership (i.e. Front camera, Bluetooth, and touch screen), it is quite shameful that this new comer is now leading the market with technologies they have adopted years ago. Imagine me selling buns topped with pork floss today and still create a huge public excitement that BreadTalk has enjoyed ten years ago? Or can I work out to sell a Cheesecake with not at all a dairy product as ingredient? Apple is simply smart.

Now, still I think the iPhone is a brilliantly amazing phone. But one thing I'm quite certain is that I no longer think the pricing is too 'out of the way'. If my ability permits I will pay good money for good stuff. I have previously decided to buy its contender Andriod phones, but perhaps it is now a good time to give this elite a try.

I am a late adopter, or even a laggard for that matter, nothing's to be ashamed over it. I shall adopt technologies after the majority has tried and tested, and give the Andriod some time to improve before I finally give it a try. But who knows, I might just stick to Apple OS indefinitely.

Microsoft's Windows Phone, which I'm currently using on my Samsung i780 smartphone, is way out of the way and will be, if they continue to apparently sit idle.

Reunion

2010-06-04T15:33:00.005+08:00

To display my sense of excitement, I blog. Main point.

Because Amir just messaged me that he just got posted to saf band! We end up in the same place after some few years. A very good news for both of us!

Monday. (Wednesday in fact, off on Mon and Tues =D )

Hi June!

2010-06-02T23:14:00.006+08:00

In just a blink of an eye, here comes June! She's not my new love, but just a significant milestone of the year everybody would go through, letting known that 151 days, of first half of the year is coming to an end (mind you, not yet the start of second half!). Usually, and since 3 years ago, this month of the year has been the pit stop, other than New Year day, of wherever I'm bound to, think deeply into issues that have and would have happened, and what's to come.

Thinking back, just hundreds of days ago I uploaded this post containing:

New Year Resolution (It comes a li'l tooooo late but isn't it better than nothing?)

1. Do not initiate buffet outings (No unless)
2. No more sleep-debt - Sleep early or pay the price
3. Wake up and, yes, get up, and never touch the bed for the day.
4. Will remember to floss
5. Lesser cold jokes (i'll try harder each time)
6. Save > $50 a month (and never use them the next month!!)
7. Stop dreaming about my (tonnes of) dream cars
8. Try even harder to stop procrastinating
9. 100% or none
10. Remember the 9th point OR ALL.

Very gladly I'd say I've been guiding myself along these points, especially the 9th point. In particular, though, the small maximum allowance has made savings very much impossible. Procrastination has stopped totally. yeah!!! Practicing hard on my trombone is the last thing on the list, and I'm so going to reach Laurel's standard as at today within the next 1.5 years (before ORD).

Of Style and Wow

2010-05-29T16:13:00.012+08:00

My dream home is taking shape...

This is my new house! Just an artist's impression though, the first one is, well, the living, and next is kitchen. The third is my beloved room!!

Work started 24 May, and since then the whole house has been literally stripped naked leaving only the untouchables such as walls and pillars. And of course, the roof and floor! Yes, everything. At a cost of a 'complete makeover'.

30 May, the progress has been smooth! Some wall tiles were already up. Most others had their surfaces already prepared for tile works. Ready to make their way up onto the walls are new and shiny tiles.

Mozaic art glass tiles (Above) and one of the many beautiful tiles (Bottom).

Drill drill drill!!! It's very exciting knowing that your new house is being dressed up tiles after tiles, days after days, among other little things that would ultimately form up an intended dream home. I'm also especially grateful knowing that somebody is quietly (not our neighbors though) helping us do all the craft work while we are out doing our own things.

My First Formation Drill!

2010-05-25T13:41:00.016+08:00

Navy Open House 2010

20 - 23 May 2010

Changi Naval Base

Finally, this show marked the end of our 7 weeks of training and 8 actual shows. Though there were some mistakes here and there, they were less noticeable ones. Phew... That said, I really enjoyed everything else, like the fun and laughter.

Songs were play in this sequence-

March in: Bandstand by Maj Tonni Wei

NOH 10 Medley: Victory at Sea, Jap Graf XII (Uchuu Senkan Yamato), Mamma Mia, Dayung Sampan, Can't take my eyes off you, and finally back to the end of Jap Graf XII.

March out: Upwards and onwards (Navy song)

That's all! More to come though - NDP, SAF Day, and COG at Istana, that's enough to keep us occupied for the next two months. All the weekends will soon be burnt!! June's COG will be very very exciting, because feiyang arranged Cruel Temptation 아내의 유혹 korean hit series and we'll play that. Imagine when the MPs or provosts are performing their drill, and we play this song. Wouldn't it seem damn interesting?? =)

Life as a bandsmen

2010-03-07T23:09:00.008+08:00

It's been a looooooooong looooooooooong time since I last updated! And, this phrase has been sooooooo familiar cos I've been using them for the new entry after every cob web infested blog post. I've recently been very busy with band stuff and the setting up of the school alumni, which is a good thing because I enjoy leading a fulfilling and balanced life! Now, 21 already, so adult but NOT old. Young and energetic!! But i'm consistently tired. So how?!?? I wan to also lose more weight and not gain back within weeks!! HEHEH.

Hgv Alumni Association. That's the thingy me and the team is trying to set up. The school shows strong support for it, and I'm glad with that. But one constraint is that they are still hard headed about certain policies. Firstly, we can't go back to the school for a meeting on Saturdays simply because they want to conserve energy. No problem with that, we'll meet elsewhere. Second, our proposed new website must be hosted with their current website, which is apparently updated only a few times a year. Third, we cannot hold any funds, neither can they give us any for lawful reasons. I understand this, so we steered away from any potential cost-incurring activities like bonding games for the Exco. Many of such issues need to be ironed out, which I hope the management can practise a little more discretion about their hard rules. But one thing otherwise to note is the openness of the new management led by the new principal. Some initiatives once forbidden are now introduced, just like the bold step of forming one alumni body. If you were an ex-student and are now reading this, lo and behold we'll deliver something we can be proud of.

Kindly fill up this form! For Hgv ex-students only.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dF9OcDdFR19pUDc2bjVvaDNmRVpqRWc6MA

Just had COG. Nervous but, quite an experience!! =)

So basically, i'm out of the training wing officially. Though obtained a pass, I am seriously in need to practise hard to catch up with the rest - like fast sight-reading and fine-tune new pieces in lightning speed, scales, dynamics and articulation. Seriously.
With so many balls to juggle, can I do well for all of them? Result will show. I'll try hard. Real hard. Ultimately, my 2010 resolution is '100% responsibility'. Under it, I will bother and care to do the things I'm doing. It's a marathon, and i'm also physically fulfilling it - by running 4 - 6km a day, at least 3 times a week. I've been doing so since Jan, and doing well! I can now run 6km without slowing or stopping, unlike just last year. The next target will be 8 - 10km by April.
Next Tues, I'll stay in camp. there's a bunk, and a bed. Perhaps also the mates, and nothing else. No more internet at night!! Back to bmt-like life, where turning in and waking up is the 'right timing' in accordance to the body clock. Healthier lifestyle once again!! I'll download more games into my ipod touch so that I won't feel bored at night!!! =)
Good nites!!

13 February 2010

2010-02-13T22:35:00.004+08:00

Got a call to urgently update my blog!!! And in order to get it updated, I'm now updating word by word, letter by letter and lastly, sentence by sentence and in conclusion, I've updated!

Shouldn't it be more exciting when it's my 21st birthday, and anything that follows it will be undertaken by the big word - LAW. I'm old! Old man! errR I mean, oh man!

Happy Eve of CNY, Happy birthday to myself. I've gotten myself the best present ever. What about the date? It's rather cumbersome to have it fall on the eve of CNY, but who cares? Cos it's something really unique about this date, and on top of the 21st special birthday. A key for me!

I'll update more when I feel like it=) Very soon, I meanz. A promise.

Happy 2010

2010-01-19T22:34:00.007+08:00

Yesterday, we had a casual chat in the training room when we probed into 'what's our life's purpose'. Idiotic Stanley shouted You are born nothing! You're born to die! in an extremely tongue-in-cheek manner. No offence, but it really made me wonder what's mine? While some people are born talented, I thought i'd better be borned to party, to appreciate and any other except talent. Yep, but maybe not. Time, together with effort, will complete the blanks very soon!! That's all folks!

And what? My 21st birthday is in days. The long overdue question has once again resurfaced and is rather pressing because what have I been doing for the past 21 years? A lot. I need a de-fragmentation, and then start to reorganize things soon. Nothing depressing, I'm ready to face the fact! I shall cook my way to my zhenyu's hospitality empire in 30 years! MUAHAHAHA.

New Year Resolution (It comes a li'l tooooo late but isn't it better than nothing?)

1. Do not initiate buffet outings (No unless)

2. No more sleep-debt - Sleep early or pay the price

3. Wake up and, yes, get up, and never touch the bed for the day.

4. Will remember to floss

5. Lesser cold jokes (i'll try harder each time)

6. Save > $50 a month (and never use them the next month!!)

7. Stop dreaming about my (tonnes of) dream cars

8. Try even harder to stop procrastinating

9. 100% or none

10. Remember the 9th point OR ALL.

And today, we had an early book-out just because of no water supply in the white house. Wonder how much more strange can that be?

I miss you. Z068.

Musically ongoing.

2009-12-23T20:15:00.010+08:00

Even the best deal in the world would somehow dissatisfy somebody like me. It's back to honing my musical skills again, just like that of the past eight barren years. The poor feeling stayed on until today.

I get to go home everyday, pay a visit to the backyard whenever free to pluck the overgrown weeds like some farmers. Not a bad deal though. Sometimes a match of soccer game and gym session whenever we like it will be of enough goodwill to nullify the misery - all the freedom because the instruments aren't ready for use; some still at repair, for at least the next three weeks. It is seriously boring, but the overall and holistic package seemed to have simmered the bordom in reality. No more rifle, no more route march, soc, and you-name-it.

Firstly the entire environment physically is an art structure; a prewar building, probably a preserved one: more so of a colonial house with a strong british design language that is painted white in colour, as dubbed by its name 'White House'. Just like the Victoria Concert Hall, there are many large and tall wooden dome-shaped doors along every corridor, with the majority being studios and practice rooms. All are sofisticatedly soundproofed. Being situated on a hilltop just like the Instana building, I do feel a little bit of prestige. So far it has been rather breezy all day long, and having nice music from good players in the midst of the serenity made the place 100% a music school. More so a perfect one.

People wise, it's honestly rather stressful to know that many of them are holding on to music diplomas, with some majoring in opera studies, studio and stage production, and, deeply just music. Everything is that competitive from top to toe so at times I wonder why am I here. There's a strong need for commitment and an added interest to whatever I'll be doing from right now. Plus, there're so many geniouses around to influence me and whom I can learn from. Strategically this is the right path at the current stage.

It is only the begining; boring times will go away because busy time will come for sure. ;) Not so much of a sour grape taking into consideration the tight schedules the seniors have, but definitely the mainstream events will gradually occupy us to death. In conclusion, I'm proud to be here for the chance that they'd given me, and the opportunity out there to meeting people from basically one begining like myself.

Anyway, my 21st birthday party is on the list! Adult soon. Finally. Not only the look anymore =\ wahahhaa. That's all folk's!

- Pictures adapted from mindef's website

POP LO!

2009-12-10T23:05:00.006+08:00

BMT is finally over! Those days were hectic, yet fulfilling at the end of the day knowing that I had learned many skills and gained precious experience. After all, 'it's not what you would leave behind, but what you'll gain in the times ahead.'

Whether joyous or misery, we all went through it together. That's the emphasised 'brotherhood'.

Today is the first day of the 10-day block leave, and I'm trying to get used to staying at home, nothing regimental anymore.

I miss all my friends.

Off on a holiday tomorrow! Take care, people!

Field Camp

2009-10-25T11:25:00.006+08:00

I just woke up feeling somewhat like last week - a super duper sore throat and a slight fever. Couldn't really talk much without a deeper voice and a less clear speech. Diarrhea is also bad, but not killing.

Field camp is just within proximity, just few more hours to go. Looking at the weather right now, I can't help but imagining me having foot rot. A very bad thinking though. But I think to overestimate things will better help us cope with the actual situation. I simply hope to go through the 10 days out there without visiting the MO. Left knee got better, I'm no longer limping as much. That's best.

It'll be damn exciting!!!

So how many more days will I get to sleep in my room? Less than 6 days. Should be moving house on one of the last days of November. That will also signify the last few days of BMT too!!!

Happy birthday, yong ren.

6th Week Coming

2009-10-18T20:24:00.002+08:00

Finally, 5 weeks have gone. Field camp is coming, in the 7th week. No bathing, very little sleep, yet a very demanding schedule is something I didn't look forward to until now. Everybody says it's fun, and I hope so. Very soon, we'll pass out after a 24km march. Very soon...

Why am I still online and not booking in? MC for 2 days, excused exercise for 10 days. Fever, flu and cough again. And a sprained knee.

2009-10-10T00:05:00.002+08:00

Back home!!!!

=)

Army

2009-10-02T19:44:00.005+08:00

When I was just a little boy
I asked my Mother, what is army
It is a place, for me to be
That's what she said to me

Hey zhenyu zhenyu
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Hey zhenyu zhenyu

When I was young, I fell and hurt
I asked my Father, what is army
Army's a place, to change us into men
That's what he said to me...

Hey zhenyu zhenyu,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Hey zhenyu zhenyu

And it goes on and on... That's what sang everyday in the bunk, with a pool of variations. lol.

1st week

2009-09-21T12:57:00.001+08:00

Stressed.

Will overcome.

Everything was, but just the beginning.

Twelve more weeks to go.

Will survive.

My will.

Last Few Hours...

2009-09-13T21:27:00.006+08:00

Just got this news from a reliable source that I'll be in ro*ky hi*l's Zul*u coy. SHIT.

The worse coy in that school.

Anyway, the last few fruitful days were spent watching movies, tiny feasting and literally went sightseeing around the island. Met Nel, Ting, and Yong ren for dinner at Vivo and spent rest of the night there. Supposedly wanted to watch a movie, however ended up having supper with Nel and weida. On sat, yr and me met up again for a trip downtown on a bus, purposeful for sightseeing when mrt would be much faster. Watched Blood Ties by Chai Yee Wei at GV Plaza. A surprisingly good movie for a first full length film director . 4.5 out of 5 stars! Dinner time, I went to grandpa's house for my last dinner with them before ns, and then shortly after that met yr again. At midnight, we watched another one - The Ugly Truth. 4.5 out of 5 stars too! Super funny... Katherine Heigl is super cool. muahahahaha. Took night owl back to my house, and we ended the day after a few small chat about ns. woke up at 11, immediately we go out of house and went to chevron's e mart to buy ns things. walked 2km to chinatown to buy my stuff. Hmm, tired.

At night, had dinner with family at a jap restaurant and went on with buying yet more stuff for ns - from batteries, stationeries and alarm clock. what a nice ending...

Goodnight!

Next weekend out: The Proposal, G-Force 3D, Final Desto 3D. Hopefully can come out. Dunno what's the first thing I'll do then.

Where Got Ghost Review

2009-09-11T12:09:00.007+08:00

First thing first, I must gasp in dismay and suggest that the film didn't worth 20% of the $8.50 ticket price at all. I guess Jack Neo is running out of idea, and has tried all ways he could possibly have done to engage the audience with his favourite mixture of laughter and one other extreme reaction, and in this case, kiddy fright. Despite all his effort, I'd say he was merely trying to entertain a two-year-old with his ultra-fake computerised graphics and the same old repeated jokes - how many times, in his previous movies, did Ah Nan said about the cobra and the 'spectacles'? Umpteem times. The ghostly appearance and some cinematic shooting angle do however look some sort of Holywood or Hong Kong film style. The rest of the effects were just damn fake, and having to stare so long at the screen just to see the fake granite hill fall off its cliff was simply a pain. Throughout the nearly two hours and especially nearing the end, I felt quite some urge to leave the hall - I have never felt like this before. Not only did the three story parts unlinked, I wasn't really sure what's the rational behind each individual part.

Albeit funny, the entire experience just left me wondering again whether to watch his next film. The decision this time to watch it is all in the name of supporting a Singapore film. I will surely think twice before queueing for the ticket to his movie in future. It's a total disgrace for the Singapore film industry - now almost all Malaysian cinemas show this film. Roystan Tan, a new bird in the commercial-scale production, did a far, far better job.

Following his previous movie's 1-star rating by a local magazine, I'd have given him half a star more this time, at the capacity of a common layman. It just feels like a no-brainer film of the 1970s.

Last Few Days...

2009-09-09T23:17:00.004+08:00

Alright, D Day seems nearer than ever and having to spend the remaining 100 hours or less fulfilling an ever increasing items on the to-do list sucks, albeit a little of excitement here or there knowing that I'll for sure shed off those extra pounds.

D day also means an extra thing: the last few days of staying in this comfy and beloved house. When it's time to book out, the feeling of not knowing where my new home is sucks too. But with my beloved family, I'm totally at ease while playing with my new big toys. (sis don't get YAYA!) Nation above self.

Things seem a little odd these days yea? I hope not. But yeeeeaaa it is if I did follow my heart. NS is up and coming, that's the only thought. Shall status quo remains.

Yet frankly speaking, my enlistment date is at a right time because there won't be a confinement period as it did to my other counterparts. There's a public holiday on the 21st Sept. And on top of that, I get to enjoy many long weekends for the next half of the year as many of them will fall on a friday.

Wilds aside, another thing I'm not getting used to: From SAMSUNG smart-phone with QWERTY keypad to that old-school Nokia. And I really feel shiok when typing QWERTY at one go. Piano-style movement.

So from tomorrow onwards, I'll be happy to even just stay home and enjoy every detail of my house, although as always the outside world scratches my heart whenever i'm home. Nobody's going to watch the newly set up Mio TV because I'm away. No more feasting for me. Sis noticed that I didn't do my 10km today. What the hell are you noticing? Indeed, it's hell.

I shall prepare to empty a 'parking lot' in anticipation of my new boots.

Ns

2009-09-07T00:38:00.004+08:00

NS in 6 days.

Packing up the whole room into cartons within the last week.
Preparing an item list for Ns.
Preparing resignation letter to boss.
Make appointment for dental care.
Enjoying the last few nites of stay at home.
Jogging 10km everyday.
Swim at least once this week.
Finishing up all blog posts that are left in draft state.
Explanation.

14 sept. 2pm.

Genting/KL Day 1

2009-08-20T00:53:00.022+08:00

All it took for a long overdue decision and an impromtu action, we ended up on a coach bounded up north. It's my (n)th trip there since 2005, and the third for this year. That's just for Genting; a total of five entries have been made into Malaysia. Sounds boring yea? Quite not if you're traveling with different pals each time.

I took train all the way to AMK for coach boarding. As in the receipt, we were entitled for luxury coaches for both ways because we've upgraded our ride. A 'CEO platinum cruiser' by WTS travel has motorised aircraft seatings and a personal entertainment system. Quite a nice thingy to have for an especially long and winding journey.

For this entire trip, we ate, slept, shopped, ate, and again and again, till I found some gain. Trust me it's true.

When approaching the highway towards Pahang at KL, a slight jam slowed us down. But nonetheless we still arrived earlier than stated and, most importantly, safely. Henceforth we became the first 20 in the check-in queue, which the worst scenario could be a wait of at least 3 hours. While waiting, we had a buffet lunch at Coffee Terrace where they featured the Singapore Food Promotion, with two giant Merlion statue guarding the entrance. I felt a gust of familiar hospitality as if at home, so we entered. I would say the food is better than those at our local hawker centers! But not all though.

After check in, we visited Ripley's Believe it or not museum. Very interesting exhibits like the one in Hong Hong's The Peak. Rm18 per adult, considered cheap for a musuem visit. 3 hours were spent there, sky has turned dark. It wasn't cold until night falls.

That's it for the first day! Cos' there wasn't really much things to do within Genting itself. Looking forward to day 2's KL trip! Just before movie, we went Sushi King, where I had a share of their Unagi Fest! And after the movie, with nothing else to do, we sat at a cafe holding on to my mocha and some danish. Sip by sip in the midst of the chilly and foggy air. Cool. Just that it didn't snow.

This is the first movie we had - On His Majesty's Secret Service (大内密探灵灵狗). It has a hilarious setting for almost all parts of the approximately 100mins show. The entire audience (full occupancy everyday!) giggled and laughed as if everybody poked one another non-stop. Everything was damn funny! The best part was that a 'premium' movie ticket cost only RM15 (approx S$6), and it comes with a box of pop corn, a packet of chips and a regular drink. For RM1 more, we will get to use the OSIM massage chair for an all-new movie experience! Too bad only 10 chairs are available each time. We gotta try all movies till we get one! Maybe that's the reason why we watch one movie a day. lol.

Quoted Yahoo Movies: For generations, the secret service has always been responsible for protecting the emperor, where 12 agents are assigned to bodyguard duty. Among the current group, Zero Zero Dog (Louis Koo) is considered to be the weakest as he shows no interest in the martial arts and spends his time studying technology and coming up with scientific inventions. When Dog uncovers an evil plot to kill the emperor by the chief eunuch, Cao Yan Chui (Fan Siu Wong), he decides to eliminate the enemy himself.

It was unfortunate that Singapore doesn't show this film. Even if it does, it'd be translated into Mandarin. What a disappointment.

Finally, blogger stops that shit - pictures uploaded now.

Day 2 includes a visit to KL city center. First stop was Times Square, then followed by the shopping malls around Bt Bintang like Lot 10 and Sungei Wang.

A Wild Heart

2009-08-09T23:41:00.009+08:00

First thing first before I forget: Happy birthday, Singapore!

I'm getting rather wilder these few years as I try my best to travel to many places. More and more targets are already on my mind, and just deciding where to go first. Maybe 20 more years, after saving up from more disposable income, I'd want to give Japan and Europe a visit each. Definitely.

Watch this video and its different parts. The more I watch, the more I love the beautiful scenery! Look at the Mt Fuji. The Fuji River. Osaka, and then Kyoto. All they begin from Tokyo.

OMG. I'm getting in love with Japan... The Sapporo Ramen. Onsen. Best of all, the Shinkasen (Bullet Trains)! Other than that, I want to see the Roman Catholic Church, the Trevi fountain and the Colosseum in Rome, the gondolas on the venice waterways, the Empire State building and the midtown manhattan junction, the railway market in Bangkok, the body of Mr HCM in Hanoi, the Washington Monument, a possible cross-country drive from Perth to Sydney Opera House; and even Pyongyang to see how the 'forbiden city of reality' actually functions. And also not forgetting all the seven wonders of the world, especially the Grand Canyon and Coloseum, toronto's CN tower, and the Great Pyramid. Definitely not forgoing the Aurora for anything! Oh well, is $200,000 enough? Don't faint, dad. It's for future for myself by myself. For that sum, perhaps I have to wait till I'm 40 years old to realise the dream.

For now, they're all bubbles. Jus yet, don't try to burst any! Just let my heart wonder for a moment.

The Aurora

Leading a sedantary lifestyle

2009-08-06T23:41:00.007+08:00

OMG. Zhenyu has had cravings for Mac. HAHAHAHA. Sounds serious? Like the first time in dunno how many donkey years? I mean, not just the burger the bun or the patty but fries this time! If you know me well, well, you'll know i hate fries because I don't think potatoes should go into the hot oil. So the worst thing is that, the cravings were satisfied like almost immediately. Out I went and I'm just in time for the McValue just to save a mere bit. Don't know what's that call, mac double fish fillet? With added wasabi of course. I love it! Had this once in Hong Kong, and I'd say the second attempt to break the record was so similar to the first. They tasted almost the same, or least the same at all. I'm going to try bolehland's mac next week!

Not withstanding that, I think I'm certain I'm correct and I'm justified that H1N1 is within me. It was just reported in the news that almost all flu patients is contracted with it, and it's become a large scale common flu, just like any other viruses in history. It's been 3 weeks since my first visit to the doctor? And the first visit was 1 week after my first symptom surfaced. So technically there are more than 30 days of symptoms. Up till today I'm still on anti-biotics because my doctor couldn't dispose me with tamiflu because his clinic is not under the Pandemic Preparedness Clinic (PPC) framework. He said 'even if you're down with H1N1 I can't tell either'. Like wtf? Ok sorry for that but the bottomline is that I'm still down.

Seems like the virus is invading my brain cells. I've been satisfying my every craving, like the mac case, and more to come. Potatoe chips?! Oh gosh. I hated it for once and for years of abstinence until I broke the sacred and unspoken history with my bare hands and an open mouth in just a few seconds. The 3kg lost (WOW) during the last month could be, again, a matter of history. Refering to this post, the target and result are on par but if I'm going at this rate, the lost kilos will be reverted in just a few days. And the virus being in the way of workouts, the body mass will typically, as is the case before, increase back to the peak of recent times.

Kbox session tml, and I hope to warm up my huge already long frozen brain.

ONE GOOD NEWS. The new owner of my house has agreed to extend the tenure for two months comencing from the date of completion. Maybe November instead of next month. Urgently looking for a new stayout now. Thank them for that, appreciated. If not perhaps the spot under KJE flyover could be our next shelter...

ITS HOLIDAY SEASON! Travelling around the region for the next few weeks!

Yet another craving: this time round an unrealistic one and can't be satisfied in at least the near future. She's the one.

A korean born in germany. A true elegant beauty in its class. And for the price.

TEN years later. Cool.

Home Sweet Home

2009-08-04T21:16:00.010+08:00

Look at how she construct her own bed. That's so smart and cute of her!

That's really hilarious! HAHAHAAHA. Or perhaps she knows we're all moving soon....

AND... I think this is real cool. Called the PRT (Personal Rapid Transport), it moves only when there's passenger, so that alone can save on resources and thus lower fare (Approx 20c a trip for 4 persons), yet direct service (can go right into a shopping mall or office building) with no transfers needed. The best thing is, the train waits for you, not the other way around like the mrt or bus transit. Imagine our Orchard Road featuring such cool thingy??

And this is how she sleeps everyday!

New job!

2009-08-02T13:45:00.002+08:00

A new job, a new begining.

Just bathed the hamsters. They smell good like i do!

Sick

2009-07-27T20:32:00.005+08:00

It's been one week since the last post. Perhaps with litt or no mood to blog, even facebook apps seem so boring. And, 3 slips of MCs for the past 7 days - first was toothache, and fever, then today chest discomfort and so giddy. Is it H1N1?! So worried. mask on. I tried to go work yesterday, but in the end ended work 5 hrs earlier instead and took a cab home for a restful night.

Attended cousin zanc's graduation at ntu. all the best for him! ntu, here i come!

And, I don't usually talk to bastards.

A Day At Bay

2009-07-19T21:58:00.002+08:00

A bad, bad toothache... High fever.

Wondering how real is that.

Stopped.

Out We Go! - A New Chapter Begining

2009-07-12T21:51:00.031+08:00

This morning came an expatriate family with their two little boys, as well as a local retiree. Both parties arrived at my doorstep for viewing and consequently one became the new owner after a table of negotiation. That means my house is now technically sold, with just one or more steps at the law firm to be officially sold. The new owner - a nepalis middle aged men and his young family - instantly became the to-be owners with a downpayment after agreeing to what all of us believe it to be a 'heavenly heaven' - my home. That was their first visit, our first viewer, and surprisingly the deal closes so quickly because they liked it the moment they enter the house. Good thing for the agent. Then the other viewer also liked it so much so that competition arose between them for the next two hours. But the local man, whose wife wasn't around, loses out because he couldn't get hold of the go-ahead by his spouse. In the end, the family man inked down at a premium he is rather comfortable with.

After nearly 10 years of residency at this condominium, things have certainly gone far and almost everything, including the neighbourliness and the physical environment, now feels even closer to heart following the confirmation of departure. Surely, we can't bear to leave this place but life has to go on and into the next phase of our lives, or a milestone travelled.

It does take quite some effort to let go, and mum will be hardest hit - being the household manager day-in day-out. Long Service Award - should there be one.

Now trees are tall, and the tiles have shown signs of exposure to the elements; all these are significant as we age all together right from the beginning. Not everybody likes algae growing on the ledge, but I do. It goes through the test of time and with every weather element. So are hairline cracks, blown light bulbs and some stubborn stains.

Every moment of the past has been captured and witnessed within and with them signing on the dotted line, that signifies the end of the legacy. But of course, there will be a new house soon. While many belongings will be shifted over, certain things need to stay intact, taking over nothing but pure memories. More and more photos will be taken, just like this afternoon, which we the shutterbugs work non-stop in an attempt to capture every corner as images to be kept, waiting to be retrieved many many years down the road, supplementing our real-life history lesson in future.

So within the next and final 10 weeks of stay, we vowed to make everything perfect, including the daily use of the estate facilities (but not by sleeping on the car park lot) and upkeeping the house's physical condition in the upmost and tip-top state. The fish-eye view outside our full-height windows, which leads the sightline to as far as Bukit Timah, Bukit Panjang, Jurong Town and Jurong Island, will always be missed... cos' the images of it simply cannot replicate the breathtaking and scenic wonderful heaven's gift which we had enjoyed for almost a decade, together.

Yew Mei Green - a true epitome of goodness.

Seriously, things around me have been changing at a rapid rate. Seems like I will have to work harder to bring back lost things... Anything but then, not just the loafs. But I hope to discard things that should well have been discarded. Somebody important please appear... Come back, courage!

Food For Thought

2009-07-07T23:05:00.005+08:00

Mum fell sick, so came the responsibility. What a thoughtful son...

Last night's amazing dinner: Ipoh horfun Soup

Tonight's hearty dinner: Tropical Seafood Crepe
(Tuna + Pineapple + Blueberry and a slice of cheddar cheese)

Wow.......

Project NS

2009-07-04T16:59:00.007+08:00

Ns enlistment is around the corner! So, I shall (once again) commence on the project 'D' for 'diet'! Because of all those unnecessary trips overseas, those past projects have been halted several times in a year, or two, or reluctantly the past 20 years. What's left in store will be the time in next two months, which is from now till 31 Aug. The target will be to lose 5 kg in all, or 0.6kg per week. 600g if you wish, if I still look like a beautiful piece of pork to you. Though 5kg may look as if a NO BIG DEAL number, losing 0.6kg a week is not an easy task. So what's in the plan? No comments. Just results... =)

Update: Letter came - Pes B L1. Date still unknown. zzz... I hope I'll be enlisted like, NOW. Quickly go in and get out earlier, so to stop it from being a hindrance to my progress as planned.

Determination... Prudence... Integrity... Yield to maturity!!!! lol.

Over the weekend

2009-07-01T10:15:00.020+08:00

Well, I'm back from yeowchong's 21st birthday chalet. It's fun I would say, and I'm certainly exhausted. Hope he and everybody had enjoyed! For the past four days since Friday, a car worth over $60k was rented for $260 and incredibly I've clocked in more than 800km on 70l of petrol, which is about 12km/litre (FC very good). Seriously, 800km in three days, and done so incredibly in our tiny Singapore. Shall everyone award me with claps!! Another thing: I seriously did not understand why the front-right tyre needed an inflation to be done. But now I know.

=(

What about the few days of work at the emergency department again? I think I'm sort of getting rather used to people howling and crying in the midst of walking at the corridor. With H1N1 getting quite serious now, 1 in 8 patients would request for a swab test because they were in close contact with their H1N1-positive friends or family members. It is statistically proven that these suspected cases had mostly turned out to be positive. Scary ya? I think so. Mum had suggested me to quit the job at the supposedly 'white tower', because it is now somehow black, and making the house look a little grey at every end of the day is not something everybody likes. Should I reconsider about staying put, or just back off? It is not as if I needed money badly, but just to break free from the legacy (of receiving non-work $$). Nevertheless, I love my job, I love the people there, and I love to see the figures grow too (on bank statement though, not H1N1).

For now, I will not go to band because I'm now a high-risk person. And given that the band room is always so stuffy, the risk of spreading is even higher. Mdm khong, forgive me!! =)

Thanks! =)

Fishing Trip

2009-06-24T11:23:00.024+08:00

Hurray! I'm back from the fishing trip! We caught lots of fishes and likewise a crab and a seaweed. Simply it was an interesting trip to begin with, I think everyone has enjoyed as much as I did!

In the dawn of 20th June, I woke up excitedly way before the alarm could have lifted me awake. Immediately after my usual walk-around in the house, sat on the sofa and then recall what I could have left out. I picked up my bags and fishing accessories and left the house.

We actually were heading to Malaysia's Sibu Island (Pulau Sibu), 100km north-east of Singapore, and about 140km of journey on the road. Not so far away, I took us about 3 hours to reach the Jetty, which should not have taken us more than 2 hours because the newbie driver lost his way on the country road. When we reach the jetty at about 12nn, it had far exceeded the boat arrival time of 10am.

Nonetheless we were just in time to enjoy our sumptuous seafood lunch prepared by the owner onboard the kelong, after a scenic but exhaustive 45mins boad ride. In case you ask 'what is a kelong', well, it's a kind of floating platform in the middle of the sea that was historically used by fishermen purely for fishing activities, which is now used for leisure activities. Such platforms are exclusive to our South-East Asia region, where many other kelongs can be found in offshore Singapore and Indonesia too.

So we had fun, hadn't we? We really enjoyed the facilities and activities there. Mr ong was fishing non-stop and was found still with the hook late at night. For me, capturing the scenic shots was not at all regretted, given that I've sacrificed some fishing time. The environment there was simply beautiful, great! Whether dusk or dawn, even in the middle of the night there'd be something for the camera. It would easily have been the nature's paradise! However, the large amount of pollution the kelong produces gave way to the could-be name. That's because all of our food scraps, washing detergent (what the hell!!), washroom wastes such as soiled toilet paper and shampoo, would all end up in the supposedly clear blue sea. I contemplated on eating our catch, but ended up doing so anyway. That would be really gross if I were to find 'something' in the fishes' tummies.

Yes, I felt tired and went to bed that night. And something dangerous had happened during then - FIRE. A wall-fan just about 2 or 3 foots below the vulnerable attap roof went haywire and caught fire. Everyone whose eyes stayed wide open stayed panic too, with some shouting for fire extinguishers and trying out ways to put the small fire out. Luckily, the few owners managed to extinguish it. The worse thing is that the entire kelong is made up of wood, wood and wood, capped with an attap roof. So if everything is that flammable, what would have happened if everything gets burnt? Roasted human beings with a touch of malaysian flavour? The vicinity is nothing the eye can manage - because everywhere you see would be pitch dark if we were to escape into the sea. What's worse, all these happened while I was snoring my way. That's because, I thought, this credits to my ipod's noise-cancellation ear piece that I just bought. I couldn't hear anything other than Olivia Ong. I got up, after hearing some hoo-hahs, and went back into slumberland again instead. This despite the fire over my head, literally. Mr Ong's eyes remained open all the way until all his children woke after sunrise. I think I should get myself a punishment for not being alert... No more ipod during overseas trip...

At the return journey, we went to johor bahru's new Aeon Tebrau City 'mega mall' which is litterary HUGE. Jusco, comprising its departmental store and supermarket, is the anchor tenant. Dad says we'll drive there next month!!

Overall, it's a good experience and I certainly look forward to another trip like this. Photo time! Please give comments for my photos :) I personally love the one with the bee! The resolution was perfect at 10mp with no digital zoom used.

It's Photos Time!

Karaoke Session!

Against Wasting Food When Others Needs It More

2009-06-22T22:25:00.003+08:00

This video is about wasting of food as a general culture of the new age people, especially those who lives in developed countries and cities. I can't say it's food scrap, when at least half of the serving goes to the bin. These leftovers actually can feed a whole lot of other hungry human beings around the world. So, let's not waste food and appreciate them!

"I felt disquiet upon learning that the protracted global economic crisis has brought about increased unemployment and its related social problems.Even sadder is the fact that there are one billion hungry people in the world, and that number is expected to grow.While many in other countries are suffering from food shortages, a lot of Singaporeans never seem to realise how fortunate they are.In restaurants, hawker centres and coffee shops, one can see food left behind by patrons who do not bother to finish what they have ordered.Why can’t we order only what we want to consume?It is common to see diners at buffets piling their plates with food as if there were no tomorrow.Perhaps there is nothing wrong with them doing so, but it can be exasperating when they consume only a portion and discard the rest.They also tend to repeat this wasteful act throughout the course of their meal.Some of us are unaware that the amount of food wasted each day can easily feed thousands of people elsewhere, where food is scarce and some cannot afford the rising prices.Hence, it is our responsibility to drive home the message of food conservation to those indulging in wasteful behaviour."

- Adapted from http://soshiok.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1735#post1735.

Last Day at Emergency

2009-06-19T00:08:00.014+08:00

Alright, I'm back from work. Read the news? There are 17 more new cases of H1N1 carriers in Singapore, bringing the total number of cases to 77. More than 6 of whom had came to the emergency area which i'm working at. At about 3.30pm, a slip of paper was passed down from the top asking us to be prepared for the arrival of a family of four, who had arrived from Jakarta the day before. Their little girl, age of about 8 years old, was tested positive during yesterday's visit to the emergency department. But the problem was, where is at all their responsibility? Yes, they did not take public transport, they drove. But not at all a protection - the infected girl wasn't wearing any mask, and even during the arrival at the emergency counter. She was coughing non-stop, not even at least covering with her hand, which had me and the other staff sanitising the area thoroughly for at least 10mins. I still had to use my gloved hands to help her put on a mask, so you see where has their social responsibility gone? I could have called them selfless, and ignorant if I could. Immediately we rolled down out PPE and quickly changed to a new one, after they were quarantined. The quartet did not just end there without yet another anti-triumphant action - making a fuss over which dinner to have tonight is definitely uncalled for.

"Children's Emergency NAME of IC NUMBER H1N1 Please put to Fever Facilities" (Censored for privacy reason and contracted 'non-disclosure clause')

There isn't any identity leakage, neither did I mention my place of work. Anyway there were over 300 number of emergency cases today, or at least during my time of duty. Patients and visitors walk in and out seeking entry to the clinic were denied dutifully and often we ended up getting reprimanded for that. I hope people just understand that it's getting rather serious out there, and limiting the number of people in contact is currently the way to go, which is in line with the MOH's strategy concurrently. There was simply no room for breathing, because every few minutes someone will rush into the premises seeking for urgent help. And literally, we were wrapped up with the PPE (personal protective equipment) and trust me, there's totally not a single pore could be found. If only the pores on my nose could be transferred there and help me perspire less, I'd love to have such PPE one day. My clothes are wet just after two hours from wearing one, so imagine having to wear till the 10pm from 3pm. We were literally wearing plastic. Yes plastic. You can imagine.

Here comes the real-life stories. There was a todler, perhaps just over 2 year-old, was rushed in by a van driven by his father. Upon reaching the ambulance bay, the driver sounded the honk repeatedly to gather our attention, who had successfully done so. Three staff, including me, dropped whatever we had on hand, and even skipped some patients in the queue, and ran to the bay and had the baby pushed into the Children's Emergency. The boy probably had either epilepsy or fits, who couldn't respond and move. I could see the anxiety and distress his parents were suffering while waiting for his treatment results. I could have easily teared, but hell no I knew I was there to work and serve. It was heartening.

Linking to the case of fits, I had successfully brought a persistent patient back to the hospital from a grass patch under a tree at the roadside. She actually ran away from the ambulance after it had reached the hospital - for fear of being jabbed. I did not witness what had happened before until someone actually came to my call because this old lady had suffered fits while at home. According to her brother, she had regained consciousness after awhile but was nonetheless sent onto an ambulance for her health sake. Unwillingly, she went with it but ended up dashing across the road for a good shelter under the tree. The plot sounded funny, but when present at reality it wasn't at all the case, and instead, the truth belies in the reality. The family, including the brothers, grandchildren, and while waiting for her son to arrive, looked uneasy in deciding whether to give her a tranquilizer jab, or simply to tie her to the stretcher and get her butt into the hospital. But none agreed to any suggestions because tying is indeed inhumane. The brother came in and seek for help, none was free so I went instead. I dashed across the road and surprisingly the taxis and cars halted their movement to what look like giving way to me. Perhaps being dressed in the bright-yellow PPE looks like a red light to them, given them the sense of urgency or whatever they had thought. So I found her, under the tree. It wasn't anywhere visible from the building. Their relatives squatted hopelessly were trying to give another shot to get her to the doctors. But she was afraid of me, probably due to my alien-like appearance, because only my eyes appeared. But fortunately I still have my hairs not covered. So I went ahead anyway despite her fear, and told her that her sister needs to be warded, 'could you please come with us to the clinic?' She agreed. That shows at least my level of hokkien is still good and can bring across simple messages almost effectively. Another plus! Luckily her sister was there, who was older than her, wheelchair-bound and always frustrated, and that I could use her in the name of, yea, help. Am I insane? At least she is now treated.

Another case happens to an eight-year-old boy whose mother had to speed his son to the resus room (a room with lots of curtains where urgent treatments are held with all sorts of complicated machines, like those seen on TV) because he has a heart problem, which he felt breathless. Even after I left work at 10, they were still waiting at the foyer. I really could feel for them.

So for today, I did almost all things not listed on my job scope - from cleaning, housekeeping, messenging, to bluffing, eating, and blogging, they completed my day with a sense of fulfilment which I will always love to have. A firm handshake from the satisfied relatives feels really good too, till the extend that skipping dinner is peanut to me.

For now, I'd self-isolate from tomorrow. I've brought N95 masks home, I don't want my family to get contracted with the deadly virus... If you consider yourself a friend of mine, simple text, call, msn, or whatever when needed but just don't meet me for a few days. I'll skip the Malaysia trip this sat if fever comes my way. If not, of course I'll still go... =) Anyway, a community spread is likely on its way very soon. So people, it will be good if you can stock up some face mask at home and prepare to wear them out of home should the health ministry declares a pandemic. Be responsible, be prepared. And, be serious about it.

Say 'I'm a cheese'! So, who's not serious here? lol

For that, it signifies the end of my stint at the emergency department. From tomorrow onwards, I'll be stationed at other parts of the hospital, which I hope is less easily to be in contact with the potential ultimate viral traffickers.

Subsequent Days at work

2009-06-17T10:39:00.006+08:00

So I probably will add on to my 'blog debt' if I still were to use Day 1 and Day 2 all the way till the end of the course of work. 'Subsequent days' will probably cover my laziness to blog. Though the scope is like nothing, at the end of the day I'll still feel exhausted, feeling coarse and dry. This is especially so if I work evening shift the previous day, and then morning shift the next. This is translated to be only less than 6 hours to sleep. Nonetheless, I feel happy!

Monday was my first time at the Emergency department. I had to be wrapped up like a bachang using the yellow 'PPE' or personal protective equipment, gloves, and N95 mask. Walk-in patients, some feeling breathless, in pain, already fainted, or seriously ill, approached us the counter staff hoping for help. That's inevitable. Some had their fingers broken, still blood shedding, have to have it cured immediately. Anxious relatives had to hopelessly wait outside at the foyer. One infant, still on arm, just days after born, suffered from severe high fever. All these lead to the softer side of me, hoping to just help everyone of them. Judging from the face of their friends, families, or parents, they simply looked as tensed as if my parents were to send me for treatment. An obese indian lady who is pregnant for seven months, fell onto the ground and was shouting with great pain. I had to carry her out of the taxi, with the help of her husband, and pushed her right in for the doctor on a wheelchair. She was vomiting and crying in pain; I wonder how is she now. All these jobs are not part of my job scope; there was simply nobody available to help other than the security guard who was on duty, which I don't think is part of her scope too. Probably it's my instinct to be of service to whoever needs help... Or I just can't bear to see people struggling in pain.

Today and tomorrow, I'll be stationed at the Emergency dept again. And I shall witness again these sights with interest. By the way, it isn't nice to be wrapped. It's non-absorbent and non-breathability properties are killing. I was all wet, and had changed 4 suits in a day.

Day 2 at Work

2009-06-13T23:30:00.010+08:00

It was Day 2. Like yesterday's morning, I held position at the main lobby front desk. Nothing was unusual there, except that there were many patients who look really ill, and visitors, facial expressions of gloom and grief. Some patients who were heading for appointments look really weak, and immediately I could tell whether they are cancer or mental patients. Of course, patients heading for other treatment clinics such as the urology and neuro centres couldn't be recognised by their appearance. Time passes very quickly as I witnessed people moving in and out of the hospital. At sometime close to evening, a group of people rushed in and panicky wrote their particulars and rushed into the elevator. I reckon that one of their loved ones could be sitting on the edge of his life, awaiting their urgent arrival. Many other patients come from other countries such as Indonesia and Myanmar, together with their relatives. Most of them are probably rich people, as coming to Singapore for treatment would cost them dearly without the local rate, government subsidy and the 3Ms (Medisave, Medisheild and Medifund).

Saturdays are boring, said one colleague. Indeed, for the whole day there were only about 300 visitor arrivals at my side. Usually there were more than 1000 per day, per entrance. So during the free time, the few of us chatted 'vigorously' and understood some life's problems and we managed to offer some brilliant solutions to one guy. So for a typical guy's talk, surely relationship problems top off the list. One guy problem was a triangular relationship, and again, we managed to help him solve and he's once again a happy person.

On another occasion, we had another life's experience session with an over 50 year-old security guard. He was a product engineer, had a diploma, degree, and he took about 4 years to reach the top salary of $8000 per month. He used to own everything from a big car, luxury condominium, country club memberships, and flies to other countries. His annual income tax was $12 000 per annum, which led us to suspect how much he had earned in the past. Three years ago, he got retrenched and there goes all his ownerships to what he loved at that time. Surely it was depressing to see these luxury go off, and had all his possessions wiped out overnight. Few months after his retrenchment, he signed up for a job as security guard. He accepted it with pride, saying that life has its ups and downs, its okay to experience life in another way. Wow, I salute him for that. I look up to him. And guess what? He's heading back to school to complete his masters in engineering soon. Kudos to him!! People, just don't give up no matter what happens in life =)

Some time past 8pm, a group of three Bangladeshi workers came in and requested to see a friend who is hospitalised. I know it's the end of the visiting hours (5 - 8pm), but the bloody security guard on duty simply shove them off with a straight no with waving hand gestures. One replied that "we work late everyday, only today we can come see him". I was quickly and entirely softened, and maintained my stand again. I wanted to invite them in, but the security guard insisted with a 'sorry, come back tomorrow'. They looked completely lost, and kept staring at me for an approval. But I knew I can't. So what I did was, I gathered them and led them out of the building to the foyer, removed my face mask and hand signalled to them to enter the hospital through another entrance. They understood me after my three tries of winking and hand side-shoving, they smiled and quickly left to enter from the car park. What made me pissed off was that just a few minutes later, someone what look like a Singaporean chinese couple, was allowed to enter without a noise made by that bloody fucking idiot. I wonder what's the double standard, and the 3rd-level racism for.

Shortly after that, I left work for home. Along the journey, made some new friends, who are part of the 100-strong workforce. Some were professionals in the past before they got retrenched, and end up looking for several temporary jobs to sustain their families. Poor people, they're live examples I should feel for, not just spend money life nobody's business. I'm thrifty nowadays, by the way.

That's all for today! I really feel exhausted but gladly so because I've seen so many things today. Tomorrow I'll not report for work. Come monday, there will come the most interesting part. I'll be stationed at the Emergency Department, a.k.a A&E. I'll be seeing life's worse cases like the aftermath of a traffic accident, howling and crying relatives over just-dead loved ones, among other saddening reality. I don't know how much I'll get affected. But emotions aside, I just have to know that these are realities which I can't avoid. Seeing these more often could lead me to be prepared for the unforseen in future.

Goodnight!

Day 1 at Work

2009-06-13T09:57:00.007+08:00

Does it sound like it's my first day as a doctor? don't drop your jaws, it isn't as glamorous. But at the same time not that unglam... My first day at the hospital as a temporary triage staff who takes patients' and visitors' temperature and particulars at the entrances of the premises. H1N1 is getting more serious here, with the latest increment to 27 cases. But does that signal to our never ending job? Yesterday, the health minister revealed that the country will be gradually changing their strategy towards mitigating spread of virus, instead of containment. All temperature taking measures will be redundant in minimising spread. So let say if there are communal spread in the public, will we still be needed at these entrances of the hospital? Yes, all the worry for my job, for now. Later, I'll start to worry when my family and friends are more prone to catching the virus in public. What about stopping NS because of H1N1?

I woke up at 6.30am and left the house at 7, took me about an hour to reach the workstation. Getting used to the environment was an easy task. The moment I reach the entrance, 'wow its a hospital'. So not much of a fuss. I initiated around the reception desk, and subsequently sat there, watching the thermal scanner like a zombie, and had a good laugh with fellow colleagues. Awhile on, we went for a training conducted by the hospital's HR dept at the neighbouring auditorium. We had a good laugh too. Half of the audience of about 80 - 100 were blind folded; I was one of them. The other half will come back into the hall and found themselves each a partner. These partners, became the Service Providers, weren't suppose to communicate a word with their 'established blind man'. Later, the SPs would hold onto their arm, guide them the way through thick and thin, going up and down flight of stairs, and after about 15mins we were led back to our seats. There was no room for cheating by the way, integrity was held in the way. I felt a total lost, dependent, and had given a full trust for the one leading me the way. So that's actually the aim of the training - to let us understand how the patients feel when they're at the life's most critical point, and have to make them trust you for your service, making their kins sure they're dealt with at good hands.

After lunch, I was transferred to another station. This time, hell not, I was given the best seat of all. Devi hit the 'B' button on the elevator, and upon stepping out of the lift, many huge water pipes for NEWater, normal water supply, sewage pipes, and electrical wire tracks could be seen. There I was, at the basement of a hospital, where the unseen could be seen. After a few good 300m of walking, we finally found the workstation. Devi said: "Okay, you'll be stationed here with another guy. Eh you look there, it's the mortuary." Oh gosh! That's the respond I had for that moment, knowing that I'll be there till 9pm. However, everything went alright and in good state until about half plus four. Being the basement, as I said, all unseen could well be seen, and there I saw something not usually seen - a corpse, being pushed on a wheeled stretcher on its way to the mortuary, accompanied by some next-of-kins or relatives. I didn't really see the body, or rather, the body was put underneath the 'bed' and was covered by a PVC material so it was hard to be seen, even after several tries to peep in. There was not just one, but three, between the first and the last at about 7pm. I guess it is a daily ritual till the extent that the staff have gotten so used to it that it doesn't matter for them to even spend their night in the mortuary (but surely outside of the fridges).

To add on to the thrill, we were chatting on the topic of paranormal, which sparked some needless chill down our spines. But interestingly so. One malay female security guard, who was seated by our side, and stationed there, told us about her past experience. According to her, the security guards don't have to just secure the premises. Some at ******dra Hospital have to wrap the dead body, carry them, and push them to the mortuary, that was the reason she didn't take up a job there. Though she didn't, she could see 'things'. At a chinese traditional funeral at her void deck, she could see figures without eyes and broken legs, just to say a few, sitting by the roadside at one herd and many others, moving around the empty field next to the block, heading towards the funeral. At that time she was arriving home on a taxi, so she asked the driver did he see anything unusual. 'No', he said. That's when she know she has a third eye. After that, she repeatedly described our current location, with much hand gestures, that some spirit may be there, there, and there, and on our table. I could have sprung up and pushed back my computer chair, but did not instead. There were a few more stories which I don't think is, say child-safe, unsuitable here. But all I would say is, again, be safe than sorry.

At the end of the shift, we left the building, leaving only one male security guard on duty. He is used to it, anyway. Those stuff isn't in his mind, so he didn't worry nor seeing anything unusual during the darkest hour.

When I reach home, I was utterly exhausted. I went into bed immediately after bath, and bathing time was immediately after I entered the house. No thoughts on those stuff though, that's the norm of a typical life, the operation of a hospital, and seeing the usually-unseen stuff was already enough to be an eye-opener and a bonus for working at a hospital, which I otherwise wouldn't get the chance to be there getting paid while exploring the ever on-going facts and the interest in me, without being a doctor or a nurse. It will be a life's experience, I would say. I'm now getting ready for Day 2! Depending on my state of mind, I'll see if I'll blog. =)

Bermuda Triangle?

2009-06-03T12:05:00.011+08:00

The recent Air France jet incident has led me to think: Has the plane hit the Bermuda Triangle? I've been rather interested in the happenings at or around the site to the south of Atlantic Ocean and near the south-east coast of the North America continent.

On 1 June, Air France flight AF-447 took off Rio de Janeiro Airport at about local time 7pm, supposedly to reach Paris at about 11am on Monday. However just three hours into the flight, the electronics probably went haywired and lost contact with the air traffic controls at grounds. Till date, no information has been found, and not even the black boxes, except for a floating in-flight seat that probably belongs to the aircraft.

News reports that probably the plane was hit by a lightning. Perhaps so, but what about the Bermuda Triangle? The jet flew 100km (54 nautical miles) off and away the runway, and in nowhere near the bermuda triangle. Or has the triangle expanded? I don't know either, the mystery will remain. Keep researching..

Calling for Fishing Enthusiasts!

2009-05-31T21:54:00.003+08:00

If you want to get away from our bustling city, and one who loves fishing, join us on the 2D1N 20th June fishing getaway! We're going to a kelong near the Sibu island in Malaysia's east coast, about 1.5hrs drive away from singapore + plus a 25mins boat ride.

Info: http://www.kelongfishing.com/index.asp

For S$88, the price includes a two-way boat transfer, 5 meals (1B,2L,1D,1S) including 3 seafood meals, free island hoping and access to private beach; free flow coffee/tea, bathing water, fishing baits; and beds. Additionally RM25 for catered BBQ onboard. One main catch for this trip is the 'SURE CATCH' for fishing because of its strategic location!

Brief Itinerary
Day1
6am: Assembly
Reach checkpoint by 7am
Breakfast can be arranged in between journey
Reach Tanjung Leman Jetty by 10am
10.30am Reach Kelong
12nn onwards F&E + Seafood Lunch
4pm island hopping (shopping at next island; weather dependent)
6.30pm Dinner...
F&E....
Fishing...food...sightseeing.. sotong catching..games..ktv..mahjong..

Day 2:
8am Breakfast
12nn Lunch
boat will leave kelong by 2pm
Reach Singapore by 6pm.

If you're interested, please contact me asap so that I can continue to book the trip. Currently we have 10 people on the list (Incl mr ong's family of 7), and confirmed.

Cost Estimation Per Pax
S$88 - Kelong Package - boat, accommodation, selected free facilities
S$30(est.) - Two-way coach ticket Jetty to/from Singapore mainland
RM4 - Jetty entrance ticket

Optional Expenses
Day 1 Breakfast at own expense (Est RM6 - 10)
Kelong amenities:
Canned drinks RM3
Bear RM7
Fishing Rod RM34 (Rental for your stay throughout)
10 000-song KTV RM15/hr
BBQ RM25 (one-week notice)
snacks (Rm1 - 10)

=)

Finally, Graduation!

2009-05-26T01:01:00.015+08:00

Mr Ng!

Well, countless images of the past three fruitful years flashes effortlessly through my mind throughout the day and before, especially so during the ceremony. Year 1, 2 and then 3; it seems fking slow with 3 long years or 156 weeks, yet when looked from point to point that feels more like zhenyu's yesterday than yesteryear. Recalling the rather embarrassing moment as a freshman - Day 1. Right in front of the yet-to-have-known new classmates, in the orange polo, performing the humorous banana dance and virtually stripping as if peeling a banana. Fun but funny, it is now an image of nostalgia in sepia tone. Images simply come by and go off clearly and distinctively. Year 2, the TEP. Working in EMRS (events management) and Cheers store was most memorable, though initially sucky because it comes without salary. Nonetheless I'd still say it's the holistic provision that has led to the 'NYP Experience' (as touted by the institution)! Some may say 'huh?' but at the end of the day, the school has shown a systematic management, quality and flawless academic system and high-standard built environment. Almost all lecturers gave great great support. Beloved lecturers are Ms Chee ML, Alan Fong, Ong WM, Angela Cheng, Teo LN and some other ones such as Aloysious Tan, Teo PH, Annie Tan, Chew SH, and Ivy Lim are one of the closer lecturers. =) Smile! Ultimately if without this team of people there'll be without great students! Kudos to everybody!

Mr Alan Fong - PEM for 3 sems!

Ms Chee ML - greatest supporter! lol.

Ms Teo Lee Noi - Best part-time tutor and probably the most interesting tutorial in memory!

Ms Angela Cheng - PEM for 2 sems. All the best for you and your baby girl!

Appreciations too for my family, relatives and cousin for joining us. =) Cousin Zanc i'll be at your graduation too at your Uni! Speaking of which - it looks like this graduation isn't complete without a mortarboard (square cap), it will become another drive for me to work towards a Deg!

BM0627-BG: Keep in touch!

More photos at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16871&id=1653206898&l=54b22c7fa7

A Thought of Aftermath

2009-05-24T00:19:00.007+08:00

Sometimes when things happen my way, I'm a wise man. Sometimes when things go out of way, I'm a failure. But when things don't happen at all, I'm neither. And when things get stuck in between both, I'm clueless.

So what happens when things fall in between the extremes? Blog. Simple. Let's weigh.

At the junction of Bras Basah Road and Victoria Street, the road junction at the busy cultural district gives me and the reality a true sense of complication. The library's there and standing tall, a hotel and a mall. On the other side is an abandoned building. Not so much about this though. Just visualize.

As a pedestrian, when I face the other side, I feel as it is. When I face the library, I feel the influx of knowledge. Facing the hotel, I feel like a visitor. To get across, I shouldn't dash across blindly and face consequence. But if I do, that's in the name of fun. But where's the fun, where the hell is the casino?! On the other hand, as a foreign or local driver, shouldn't I just hit the gas anyway, regardless of any condition? Worth it? Isn't that the quickest way to get across? Yes? Ideally, it's too complicated a game to be enjoyed by the masses.

If everything in life were just so easy said, where's the utmost challenge? Common layman still do abide by the rules. Rules are there not just to be there but for a purpose for an audience. But to surpass the rules is an attitude attributable, given any consequence.

Basically, even the simplest and most common sense things thoroughly make my receptors work. Am I constantly in search of a direction in life? For a cause or an action? Regrettable but frankly I am, but you're no different. So for or against danger or safety? Given high risk high returns, I'm still as clueless though. What about trying that when all cars stop? lol.

Glad that my direction is at a busy, artistic and cultural district. What about yours?

- just a thought. (and many words.) =]

Funny Clips

2009-05-20T22:20:00.003+08:00

The Legend of Modern Aladin

Just a simple clip =) Don't question how the story flows; I don't know either. Just laugh your way to the loo!

Some fun before the shoot!

Basically, some fun here but still are things that can be improved on. Speculate for future productions! =)

Busy bee!

2009-05-19T23:05:00.012+08:00

Have been quite busy lately despite being jobless. No extra cash but all the time and fun. But this lifestyle is not going to last for long - I've more or less found a job, just waiting for the interview to clear.

Daniel's here for 3 weeks, plus a trip up north are the main factors for being so time-packed. Last week, we went aboard the Ducktour! First and probably the only one. It was indeed as interesting as the way it's marketed. And what's more interesting is - Nisa's our tour guide for the day! Both of us were shocked so see each other at an unlikely place, and yea, followed by a big hug.

Daniel, and me, on a warcraft used in vietnam in WWII, touring the city in both land and water.

Merlion Park, and the world's tallest hotel.

Genting

Aboard and abroad. That's as easy as ABC because it's so convenient - just a bus ride away! Last Sunday, dad mum and me went ahead as planned for a short getaway. Same place, but different people. A 4D3N trip, unusually long, but that's with a trip down to Kuala Lumpur for a shopping spree which mum loves it. I brought back home nothing but memories. Some places we went were those we've been to about five years ago. Like the one below, Berjaya Times Square. Not much changes though. It's still the same KL City Centre.

Times Square and the monorail track (Which coincidentally broke down when we needed it most. And at the time of evening rush hour, heavy road congestions were seen.)

Dreamz Show - some sort of circus featuring white tigers, lions, and some puppies.

Not just that, its catchphrase included 'defying gravity' which later featured stunts like 'flying man', '360° flying bikes' and magician cutting up a live person. Gross, looked like real, but it's not. Sadly not a single photo shoot was allowed, except for preshow (above).

On our way home, we were given an ultra-luxury WTS coach ride for the next 6 hours! The bus was said to be just two months old, and I loved the leather smell! (a.k.a new car smell). The coach features aircraft-style cocoon sleepers, old-school games like pacman, and many other movies.

HOW COOL CAN THAT BE?!

2009-05-19T00:30:00.002+08:00

Simply OMG!!!

How I wish I could have just one-tenth of it. haha!

Revived!

2009-05-09T13:17:00.004+08:00

One old laptop, many new parts.

New RAM ($78), new Hard Disk($100+), New LCD (est$800-$1200), new touch pad ($?).

All for FREE! Thank you Thinkpad manufacturer. Thanks for coming to my house and had my slowpoke darling fully revived. It's now 10x faster than the slowest point in history. Screen is crystal clear too!

2009-05-04T00:43:00.002+08:00

Respect begets respect.

LIFE LEGACY

2009-04-25T00:45:00.019+08:00

Well, what's life?

Life is perhaps the most wonderful prototype a human can get. Without life, there is no wonder. Because life itself creates tonnes of wonders the nature can co-exist. It's been the legacy from nowhere till somewhere far we can never see. Some call it a development, some call it destruction; whichever the case, it's still the improvements we're talking about, so that we all can enjoy.

Life is rather driven by the surroundings. Sometimes one can confidently say 'I drive my life', but in fact and seriously it is too easy said than done. A mother's smile can get the baby craw further; a carol sang by everyone warms every heart; and even at the deathbed of your dear kin, the feeling of loss can subside after a big warm hug. Indeed, in life we are all dependants. We love people and in return, we hope people will love us back. That's all because no one is by himself, no man's an island; for a clap will always take two hands. Exception to those who can drive his own life, a round of applause. I salute. Otherwise, I know I'm like the rest who can't live in the world of my own. In fact, there's no such world. But I am the stimulus, so are you.

My dream world for everybody is one that is filled with love. No hatred, grudges, immorality, unethicality or conditioned love. Stop the blame, for it will never end. Smile, go and never look back, for life has better things to catch up on. Had your catch, turn around and look back at how sacred things were, for it had never been that easy to fish. Future is the world, if the present makes a story for a bleak past.

Life is a journey, a long long journey. Forgive and forget, and a better day will come. So what's with pushing a car that will never move? So what, change a car then. Hiking with a swollen feet? Rest or heal, and go on. I shouldn't repeat this once more: life is very vulnerable and unpredictable. The next moment royalty comes; or next, life falls. Things are constantly changing, so is life. So, create love and give love, as far as possible, for you might not get another chance for it.

- Just a simple story to show how much I care for the people around me, not at any expense or condition, and regardless of who you are, where you're from.

The abundance that ticks

2009-04-22T00:08:00.004+08:00

Still unemployed. Still as bored as ever.

6 books at once is the answer.

The Greater Generation - In Defense of the Baby Boom Legacy (Leonard Steinhorn)
Depths (Henning Mankell)
Merdeka Square (Kerry B. Collison)
Golden Boy - Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood (Martin Booth)
The Process of Internationalization - Strategic, Cultural and Policy Perspectives
Crafting Marketing Strategy - To Improve Your Business & Profit (Dr Charlie In)

I feel loaded. Not cash wise though.

I'M HOT

2009-04-12T12:07:00.016+08:00

I'm fxxking warm. Not one with some hospitality.

But...

35°C

Even my hamsters avoided their running wheel. And instead of cuddling together for comfort, they've since been staying away from each other as far as possible, laying around like a tare panda.

Neighbours' windows are mostly shut, because air-con is the only ice in the dessert.

Grrr...

Damn pek chek.

SYF 09

2009-04-10T11:47:00.001+08:00

SYF 09 was a killer. The judges were here to kill most of the bands. Gold bands got their silver, while the silver ones got their bronze. That was exactly the case, we felt. For the whole morning of 8th April, almost 80% of the participating schools were given bronze, and many done so consecutively. Swiss cottage band had been getting their Gold medal until now, a silver. Same goes to Commonwealth, just to name a few. Hillgrove wasn't bad - in fact they were good enough to have clinched a silver with their hard work. But a spade being a spade, the players should nonetheless still recognise it and work hard the next round. Just that the judges wanted to raise the local standard, that's all. I would only say, don't cry over spilled milk. Mr Ong has done his best, in fact much more hard work than the previous ones. I'm quite certain Mr Ong won't be allowed to recontract. So if that's the case, the alumni will vacate their already-cold seats too. It's just no point reviving an already dead pet. Unless the school changes its 'system', the status quo shall remain. I pity the few.

Insomnia

2009-04-09T03:15:00.003+08:00

To fall asleep? That hasn't been much an easy task for the past one week, every night without fail. I would silently howl away after every glance at my digital watch seeing the changes by the hour, only to realise i'm still wide, wide awake. It irks me that both feets feels cold and clammy.

Habit dies hard - I'm still googling 'how to sleep well' to solve insomnia. As if it would help.

BOLD and (simply) NUTS

2009-04-04T12:33:00.016+08:00

It is a school in a jungle with monkeys all over pointing fingers. That's all I could conclude. The younger ones hide, while the older ones lie atop them, collectively watching how the finger-system works. I couldn't believe there is a school in Singapore with extremely low morale in the staff. Are we too 'first world'? Or are their EQ too 'third world'? The top ones cover facts, the middle and lower ones suffer the process. Worse, so do the outside ones. It's just a system too rigid, albeit certainly nice on papers and appraisals. Everybody loves good appraisal, but is it a chore to be flexible? Material and realistic.

But I do understand the constraints of the poor few. I understand. No one owes another a living or two. So we shall stop the actions and give a halt to the induced one-way so-called 'interaction'. I shall stop providing the never-appreciated service. So will my team of loyal freaks. Not that I didn't want to clarify more, I was utterly wordless. I'm freaking disappointed.

Bukit Batok Street 52: a street of grief. I'll recover.

I Will Remember to Forget

2009-04-03T21:57:00.017+08:00

Well, the title says it all. Yet again.

Or maybe trying hard to forget to remember.

The fragrance, breeze, and the last quarter. Into the air they vanish.

The darkest bouquet ever. In the pink of recent memory.

Three Luxurious Weeks

2009-03-24T12:17:00.007+08:00

Okay, exams are over and i still have been busy. Just one week after exam, I've been driving around in not one but three rented cars for seven straight days. Fun, fun and fun. Shouldn't it be that I should feel rich when whizzing around the town in these cars? Frankly the fact is I felt richer after the lease ended. The petrol cost has killed my lunches. HAHA. Serve me right. One SUV, one sedan, and a luxurious Mazda 6 in a flashy yellow paintwork. So for the past one week, almost every hour i'm active, except sleeps, in a car. We went fishing, late night supper, all the chores without the worry for the last bus or train.

One thing to note is that on one Sunday evening, my whole family went to Joo Chiat for dinner. Traffic jam gave us the surprised arrival kiss. The entire stretch of the road was jam-packed. Buses can't move, led to a standstill. We visited Parkway Parade for the first time since about 10 odd years ago, and finding a parking bay wasn't much an easy task. Seven storeys of carpark I had to drive all the way up, and upon realising no empty lot, down the hell again and up. Finally, parked, shopped but left within one hour for dinner. Not so interesting about it.

It was raining heavily, the visibility was really low. Everyone was cruising fucking slow. And after a few km, I was shocked to find one victim of a roadkill appeared right in front and underneath of our car. A poor carcass of a huge cat. CAT. Dead, and flattened. Immediately I applied the brake out of natural instinct, which nearly caused an accident at the back. Father screamed, not for the cat though, but for the accident-inducing action. I should've driven anyway and not stop in the middle of the road. So I did, which the car JERKED twice, because it has two left wheels. GOSH. Poor cat. It affected me so much that the Nyonya feast during the dinner was ruined. I felt highly guilty. Hmm... It led me to a series of thoughts. Talk to me..

Fri - Mon (Toyota 3-door SUV Rav4), Mon to thurs (Toyota Vios), Thurs and Fri (Mazda 6SP 2.3). The latter one has a huge engine, really powerful and comfortable. I belive those who have sat in that day share the same sentiments. A huge engine = huge hole in my pocket. Huge cost of petrol.

CityCat - One lady tried to flag me down from far, but shudders to say sorry with a wave is indeed the joke of the night. Does it really look like a cab?!

After one week of intensive driving, there came a backpacking trip to M'sia. It was intended for a gathering dinner at a restaurant in Ipoh, but cousin Leo and I went to other places as well. We flew to KLIA in just 40mins and visited the city once again for some food and sightseeing. That was Leo's first time at the Petronas twin tower. Sadly and again, we couldn't go up the the connecting bridge on the 44th floor. Visit my facebook for more photos!

And why luxurious weeks? I haven got myself a job for so long, rotting at home whenever vacant (as in not occupied).

Bell Rings!

2009-02-27T01:31:00.014+08:00

Finally, school's over after three long, long years. Years of hard work will be affirmed on the cert. Yesterday, the whole lot of the final-exam candidates giggled with much relieve at the end of the last paper. It's just so great a feeling!!!

So here's the new blog skin. Simple and clean, but still, 'it's not that simple'. A spade is not just a spade. Many things just couldn't change, lest a fact that has weathered every element. Every single second it exists.

But what's there to fear when thinking back, it's the same old theory? Perhaps and again, time will tell.

Anyway, a belated happy birthday to myself! Thanks people for the elmo and bob-the-builder cakes =) It shows I'm still young! But then, nature tells me I'm no longer a teenager. No more an integer '1' as the prefix. Clearly it shows I'm older, but appearance wise... Better not boast too much.

True friends emerged. Would You Be There - by Redwan Ali.

A Glimpse of Hope

2009-02-03T15:56:00.015+08:00

Well, the title says it all!

And I bought this phone! i780.

The dragonfly glides across the pond, to and fro, beautifully. And for as long as it's there to fly and touch the water, rings and rings of ripples would appear. It is beautiful always, indeed. But the ripple will go on, and on, until somewhere far... And perhaps back again.

Excavation needless, excellency sought. A spade is not just a spade.

Precognition uncalled for. But it rules.

Moonlight Days

2009-01-29T21:44:00.019+08:00

Well, that being it. I'm tired, worn out, and really exhausted. Shan't elaborate them again.

Anyway, happy 91st birthday Grandpa! A lovely moment.

We had great food and lotsa fun. Once a year and never enough. It's just, erm, a tradition since young that every 3rd day of Chinese New Year we'd gather. Joy and laughter. I wonder how much longer will we behold the sight of warmth and love; and how much longer will the tribute come rule the day. I cherished. Rather, we all did.

And for the first time in my life, I actually kneaded and baked my own breads! 1kg of flour makes a tray of beautiful buns - some tiny, some sexy - all from my instinctive fingers and palms. Baileys' cream and orange dough, a combination of nature and the exotic. Some sexy ones were topped with chocolate chips, while others were almond bits. The smell was incredible. Sis got awoken but smiled instead - 3am.

Sexy Baby produced!!

Perhaps, it was a fun task to begin with - amid the tiredness and my body tolerance. I swear I won't stretch it any further because I know, its been over stretched, if not fully utilised.

Finally, a stronger hint of light appears! Today is the last presentation for the module, and all the efforts should be able to pay. 86-page report is now handed in, what a relief! But still, permanent damage may be something. A huge, huge issue.

Much to the left. I felt.

Sexy Baby (Jr.)!!

Multimedia Production

2009-01-28T11:26:00.007+08:00

This is a group project done last semester for the Global Supply Chain Management module. The aim was to attract more Year 1 students to select the growing industry as their first choice of specialisation towards their second year of study. This video is entirely shot and produced by our team of business students who have little or no background in media studies. Yet, we surprised the faint-hearted (haha!). The majority of the clips were filmed by me, hovering around the island for sceneries. Later, the production of the film was made by a team mate on her Macbook. Our highest pride, without much of the knowledge.

Your appreciation, appreciated.

Happy CNY!

2009-01-25T23:36:00.007+08:00

Happy Lunar New Year!!

& Happy Birthday Gary!

It's chinese new year, again. Time really flies when things are in line. I thought we've just celebrated the new year 2009, and now we have come to the end of its first month. In just a few weeks, I'll be sitting for the exam and graduation comes.

It's just a feeling so nasty. One or none may know what I'm refering to. And it has long expired, yet still there - A huge chapter of my life. Probably never to be forgotten.

And now, health is at stake... I would say.

Smooth canyon a sight of lie

Snowman breaks if wartime comes

Miseries gloomed the mystical sky

Many faces but a wonderful smile.

Light In Tunnel

2009-01-22T00:00:00.008+08:00

Amid all these woes, at last I see some light. Though not as bright.

Now I can safely reaffirm the thought that hard work really pays. It's a 15% assessment of the module and I'm so glad to receive this paper with a round of applause in my soul. That's a great push, some miles forward until I see that damn interesting project with a group of shitty team mates who almost never participates. Their work attitude sucks big time. Shan't reiterate and elaborate. It reminds me of shit. Perhaps even shit scores better aesthetically and bearing in mind that at least these coloured matters are out from my very own oven. How fowl can it smell. But anyway, semester is ending soon, in about 4 weeks' time to exam. That will signify the end of my diploma journey. It may appear to have a hint of relieve, however, what if...

It's an uphill task... perhaps it's just the beginning of the roller coaster ride. And will it return to the dock again after the twists and turns? It turns you upside-down, makes you feel like vomiting, and all it could do is to bring you back to the original place? Gladly I say, perhaps, life is very different from the roller coasters. These machines, are, erm, machines. After the first ride, I got the great feeling and went on to the second ride. It's not just about starting and ending. It's the process which I enjoyed. Just like that interestingly stupid project, I hated it at first when the team mates' names are announced to me. The all-time 'favourites' among other classmates, or the whole school of business management i guess so. But slowly, really interestingly, I get to see the other side of the 'world'; how some shit manages to enter a diploma level and still go through a sloppy and sedentary lifestyle.

I'm not here to boast, but I'm once again happy to receive an SMS that says that 'hey zhenyu, you scored 25/30 for your business finance paper. Cheers!'. Wahaha. Things are starting to pay off...

But a standalone misfortune struck almost simultaneously and instantly. CMPB requests me for another session of checkup because of adnormal heart rate, being too fast, and a little irregular. What's wrong? I'm not at all worried, however. Cos' all I could do now is only to find a way out. Hmm, gotta watch my diet from now on. Only brisk walking, in replacement of jogging. But for now, the diet must be looked into more thoroughly, especially during the CNY period. Oh ya, Happy New Year!

Anyway, CNY is no longer a festive season or a tradition for me. I have to finish up projects and their parts and get ready for exams due real soon. Looks like only the angpaos will cheer me on...

Was just wondering, how much longer can an exhausted train travel after a long, long journey? Especially when it never have reached its desired station? Hey, did I just asked a good question? Haha!

January Woes

2009-01-16T23:17:00.005+08:00

I'm super stressed!!

3 presentations in a week, plus a 60-page comprehensive report to be handed up in two weeks time, 2 site visits in a week and having to wake up in the morning and know that there are tonnes of email waiting for me to read, i'm devastated.

And the worms in the groups are getting on my sense of humour. Initially getting on my nerves, now I really find them extremely hilarious with so many kinds of excuses for late responses, sometimes even nothing produced at all. An excuse can also have many different versions.

I'm seriously lacked of sleep. Sleep deprivation. I had always hope for the best to just type "how to sleep well' in Google and think everything will be fine. That's fine. Sometimes I even flip through the '10-tips to better sleep' book which was already read numerous times, thinking my body will get the rest. Hmm.. Say I'm haywired, i'm not. Yet sometimes I am.

But it's also super satisfying =)

Shu Qin, Sylvia and myself have been working hard for AHCB, it's a project finally with some light. We met the new principal today, and we shared on many issues. Though he do not allow a standalone concert, Ms Kwek does! Needa thank her so much!

Anyway, we'll become super busy for the concert. Sort of a musical, but a rather stripped-down version, with lesser plannings required. I'm also super happy to have a new team of committed members to hold on to my baton! Simply love them!! Keep up the attitude man!!

Just went to Jurong Point. Met Mark for dinner and he gave us a treat at Fish & Co. Talk about many biz opportunities and valuable information. Thanks!

I am at a completely mixed feeling now. How I wish I have a Delete button on my head and once pressed, no longer will there be silly thoughts!! Haha!

Zhenyu, you gonna make it!

Happy New Year 2009!

2009-01-04T23:38:00.007+08:00

First of all,

Happy New Year 2009!

It was a wonderful 2008 with many interesting things that happened. From the Industrial Placement Project in the beginning, and the AHCB Pot Luck Dinner at the year end, it's just so great to know I've actually went through it. Though the path wasn't really friendly, I did manage to go through anyway. And best of all, I was 19. Just few more weeks to become 20; no longer a teenager. Don't know if I should smile or scowl? Smile I think. Forget about those Ah Pek stories, I know I'm finally here. Life looks exciting ahead I can't deny, which will continue to keep spurring me on.

In 2009, I strive to become more abled; as in many areas in life such as something by measure of knowledge, music, skills in terms of organisational and hands-on, and stuff like that. Perhaps rock climbing or hiking is on the waiting list =) In March, I'll be free from studies! Probably never will, although I'd love to enter Uni one day. There are also many big events coming along - AHCB's upcoming concert in June will be a big thing in my life (Probably lined after marriage) HAHAHA! I'll try my best to complete these big things and wishes before NS so that should anything happen there, I'd have fulfilled my wishes and will not hold any regrets. If time and ability allow, I'd take on piano lesson during my NS days. Just can't see myself idling from something of interests and yet can't play anything. That's fine. I also want a car after NS! I'll work hard!! Perhaps 'after NS' could be when I'm 30 years old and still going on fine. Shall my ability proof something! Yet and again, I'll continue to dream. Like Honda, it's the Power of Dream!

So for December 2008, I've spent a whopping $519.35. That's more than what I earn and receive.

So forever, the F&B portion takes the largest share of the pie. Although the miscellaneous expenses is more than that of F&B's, it includes some drinks and snacks as well. So effectively I've spent a large part on food! It's either I ate too expensively or excessively. Well, the BMI shall proof. The chalet vacation cost me a bomb; almost $100! Food, games materials and stuff like these. Wow, and I have to proclaim I'm a bankrupt now. I seriously need to work to rebounce. Can't depend on lottery! See, I spent only 1% at lottery. Cheers! (Although I shouldn't have spent it at all).

Most things have changed, and many more will be. More exciting I'd say. So let's all be optimists and do habitually look on the brighter sides of lives!

2nd Annual Pot Luck Dinner 2008 - 28 Dec 08

A Black Christmas

2008-12-28T00:42:00.020+08:00

It's no doubt the darkest Christmas I've ever spent. But like Samsung, it's really Not That Hard to Imagine. Piles and stacks of projects of 7 modules are already pushing me to the boundary. Since the final semester started in November, I was very much hopping for the term break to come so that I can take a deep breath. But not so. Everything is so scheduled till my body suffers. I'm now in (quite a) severe state of sleep deprivation. Insomnia comes again. IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) comes as usual too. My stress level is at historical high, worse than anytime before, not even 'O' Levels can beat it. My desktop is full of Words, Excel and PDF icons and I wonder what if my laptop crashes again. Repeat sem? Shut up. I want to leave school on time...

How to reduce stress can anyone assist me!! I wish I had a 'virtual wheelchair' to help me ride out the storm. But isn't this a challenge in life? I thought. So just tell me how to fish and I'll fish for everyone. Again, my eating syndrome is here again. Notice how much physical changes I have since the begining of this yeaR? PLUM. My face is now so chubby. WTH. How I wish I could get slimmer like before, feeling less tired and more alert. My hair is like a piece of grassland with overgrown weeds. RaRRR!!! I want a visit to the beach. Like where Mr Bean went in his movie and make a deep breathe over there and gladly says 'everything is over'. Hope!! I'm dreaming... and still dreaming. Still dreaming myself in a Honda driving someone to Changi beach. Whhoops! I think I'm too stressed up.. Need an avenue to de-stress. Driving is fun! I'm starting to miss the ahpek lorry already... Although it's old, it's power sia!! It's just so fun... Sis was like asking me to print a photo of my dream car and paste it over my bed just so that I can get it one day. Get it? Her law of attraction, again. Perhaps one day I'll paste my photo in her room for goodness sake.

Saw the poem below? Well written, chatterbox told me. It was written under a dimmed moonlight, gloomy sky and a glass of red wine. Sounds classic eh? Oh well, that's a great feeling of mine. Hope to go Genting next month and sit by the 'cliff', litterally submerged in the clouds, and obtain a fresh series of thoughts. Starting anew? Not really, I haven't been down lately. I don't need a new life just because of stress, given after the 'stressed' up period, sweet things will subsequently come.

STRESSED => DESSERTS

Try reading 'stressed' from the opposite direction. Let's await for the day to come!! Anyway,

There are so many happy things in life than to die for.

'Die' as in giving up. Don't give up, Zhenyu!

End of Feb = End of School life!! Sadly Subway is coming to nyp yet I'm leaving... Have to make do with the one at lot one. Wahaha.

28 December 2008. 2nd Annual Pot Luck Dinner. Heartfelt thanks to sylvia and people for sharing the workload. This years' party is expected to be smaller, with more and more people backing out from the attendance list. Though I guess it won't be so grand as its inaugural counterpart last year, I believe what matters is the quality time we get together, lest the degree of appreciation of the ones attending. Last year's APLD was great because I gambled in most of my time. Though it was a success, I failed two modules on the other hand. It's a heavy loss, to be remembered for the whole of my life time. I just hope that I can quietly leave the management and still see it working well like before, or even better. But sometimes it's just so difficult. It's three years of hard work and still there's no physical evidence of it, except for the website, which I doubt many people have treated it with pride. It's like a ladder; you need the first step to get to the next. Now that you're somewhere above, invisible are the steps taken except to yourself. What not, a missed step you'll fall hard on the ground. Is it worth to stay, or quit, or even climb further? It's just to say how easy it is to cripple everything simply by being stagnant.

Money money must be funny. I laugh when I see my wallet being hungry. So am I, no big deal. A christmas under the light of poverty. I'm poor! Gonna save, save and save. Currently, I tink i have no extra time and money to spare for other things. Camping in the school library could well save me some bucks at the malls out there.

It's a black, black christmas...

AND MY AIRCON BROKE DOWN. WTH. Merry X'mas, Daikin.

Chalet was fun! Extremely fun and lovely!

By the way, see also blog posts about the chalet!

The Rosy Smiles

2008-12-22T00:38:00.007+08:00

Smooth canyon a sight of lie

Snowman breaks if wartime comes

Miseries gloomed the mystical sky

Many faces but a wonderful smile.

6D5N Hong Kong/Macao/China

2008-11-23T17:34:00.016+08:00

In the celebratory mood of...

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Pocolento. The honourable 100th post is right before your eyes! After one and a half years, the 100th post is finally here. We shall let this 'Trip to Hong Kong' post be the honoured one to give Pocolento another headstart for the 101th post and beyond. Long live!

Trip to Hong Kong!

My mother and I went on a trip to Hong Kong in October. Also on the voyage were my relatives, whose son is studying at the City University of Hong Kong. Because of that, we thought of visiting him and give ourselves the reason for a holiday getaway.

Wow. Hong Kong is a nice place, with lots of shopping, dining and sight-seeing places, no wonder it's such an ideal place for holiday-seekers - with some extra cash. We somehow were on a budget trip so naturally we didn't get to see the best, as everything was so expensive. Nonetheless we got to experience the lifestyles of the locals, like dining local fares at the Cha Chaam Teng (or Tea house).

On 19 October 2008, Mum and I boarded the Jetstar flight 3k691 (Airbus 330) at 6.30am for Hong Kong International Airport. We touched down at 10.10am and cleared the custom by 11am. We took the Airport Express from the airport to the City at a cost of HKD70/pax (S$14).

Jetstar Asia 3k691. I have nothing to complain about it, except for the extremely small legroom allowance! Imagine 3.5hrs in a frozen position, and having to wake your flight companion from his sleep just because you need to visit the lavatory was a real hassle and discomfort.

The Airport Express train.

We reached Kowloon Station (West of Tsim Sha Tsui) in just 20mins, and transferred to the free Airport Express Shuttle. Within 15mins we reached our destination, which was however quite far away from our hotel. Finally, we reached and checked in at New King's Hotel. Not an accomodation for the Kings though. It was positioned slightly better than a budget hotel (one more star), with rooms being bigger in size, but was quite dusty and run-down, given the old age of the building (of about 30years). And, most importantly there's no ghost. Whaha.

And, the weather was really bad. Other than the 'world-famous air pollution', the heat and high humidity made us feel really bad.

Our first meal in Hong Kong: Beef Curry and Wonton Noodle, at the Teahouse near our hotel. (Picture: Clockwise from bottom)

So we began our shopping spree, alongside sightseeing and eating! Perhaps that was the first day and boredom was the word, and especially so without the company of my Uncle and family who were then on a Shenzhen short trip. So we strolled down the alley and streets, took the MTR downtown and shopped at the malls. Great city, lots of skyscrapers, people and shopping malls especially.

At night, we went back to our hotel and got prepared to stroll along the night market (Temple St). Recalling the days when I was young, there were lots of interesting things there we had never seen before. But this time, many merchandises could be found in our Singapore Chinatown. Other than food, there was little that could attract us. So for dinner, we dined streetside for Claypot Rice (煲仔饭) and ordered the Hong Kong style Oyster Omelette. It was nice, seriously. I mean, they were.

Temple Street is just a stone's throw from our hotel. (Picture: Top right hand - Oyster Omellete)

So what about the train system, it's fantastic. Really. Maximum 2 mins a train, and often you can get a seat even during peak hours. So we got our Octopus Card (Similar to Ez-Link) at HK$250 and ride our way to play! We alighted at Mong Kok Station and went to the popular Ladies' Street (女人街), among other shopping places in the district.

(Picture: Bottom-right - a machine located at stations for you to tap your octopus card and check its balance. Cool!; Bottom-Center: Interactive route map tells you where your train is, and which side of the door is opening. Cool Too!)

Mong Kok

Day 2

We went to this congee shop (海皇粥店) where we had numerous breakfasts when I was young. It sells authentic Hong Kong trademarks like fried fritters (油炸果 OR 油条; I tell you it's You Tell) and beautifully delicious congee. Soya bean milk is also the best. Drool...

(Picture: Top-left) Fried doughs wrapped by 'Zhu Cheong Fun' (sth like a rice wrap)

Tung Chung. Food Republic is there too!

Right after breakfast, we took the MTR to Tung Chung (東涌), a relatively new town on lantau island for the higher-income Hong Kongers. There's a new shopping mall that exclusively sells branded items at a cheaper price at their outlets. Probably they're off-season products, that's why the lower price. So bought T-shirts at Esprit outlet and gave them away for friends. I myself bought a long pants and some shirts. Three trolley-loads of apparels you see how scary? There's also a supermarket selling really fresh foods, so fresh that fishes and frogs were cut up alive, and crabs still snoring in water. However I don't see cows and their milking machines, chicken and their cages etc. Bought fruit juices instead, which were juiced on the spot.

So basically the shopping went on and on, for a few hours at a single apparel shop until 5pm, when we thought it's time to go for a cable car ride to Ngong Ping 360 (昂坪360), where the gigantic buddha statue is. However we were saddened when we were told of the closing time was at 6pm. So we missed it, and left the town.

(Picture clockwise from bottom left: Curry beef, Restaurant Macau Teahouse, Long bean and minced meat, and roasted chicken.)

Right after that we walked down the streets to find the Star Ferry Terminal. It's probably a joy-ride for locals because trains would be much faster (one station apart), at just 4mins compared to this ferry which is 15 - 30 mins including waiting time. But's it's much cheaper, at just HKD1.70 (S$0.34). We had fun, really. After alighting, uncle was in search of the popular drinking district Lan Kwai Fong (蘭桂坊)just to wander around. It's spectacular I would say, buildings by the sides have everything from bars, pubs, and clubs. Decent or not I don't know, or at least they appeared to be cool. Ferrari here, Porsche there, and Toyotas everywhere (taxis). Seems like it's a place for the rich. And not for the faint-hearted; it's literally an uphill task to visit it, as it was as if a mountain hiking experience.

Central @ Hong Kong Island. (Picture: Top-center) IFC, International Financial Center, is currently the tallest building in Hong Kong. There's a high-end shopping mall below, which is HUGE.

It was as if I've arrived at the scene of HongKong dramas.!! We retired for the day after a series of 'night hiking'.

Day 3

We had our sumptious breakfast at one of the fabulous Teahouses (茶餐廳) near Jordan Station. It tasted so good that we wish we could return immediately. It was the typical Hong Kong's Set A, B, C etc breakfasts that includes a bun, sunny-side-up and a milk tea. And best of all, their milk tea (港式奶茶) is never to be found elsewhere in Singapore. They were completely different from ours at Kopitiam; rich in aroma, strong flavour of tea blended in with rich milk. They don't usually come sweetened, so we could add sugar according to our preference.

Recharged with food, we went ahead as planned: Trip to Macau, and ZhuHai in China. We went to Tsim Sha Tsui's China Ferry Terminal, bought our tickets and waited 45mins for the ferry.

After one hour's sail, we finally reached Macau. Second time there, I almost couldn't remember the place! Apparently there have been massive development going on, and buildings of Casinos sprout out of nowhere. It's just like Las Vegas. Upon leaving the immigration checkpoint into the city, there were many touts asking to bring us around for a fee. We fled, knowing that there's a free connecting shuttle bus to the Chinese immigration checkpoint. When we arrived, I know something was happening - that i'm really visiting China. A blind person could too identify he's approaching China from miles away. We were still hundreds of metres away from the checkpoint facilities, and that's where we come to knowledge we were approaching the restrooms even without the toilet signs. Foul smell, loud voices and not-so-clean environment.

So we, five persons, squeezed into a small taxi (like the way we do on our Singapore MRT) to a small town where the villagers sell seafoods for a living. Frankly the purpose of visiting Zhu Hai was only for the food and merchandizes. We reached the restaurant in 10mins and went to the 'seafood street' by the side to shop for our seafood. There were many kinds of seafood, I had never seen some of them before and probably never will. So we took up Abalone (S$1/piece, alive), prawns, hairy crabs, normal crabs, among other shell species. We brought the bags of seafood into the restaurant and they whipped up sumptious dishes within minutes. We chose our way of cooking, etc.

Suprisingly the abalone didn't enjoy the limelight, but instead, the ee-fu noodle on the bottom-right. After one order, we called on the next. It's just terribly delicious!!! Never have I eaten such a nice plate of noodle. And to sum it all up, the total bill was only about RMB330 (S$60) for 5 persons. We'll definitely return there. If you intend to visit, maybe you want to drop me a message and I think they'll give you a good discount. Cos they remembered us from Singapore! (They said, 'wow Singapore, a big city')

At the end of the day, we left Zhu Hai and went to visit Macau's Venetian casino. That was my first time entering a casino! I 'interacted' with the jackpot machines and I won 3x my capital! Feeling shiok, I hopped from machines to machines until marginal deficit came about. That's also the time we left Macau and back to Hong Kong. (No photography was allowed in casinos, not even discreet ones.)

Midway the journey, the ferry actually broke down. About hundreds of passengers were left in the middle of nowhere for about 45mins. There were lightings, but not air-conditioning. Suffocated, yet suprisingly everybody left the ferry alive. So instead of the usual 1-hour ride, we took 1.75hrs to reach Hong Kong only to find out the last train has departed. Taxi became the only choice. The fare was somehow on par with Singapore's, except for the 'tunnel toll charge' (sort of a 'manual' ERP).

Just then, I was frightened when I came about this news saying there's an avian-flu infected crow found at a town near our hotel. Shit! But nothing happened, thank goodness.

Day 4

Early in the morning we took the train down to Sheung Wan (West of Central) specially for the popular Dim Sum restaurant! It was indeed really delicious, and there were a lot of special dim sums which I have never come across in Singapore. Once we entered, we could see lots of locals, especially the elderly, enjoying their Char Siew Bao and Chinese Tea while reading their newspapers. It's just so interesting.

Can you find a broken Char Siew Bao in the picture? Wahaha, I have to hide, it's just so delicious, simply can't be shared. After a good fill, we walked all over the places around Central, Admiralty and finally, Causeway Bay, one of the popular shopping districts in Hong Kong (which were about 4 stations away from here to there).

Street markets and shopping is common in land scarce Hong Kong, and don't be frightened by the BLOODY ARMS! They're fake, made specially for Haloween Festival.

Times Square in Causeway Bay. Combination of both the world of old and new.

On the double-decked Electric Tram. Good experience, and definitely it's cheap! (SGD0.50 for any distance. One of the cheapest form of Public Transport.)

I was supposed to go for a hair cut at Causeway Bay. But after checking from salon to salon, prices were to high for good. So a check with a young shop assistant gave me a clue on where to cut. Read on!

So basically, everywhere we walked to was on foot. Till we land in this food establishment that sells roasted goose, among other roasted delights.

I'm sorry, let this post complete in phases. To be continued... (Remember to return!)

Driving Test Result - Part II

2008-11-07T00:20:00.023+08:00

Oh well, part II; how about that?

I solemnly declare that I'm rightfully a part of the motoring society!

I passed my driving test today! What a happy thing. No more heavy hearts! But sadly, a heavy wallet becomes history. More than a thousand bucks were spent all in all. It's worth the try - for it goes with you for life. But on the other hand, it wasn't as 'willingly-paid' for those failed attempts.

You might say, 'hey, learn from those failed attempts that's why you're where you're today'. Point taken, but it really cost a bomb mind you. It had been a difficult journey I would say - from skimmed lunches to strunk wallets at times, in fact, most of the times. And having failed two tests, one theory and the other, practical, was very much too hard to swallow. Especially at the time of knowledge. Monies aside, one of the main factors for the 'hardship' was the hell long waiting time. Though it's marginally cheaper, private students are required to wait 3hrs at the reception to enrol into the school, 4months interval to take the basic theory test, 2 months break for final theory test, 4 months of bewilderment for practical test and another 4 months of greatness for sub-test. So when the wait is long, the face turned long too. I didn't pull.

So what's with failing the first practical test? I got it the second time and I'm proud of it! At least technically I'm now more proficient in driving, rather than those who made it the first round; given that I had at least 8 more lessons and another test experience! (If it does sound a little, or far too green in envy, I can't deny but to admit it's true. HAHA.)

So how did I fair? 12 demerit points. Once 20, considered fail. Similarly there's a story behind the story. "Once upon a time.........' oops. Sorry. Not a fairy tale. A hokkien one...

"Limbehgahligong. Just now when I sit inside the car ah, the aircon spoil. Don't know whether heng or sway? Test you know? Under the hot sun ok? It's like sauna - on the road. So 2 - 3pm driving lesson i sweat like hell. Instructor oso sweat, but you know what he told me? His car aircon spoil, he still tell me 'eh boy, your heart hot lah!' Nabeh! (oops) sibeh hot la. then 3.45pm real test. I told tester 'boss, aircon not working la.' so the malay tester replied: 'siala, why now?' so he wind down the window n we did the test open air oso. Unique eh! I could peep outside the car to see if the wheel got hit the curb anot. Lucky sia! Then suddenly! Aircon working again... Cool.... Cold. Passed. limbehgahligong bo liao, gam xia."

Oh ya, refer to the previous post in august when I failed the first attempt. I mentioned the tester's name multiple times, 99.99% of the time cursing and swearing. But what about today's tester? He was Samad Bin Abdullah a Malay man. Good man I should publicise!

And the most most most important person I want to thank is . . . .. none other than Sunny! As sunny as sunny! Well, he's my instructor who gave me his greatest support. No doubt, his lessons were useful and 98% of the time he was attentive and taught the correct things, 100% responsible and 101% commitment! Well and again, he's 200% a busy man! So wanna learn driving? Call this number 98566215! (Well, again and again, he didn't pay me to advertise!) Tell him my name and he'll tell you many good jokes.

The most sincere thanks to all the support, family n friends! By the way, anyone has P-Plate!??!?!?!

Dad, car please! 'Don't dream, boy.'

SMRT - Squeezing People, Endangering Lives?

2008-10-30T23:28:00.021+08:00

Seems like we're going to bear with the squeeze on our MRT trains as usual. Though the LTA, or Transport Minister Raymond Lim, promised to tighten the operating standards, I see nothing's going to improve. What's said to be improvised are mainly the waiting time and passenger load, but SMRT said they 'have been doing it anyway'.

You know what? In the past, every weekday morning and evening peak passengers would have to squeeze into the cabin. Even with the centre filled, often I had to tap my palms on the ceiling to find balance. Poor ladies by my side had to endure my fragrance, and it is no wonder that there are so many palm stains on the ceiling panels.

Today, even with the tremendous increase in train headways, peeple still squeeze. Certainly it's true given that people nowadays avoid driving to save on petrol costs and switch to public transport. But who cares? the FACT is that the train is still packed to the brim! I simply have no idea WHY the authorities are still using FIGURES to show it's 'still less than capacity' when PEOPLE are the ones taking the train, and not FIGURES? Please come back to the ground, you people are lost in your paradize driving big cars like Merc 500 it is no wonder only the figures are used. If only those so-called think-tank were to join in the crowd, then I suppose there's improvement. No pain, no gain, right? Boys, figures don't pinch. I really meant PINCH.

My heart nearly burst into flame when the CEO of the corporation, Saw Phaik Hwa, said:

"The importance of the train is to ensure you can pack as many
people as possible. People want to travel. One of the complaints’ is
not because there are no seats, but it's too packed."

WTH?!? We, passengers with senses all across the skin and flesh, felt that YOUR trains (and buses) are already packed near to the core, now YOU want us to reach the core? The company has been posting higher net profits every year in terms of millions of dollars, and all these gains goes to the company and its shareholders. We passengers are only stakeholders so we've got to bear with all these unnecessary pains. How much more cost are you talking about by increasing the train frequency marginally? With all-time high passengership, what YOU gain is the pennies collected. So what cost are you talking about. Increase the frequencies further!

SMRT received the 'Best Passenger Experience' award at the inaugural Metro Awards 2008 in Copenhagen, Denmark. WTH? It's a service not acceptable by the locals, don't honour something else from the foreigners. It's also firing it's company's slogan:

Squeezing People, Endangering Lives you mean? I wonder what if one day, one of the doors falls off because of strong pressure, the company will be in deep trouble. Street men will witness flying commuters instead. What's more, the news also report that it has planned to remove 86 SEATS on TEN of its trains shuttling between Jurong East and Bt Batok stations. In the older trains, there were 372 seats a train. After refurbishment, it's left with 296. Now, even lesser. I wonder when will it be the day when trains have no seat. I would say, WHAT A NOVEL WAY of maximising the profits!

See also:
STOMP.SG: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=41837
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=40449

What the?? WE WANT OUR SEATS BACK!!! SMRT has posted $150million for FY2008 ended March 31. Given such a huge amount, SMRT is going to continue to juice the most out of the passengers! Lest the all-time high fare increases. So is SMRT talking about any societal responsibilities? The answer is a straight NO! The low train frequencies HAVE BEEN the norm until the government stepped in. Only until recently people gets a better frequency. Next, it has the SMRT Tribute Funds, yes it is doing for the society, but i suppose a large fraction of those was from donations from passengers, as seen from their advertisement asking for donations. That's why I've never patronaged the box. Squeezing more passengers into a train is NOT the way. Our culture does not support this; we're not like those foreign workers who apparently love to make skin-to-skin contact. IF I WERE THE regulatory body I WILL NOT LET SMRT run the major lines. Same goes to its bus services like 67, 190, and 960. Trans-Island did a far better job.

Four things for aftermath:

Commuters 'storming' into the trains for seats, instead of the current 'rushing',
Teenagers and foreign workers sit in circle on the floor (which counter the purpose of such move),
People skipping trains with such configuration because PEOPLE WANTS TO SIT!
People protesting at Hong Lim Park.

So, the already-redundant 'please allow passengers to alight first' announcement will be further ignored. When people sit on the floor, even lesser space is allowed for standing. More passengers will stand longer on the platform to avoid such trains to get their seats. Ok, we shall see then.

Why can't it just run more trains? Let me cite an example overseas, in Hong Kong. In my recent trip there, almost all of my trips were made on the MTR. 100% of time waiting time did not exceed 2mins (I wish to bow), even at 10am and 3pm. After entering the train, I found myself often than not wasn't squeezing with other people and instead - spaces aplenty. With 8 carriages for all trains (ours' 6), 2mins in frequency day and night, and both being a Corporation, i wonder what is SMRT really doing.

Here's my suggestion: Allow private buses or even its competitor like SBS Transit to run buses parallel to the MRT lines. Why not? Since it can't deliver a good job, let the comsumers have an alternative (with far more seats) and at the same time giving it a PINCH for losing customers. Another good solution will be allowing overseas operator, like the HK's MTRC, to run new train lines! I'm certain all local operators will buck up!

I also hope someone who is more frustrated than myself about it will start a petition to BRING BACK OUR SEATS.

Look, there's no crowd during off peak hour, yet frequency is at 2mins a train. So many value-added services like news on the go with audio, among other initiatives. Yet, travelling for three stations from Yau Ma Tei to Admiralty is only HKD3.6 (S$0.72)!

So the burning question is: WHY COMMERCIALISE in the first place?? Without that, the state runs it, we people get good deals. Ultimately, the public transport is for the PEOPLE. Why talk about profits here. I see, we sigh. Money rules the world. Perhaps striving (probably the entire lifetime) to get the COE and a car remains the viable way for Singaporeans.

Can we Singaporeans have enough reasons to take pride in our only railway? You shall justify.

6D5N Hong Kong/Macau/Zhu Hai

2008-10-27T22:30:00.009+08:00

Back from Hong Kong! Long long updates in just a while please. (Few weeks probably!) Gonna start preparing for classes in the new and final (hopefully) semester!

It's Recession!

2008-10-14T21:39:00.007+08:00

Times are bad, from now on. This is the first recession that somehow seriously concerns me, or most people from my age group, because i was probably too young to have felt the impact during the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the post-911 effect. I didn't need a job, and knowing that someone, particularly dad and mum, would still be home to feed me food was a blessing. This time round, getting a job might be increasingly difficult especially i'm graduating like real soon. From what I see from the papers everyday, i'm skeptical that the economy will make a comeback so soon. The biggest global investment back Lehman Bros has fallen! Many banks and insurance companies have policies that were linked to Lehman, and everybody lost confidence and started surrendering their policies. Monies in the reserves are falling and stock market turns bearish. Everything turns bad now. Real bad. Such things are dominating headlines day by day and scary is the word. Confidence in investors aside, we shall see how much the worldwide govts can do to control the situation. SGD is now fixed and no long paired up with USD, though it weakened against it. Every cent is a dollar from today, and every dollar owed must both be collected back and returned (i owe wengkin $8). I'm saying NO to taxi rides, restaurants, big ticket items, as far as possible. (Hey, HK trip was planned before Lehman collapsed!). Open up income channels but sad to say, I've been idling around for more than 8 weeks due to some 'constraints' LOL. But I guess I won't get a job until semester ends on 1st March so as not to repeat semester. And hope dad won't lose his precious job.

The point is that, I now feel the blessings our gahman gave me a break. I used to hate NS cos it's like a waste of time. Two years to me, back then, is equivilent to $$shingshings so shiny than those stupid rifles. But now, I feel it's a buffer for me to start the engine at the right time. Rifles now sparkles brightly and so green with envy. Otherwise, I might be flying around, hunting for jobs for 365 days after graduation if without NS. Wahahaha. By the time (ORD) I shall see it's time for a good start in life.

Extracted from TODAYonline, today.

Is our Gen Y ready for its first recession?

Loh Chee Kong cheekong@mediacorp.com.sg

THEY are articulate, confident and too young to remember the gloom of
the 1997 Asian financial crisis, or the post-911 and Sars slumps of recent
years. (I was 7 back then.)

Singapore’s youth — aged under 30 — have until now had the world at their
feet ... or so they were told. Faced with their first recession, how will they
cope, should the world slip into a full-scale recession as many experts are
predicting?

Headhunter Christopher Leong, for one, wonders how this group — known
for its high expectations and consumerism — would buckle down and, in
youth-speak, snap back to reality. (I'm back already, luckily)

Mr Leong, a partner with Chris-Allen Executive Search, said: “Some of them
have ridiculous aspirations. Many of them live with their parents and are not in
a hurry to look for any work. They would think, ‘If I can’t find a job, I would
just look for temporary work or go travelling around Europe’.” (True enough, and mine is HK though. Lol)

In recent weeks, various Government officials have warned of tougher times
ahead, with unemployment expected to rise.

Young people do understand the gravity of the situation, especially when
some relatives, or even parents, have lost large sums due to the collapse of the
Lehman Brothers bank in the United States.

But it seems that job worries can wait — there are the examinations and
partying to get through. “I don’t think the media is hyping up the crisis ...
it’s real,” said Ms Denise Goh, 22, a final-year student at the Nanyang
Technological University. “But, our immediate concerns are to get through the
rest of the year — the exams, and things like that.”

And, despite looming job cuts and slower economy, they do not see the need
to tighten their own belts yet.

Said Ms Lin Dongzheng, 20, who is doing temporary work at a bank: “If I get
paid more this month, I’ll spend more.” (dangerous!!)

Unsurprisingly, it is those who have mouths to feed who are contemplating
the worst.

Said Mr Kelvin Kao, a 28-year-old account manager whose wife recently gave
birth to a son:“I started budgeting in greater detail just this month ... I also
started measuring our household’s energy consumption, and I tend to buy more
house-brand stuff nowadays.”

Associate Professor Annie Koh, dean of executive and professional education
at Singapore Management University, feels the recent financial turmoil would
“sieve out the men from the boys” in this age group.

“My advice to students is to be pragmatic and not too choosy,” said Assoc
Prof Koh, adding that students should make use of the growingopportunities to
work with homegrown small and medium entreprises, at a time when some global
firms are stumbling.

Mrs Ruth Chiang, director of SMU’s office of career services, said that
graduating students “may not receive multiple job offers now and have to be
prepared to accept job offers as they come”.

Mr Leong felt it would be several months after graduation before young
job-seekers adjust their expectations.

“After six months, after sending out 50 CVs, going for 10 interviews and
getting no return calls ... then they will realise it’s getting tough — but only
after they see one or two of their friends taking on lousy jobs,” he said.

Undergraduate Leong Fengzhi, 22, told Today she would give herself three
months upon graduation to find her ideal job in the public relations industry.

Said Ms Leong: “I’m willing to settle for lower pay, but it should be a job
in the same industry. If not, I would consider entering a similar industry, like
hospitality.”

Still, entrepreneur Elim Chew, founder of streetwear chain 77th Street, who
is a member of the National Youth Council, believes the recession could have a
positive impact on a restless generation — just as the ’70s oil shock gave rise
to the punk subculture among British youth.

Said Ms Chew: “In fact, this crisis may be their baptism of fire. With the
energy of this generation, this recession will inspire creativity.”

Yet Another Day

2008-10-10T14:27:00.006+08:00

School's starting in three weeks! Looking forward to day one when most things start anew yet again. Except for GPA. In few months time, I'll be getting the cert at graduation and no longer have to sit in classes, unless I'm bound for uni.

Recently, I've been quite held up with organising the annual pot luck dinner. So exhausted but really exciting. Then on the actual day we'll get to see many familiar faces getting older. I won't be surprized to see some bringing children. lol!

Financial activity wise, I'm no better than the current world's trend. No job, no income and yet expenditure rules them all. Next week I'm bound for Hong Kong! Quite excited. But got to stay silent. Don't worry frens, you'll receive goodiessssss. Muahaha.

From today, I'm gonna read a book a week. It's really been an eyesore to always see those books pile there day by day. Yea, gonna start reading. Cos, you either improve or worsen. There's no such thing as status quo as in personal developement. We have to move as the clock ticks. Yea, starting to read. Flip.

Lest A Bean

2008-10-04T12:00:00.005+08:00

Surely I'm getting bored about that bean, till the extend that I changed the blogskin yet again! I'm really bored, so bored I'm really left with nothing to do other than gazing at those birds. Recently there're bunches and bunches of mynas, unsure of whether were they fighting, quarreling, or lovey dovey; kept making a din out of nothing, right outside my windows. They stood on the ledge where the planter is, and stayed there for minutes. I wonder if they're talking, cos I just couldn't understand. It was as if there's worm, ant or rather, their food. Ant I suppose, cos my house is currently ant-infested. These birdies are black, and they flock together. So much of the saying 'birds of a feather flock together'. But one was bald, MSG I guess.

Gonna resume my driving lesson again! My interest died down from the previous deadly test, which driving a car hadn't been much of an excitement for the entire month of September. So now, basically, I have about 30 more days to school resume, and frankly I've already spent the previous half of 60 days in agony. Boredom kills, really. What about getting a job? Had I not have the plan of going Genting on 9 Sept, I would have worked and enjoyed. What about now? Can't really as on the 19 i'm going on a trip to Hong Kong for a week. So, essentially I'm stucked in between of nowhere, and who in the right mind would hire me.

Downtrend is the financial market; so is mine.

Simplicity is the best complexity.

Corrinne May

2008-10-02T14:10:00.012+08:00

In The Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Journey

It's a long long journey
Till I know whera* I'm supposed to be
It's a long long journey
And I don't know if I can believe
When shadows fall and block my eyes
I am lost and know that I must hide
It's a long long journey
Till I find my way home to you
Many days I've spent
Drifting on through empty shores
Wondering what's my purpose
Wondering how to make me strong
I know I will falter I know I will cry
I know you'll be standing by my side
It's a long long journey
And I need to be close to you
Sometimes it feels no one understands
I don't even know why
I do the things I do
When pride builds me up till I can't see my soul
Will you break down these walls and pull me through?
Cause It's a long long journey
Till I feel that I am worth the price
You paid for me on calvary
Beneath those stormy skies
When Satan mocks and friends turn to foes
It feel like everything is out to make me lose control
It's a long long journey
Till I find my way home to you

Incident on Stomp

2008-09-25T18:55:00.013+08:00

It appeared on STOMP, dubbed the Online Citizens Media website. It really did. Feeling so honoured for it to be the first post i've ever sent there. So what's the incident? Click to go.

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=35658

Almost everything in the email was reproduced. However, I didn't use the word 'Rogue' as in the title 'Rogue cyclist scolds me for not watching out'. This is the original message in the email:

Dear Editors,

I would like to highlight an incident which happened on 23 September on the pedestrian walkway along Bukit Batok East Avenue 2. This walkway has been the only connection between the residents of the area and Bukit Batok Central and hence is always busy.

Yesterday, my friends and I were using the said pavement on our way to the MRT Station. Out of a sudden, a cyclist came out from nowhere, probably due to his speed, and collided into one of my friend. The cyclist was with a pillion, and the duo toppled into the side bushes. They seemed unhurt and got up looking frustrated. To our horror, the cyclist demanded my friend to 'watch your way'! What a nonsense, given that the pavement is meant for pedestrians usage and not for cyclists, especially with a pillion. Had we called the police, they'd be at the losing end and would be bound for medical compensation.

Isn't it by law that cyclists are not allowed on the pedestrian pathway? It is a notorious fact that cyclist must get down the bicycle and push it on if he wants to use the pedestrian pathway or crossings. The duo not only did not do so, but travelled at a speed too high for pedestrians to react in time. Also, to my general knowledge cyclists are also prohibited to carry a pillion on any roads of Singapore. The added weight will translate to greater impact and therefore chances of hurting or killing someone more vulnerable would be higher, which was what has happened to my friend. His skin was torn sideway by at least 5cm in length.

I hope the relevant authorities could perform some measures to prevent such things from happening again, such as holding campaigns at the neighbourhoods where cycling are widespread. The fact is that not only Tampines and Pasir Ris have high number of cyclists. Another fact is that the said pavement is too narrow for heavy usage. Can the town council please do something?

A note to cyclists: If anyone cycles at a low speed nobody will be there to lodge a report. However if you insist, get out onto the road and cycle however fast you
want.

A note the the pedestrians: Watch out for speeding cyclists and in case whatever has happened to you, know that you are not in the wrong. For the pedestrians who often walk along the said pavement, watch out for the dark man in his 20s who is riding on his blue-silver mountain bike with a gas-powered honk that was deafening to people just around it.

As attached is the photograph of the affected body area, which as been cleansed by a first aid personnel at a nearby secondary school.

Thank you.

5flamethrower.

As of today, 25 Sept, it has gathered more than 4600 views and garnered the support of 32 positive-ful comments and none of otherwise. Six stompers have also rated this post a total of five and a half stars. Thank you!

Poor Kah Hwee, hope you're better now. As in wound wise. Lol.

3D2N Genting Highlands

2008-09-14T23:24:00.099+08:00

Back from Genting!

The 3D2N short get-away was damn fun-filled especially with the presence of all in the family. Weather was not just cool but cold, humid and so misty. Food was great, if not better. Overall, a great great holi holi day!

So first thing in the morning of 9sept we took a bus to Lot 1 to catch the coach ride directly there. It's direct, really very convenient. It was 5.45am then and quite some students were already on their way to their schools. When we reach Lot 1, I saw our coach! The usual CEO Gold Cruiser. Nothing special though.

CEO Gold Cruiser

So we boarded and waited. Who were we waiting for? The duo who were late and nevermind, yet not even a single gesture of apology. Luckily, we still arrived at the custom before others did so we didn't had to queue to the 'hell'. At the Malaysian custom, i was so lucky that the lady in front of me checked her passport and to her horror she found that the dear officer had stamped the date wrongly. I'm those type who doesn't check, so she saved me! If not we'd be shut in their cells. So, the journey continued along the North South Highway. One thing that disturbed the whole family, and the fellow holiday-seekers alike, was the non-stop Opera performance!

What a show. Ass hole. Who did that? The duo. Two old men. Just now late, then now opera! What opera? They literally conversed non-stop throughout the six-hour ride. Even parrots know how to shut up. What's worse was that they were seated just behind my Dad and Mum. So my Dad came up with an idea other than telling him off. He stucked his ear with two pieces of tissue paper, while I have my iPod. Lots of loud hints, yet to no avail. Mum and Sis together set the air-conditioned bus warm with frustration. Not withstanding that, the sceneries along the journey coupled with comfy seats together was fantastic. These people were not to ruin my nice mood.

The duo a.k.a Opera men

When we reached Genting Highland, lunch came first, especially after a long journey. We went to 'Causeway Bay' restaurant, and had good food!

Golden fried rice (crab roe, prawn roe and egg)

One tonne me. lol (wonton really big)

Spring onion & ginger fish hor fun

Had our fill, and we went to collect our room keys. Along the way we were taking lots of photos with our heavy bags!

4D

We went to this place where locals gather for cheap meals and there's an outlet for 4D betting. So we bet on numerous sets of numbers. When the results were out the following day, oh my god. At least 8 sets were near-miss. I show you.

What I bet
First prize: 1638!
Thrid prize: 1610!
Consolation: 0072
Consolation: 2697

What my family bet
Special - 1314
Con: 9197
4055 - never buy. (sis bf car #)

WTH. Lol. Ok, not fated to get RM5000 + more had we won the rest too. Surely, if it was the case we'd hav gone to plush buffet that night instead of dining at the humble 'penang villiage' eating char kway teow and prawn mee.

Talking about food, let me show u how much i've eaten! (which also translates to the amount of fat I gained.)

Food

Pictures speak a thousand word.

Wild Mushroom Quich! RM5

Blueberry Danish RM5

Live Soon Hock fish. RM110!! BOMB. Daddy sad whole night.

One egg, four mouths.

Kenny Rogers 1/4 Chicken. WHAT A DISSAPOINTMENT, as compared to singapore's. Totally blunt and tasteless. I thought they'd just slaughtered it.

Penang Kway Teow. 5 star quality, RM9 only!

Wow, eggs. Wow.

Carrot cake. Wow.

These are only some of the huge collection of photos of things that had gone down into our tummies. Wahaha. Fancy more? just drool will do.

Casino

As clearly stated in the r&r someone muslim and a minor shall not enter the casino. So the I did not enter, or rather I did attempt to enter but was stopped due to this young face. No matter what, I'm still a minor! below 21.

So, poor zhenyu. Walked around and shopped almost every place, alone, while dad mum and sis got stucked money making. Money losing it was. So for two hours for first day and one for next, I visited many interesting places yet again. Some photos.

Dayong sampan, dayong dayon....

Juncture...

Hot only mee!

Sammi would be performing in her concert! Too bad I got to go can't perform with her.

Wow. Grand areana of stars.

Something Fun & Funny...

Roar!!! (Oops wrong call. i'm supposed to be your trainer.)

The word DONUT looks more like shit than whatever it is.

Berhenti!

Chicky Smile!

Please marry me, ding dong!

Dr Fish therapy. Damn ticklish. My dried wound got bitten off!

ZzzzzzzZzzzzzz

Something erie...

There was once when I love reading spooky stuff online of Genting and that stretch of highway, I heard many stories about those spirits wondering about and disturbing people. I never believed that and thought it was something made up, or it wouldn't happen to me. Untill then. I didn't particularly see or felt any 'movements', but some things are better to be left unexplained.

Silence and some echo surrounded the lobby.

It happened in the second day, in the room where my sister and I shared. In that morning, I called the operator and told them that the ventilation fan in the toilet was out of order. After quite some while, it was to no avail. So we decided to get out and continue with our shopping instead. After lunch, my Dad and I wanted to get a rest and we got back to our rooms, which were linked by the connecting door that was always left opened. Just prior to my nap, there alone, I noticed the used green tea bag in my glass and thought it was rather an eyesore, so I decided to dump it. I took it to the bathroom where the litter bin was. Just before I threw it in, I poundered for a moment because there wasn't a litter bag to protect the black bin, and my tea bag being wet and will stain the base. I dropped it in anyway, thinking that the janitor were prepared to wash them since they do not provide a plastic bag. And on leaving the bathroom I realised again the stuffiness and went to call the operator again. Off I went into my dream, and Dad was already snoring at the other room.

Few hours later, door bell rang and rang repeatedly with a female voice shouting 'sir, sir', seemed directing at me or my dad. I woke up and saw the janitor already inside the room, who probably thought I wasn't in the room and opened the door after serveral calls. Two technicians went in and used a laddar to repair the fan. They left after a few minutes, and I went back to sleep again.

So at around 4pm, Mum and Sis came back and we woke up. I went to the bathroom and was happy that the fan was working - the toilet no longer smells bad. But one thing extremely strange was that, the teabag now lied exactly at the center of the bath area, just behind the bathing curtain. One burning question was: Why was it out of the bin? And, why did it lie so nicely, and, exactly at the center of the floor?

If for the first scenario, such as I dreamt that I placed it in the bin, it guaranteed wasn't the case. Cos I thought of it too, and went ahead to check whether was there stain in the bin (sparkling clean prior to throwing), it has. It's the green tea residue, and confirmed.

For the second scenario, if it was the janitor or the technician who took it out, what was the reason? And, what's there to place it so nicely on the floor? Someone with a sound mind won't do that. And I believe the staff was in no way mentally unsound.

Third Scenario - Sis and Mum, they weren't back so early and even if they were, I believe they were mentally sound still. They love cleanliness in the first place.

So who did that? Nobody knows. Just before we left for dinner, I wanted to throw the teabag back into the bin to 'test' again, sister said things are better to be left unknown, or we won't enjoy our stay for one more day. So we threw it away in the bin outside at the common corridor. The mystery remains.

Weather

Throughout the 3 day, it was not just cool but cold. Lowest temperature at 10 deg C. The wind could be said to be, say, STRONG. When u go outdoor, cloud brushes your whole body. Then later, water droplets could be seen on our hair, specs, and even eye lash. Just stand facing against the wind direction desired and your hairstyle will look great. Coupled with the millions of tiny water droplets, or molecules if you wish, you'll never need the stupid hair spray again. Just there.

Cool~ Believe me, I'm not Rain.

Can you spot the pinky or the drain?

Count the water droplets!

Water contained on and around the flower.

Even specs have a fair share!

Cool. approx 1oC. I'm not the thermometer.

7am. Morning mist or cloud, you name it. The building behind it went missing. Visibility dropped to approx 500m. I'm not a ruler.

Merry xmas!

Luxury Coach

We were extremely surprized and excited the moment when the coach attendant pointed us the bus that we'd be on for the next six hours. It's the coach I've longed to board. Or indulge. Other people paid extra S$40 per pax to enjoy such coaches, yet we needn't pay anything! Sis said we not only need not pay extra, we've experienced the thrill and excitement of getting such treatment by the game of chance. Agreed. Especially at the point of knowledge.

The journey back home from a happy trip usually contain a mixed feeling of missing the place with missing home. This time it was coupled with a feeling so pleasant about the journey itself, and almost forgotten were the memories left there as well as even the feeling of missing home.

Welcome onboard the A380 road version! Even the entrance looks like aeroplane.

Individual snoozer seats with electronic lever, personal entertainment tv, feet rest, curtain, coach attendant (aka stewardess), what more can I expect? I thought I went onboard an aeroplane!

Stairwell to heavenly heaven. The road's paradize.

Nice chasis and coachwork designed and built by singaporean Soon Chow Corporation at Senoko. Smart singaporean!

Colour scheme and floor designs taken from the idea of a nightclub setting. Black and purple, nice combo. According to some websites.

Indulging, and satisfied! Then smile... (Oops tummy out!)

Nice view at sunset. Cool...

Taken at this petrol station where the bus recharged itself. This bus has a whopping 240litre of oil tank!

Personal entertainment system. Watching 我猜我猜我猜猜猜 (Guess Guess Guess!). Midway fell asleep, then continue with indiana jones. Funny!

If you think this bus is so-so only, surely you've never seen the worst. Like I did.

Home! Interesting to upload so many photos, in the time frame of two weeks. WTH! What is the problem with blogger nowadays. Really don't understand. The photos just couldn't be uploaded in bulk. Not withstanding that, I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I did! Including the part of uploading the photo, one by one.

Holiday

2008-09-08T23:07:00.004+08:00

Genting,

HERE I COME!

WOWwww! Cya!

Driving Test Result

2008-08-26T16:26:00.015+08:00

Sigh, everything today seemed to be against my will. I had insomnia last night, and woke up feeling feverish and a minor headache. Then during the driving lesson, everything seemed not right, especially my brain, which caused me to park diagonally in a vertical lot. Along the way I remembered I did look straight but in the end the car went sideway, at 60kph. Fortunately Sunny tapped on the dashboard I then came back to my senses. It was drizzling.

Then came the time for the test, a bunch of hooligans started to dig the roads, drill for holes and pave the roads just outside of BBDC. Workers are they. It was simply a plain piece of mess. Shit. Ok, went in and got myself prepared. By staying calm.

Sunny escorted me to the holding area on the 2nd level. Many fellow driver-wannabes sat solemnly like those sick patients at the hospital's reception. I joined them and similarly, I remained calm on my face. Every step the testers made to the room was as if a stimulus to the people's faces. Then, it's the moment - Mr Yik Hoong Kei called my name and there we proceeded. No talk, at all, all the way till the silence broke in the car.

"Good afternoon, Sir." That was our opening ceremony. He smiled and I twitched the ignition key. Ready, got set, and we went off. First started with the circuit, then the public road. The jackpot says Test Route 4. So be it. It's the same road by the way. But that's where heavy traffic awaited. Another scorepoint for today's misfourtune.

First, he asked me to go straight. Then he suddenly tapped on the dashboard, which means I had to be an e-brake which I did promptly. Then, S-course, I did this beautifully. Then, it's verticle parking; awesome but a little skewed to the right. Nevermind. Next, slope - as usual, no roll-back and it was good. Then, parallel parking! Though I managed to park nicely, the turns on the steering made me as if a panic rat. Simply forgotten the number of turns I should be using, and instead, I did my own 'stunt'. Well, no demerit points for this. Then, crank course! Same, it was good. Lastly, three-point turn. Good too. At least I didn't touch the kerb for everything.

For this I was 'charged' an amount of 10 demerit points! All shouldn't have had happened! Inappopriate gear, incorrect positioning (vert park), wide turn, delay in moving off, fail to signal. Sigh.

Then cruised out to attack the public enemies. First thing the moment I was out - hmm, road works. Got another 2 points off for inappopriate gear. Sighhhh. It was really messy and I didn't even know I was still using second gear. Then at Bt Batok road, the car went off the lane. Ok, i admit this was due to my negligence.

Whatever, I'm not going to journalise the entire experience. Yea, what an experiece. This stupid tester literally ticked every components available, like delay in moving off, wide turn and sharp turn. Even when stopping at U-turn, the car must stop at a position that could please him. Easily I got two points again. Stupid Tech Whye, so many zebra-crossing nevermind, why so many pedestrains! Zebra-crossing at slope somemore, so had to use hand-brake. WTF. If not for the boy who dashed across, i could have saved 4 points for 'sudden braking' and 'jerky'. What a boy. What a tester. What the HELL. What the fuck.

Ok enough of all these if not my keyboard will really suffer. No bruise but cracks. It's $192 + $20 for one hour of testing and driving, plus the whole day and probably a lifetime of swearing and more swearings.

Needless to say, I FAILED with 34 points.

I was really depressed when the shitty sheets of papers were handed to me. 'Dear Sir/Madam, we refer to your performance during the driving test and regret to inform you that you did not perform well to be granted a quallified driving licence. We will urge you to improve on the mistakes listed below and prepare yourself for the next test. Please do not be disheartened and do learn from mistakes during the next test. With sufficient training, we are confident that you will perform well in your next test."

I tell you, I'm downright disheartened and inconfident now. What? I think I don't need sufficient training when Sunny said I've learnt fast and well, just that I need to deal with your tester's impatience and calculative minds. Haha! So much of tension that I strolled 800m to gombak station without a sign of recalling there's actually a shuttle service. 30mins' gone. Sigh.

To reduce my depression about it, I browsed through some people's blog and found a same sentiment! So by and large, the tester's the one partly to blame, on top of my nervousness that screwed up the entire thing.

Instructor Yik HK - Depends on your luck.
http://musictubalife.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-first-driving-test.html
'The Legendary Killer Tester'
http://guiying.livejournal.com/2008/04/10/
Then, this guy can't even park, this Yik HK gave him a pass! WTF. WTH.
http://www.geocities.com/princessting7/archiveaugust05.html

Whichever way, I've failed on paper but not in the minds though.

A promise, however. I will try my best again on ~~26 Dec~~ 6 Nov.

What a wait.

Haircut Day

2008-08-25T00:01:00.014+08:00

Haircut for today! Seems like i'm finally adopting a new hairstyle. haha! Innitially during the haircut i was like doubting whether the stylist boleh or not. It turned out to be good eh. That's what I feel. Applied wax, sprayed some pungent chemical, the shape emerged. =)

Wow, the rain then was heavy. So me and wd were somehow stucked in far east. So after awhile the rain stopped briefly and we went to orchard hotel for the australian universities exhibition for a quick recce of which one is cheaper and which is which. Whatever. A walk around the ballroom and we left. Not really into those talks when we had only less than 30mins. So left and boarded a bus to avoid the heavy pour (again) down to somerset. Fel came and lunch! Later wk joined and we had fun at level four.

So I left at 5 to join my family for dinner. I used the umbrella-holder (those plastic bags shopping malls provide you to hold wet umbrellas)and modified one into a disposable hat so my head and spec won't get wet, see how smart eh? wahaha. joking lah. then i sprint across the road to the bus stop just a vision away. took 174 and alighted at one stop before king albert park. It was drizzling. Crossed over the road by overhead bridge and finally the moment I reach underneath the railway bridge, it poured again!! I shan't consider myself lucky, neither can I say I was. Lucky as in i was just in time for shelter, and unlucky given i was trapped! I could at least move some inches thank goodness, but at the most. Hid under nowhere here nor there (not underwhere)was a feeling so sick.

It made me recall the story of the girl selling matchsticks. -.-

Cars swift passed me at high speed and the those innocent-looking liars actually gave me a good whack on my legs by giving a real shower. Worse when buses like double-deckers went by. The enormous amount of water on the rooftop gave me another attempt to bathe. Some car drivers know, and the changed their lane upon seeing me by the roadside, obviously seeking shelter till the rain stops. But taxi drivers are so differently insane. I wasn't even airing my armpit for their sercices yet many stopped by and asked me where I wanted to go. At that moment, I FELT AS IF A PROSTITUTE. WTF. I believe they all felt disappointed so they left? Could be. Haha. Minutes went passed and the car arrived, boarded and i lamented how much was i treated - by water and the 'service call' - along the journey. All the talk when soaked.

Anyway, celebrated mum's birthday at a jap restaurant in turf city. Considered fine-dining, but it was on an all-you-can-eat basis. Not exactly a buffet, but sort of. Pictures will tell everything.

Turf City

Hokkaido Restaurant

Sushi bar!

Cutlery! Sashimi Platter

Pork Chop

Ebi Tempura

Cheese Chawanmushi (Steamed egg custard)

Tuna Sashimi!

Signature dish: Jap stir-fry beef

Pork bacon with asparagus (BBQ) - taste like bakwa

Jap Garlic fried rice

Real stupid. Blogger can only handle photo uploads this much. Gonna change to wordpress if this persists. These are appearantly only some of the photos taken. Hehe. [Pictures updated 26/8 Tues]

Btw, driving test is just a few hours away. probably 12 or less. Don't ask me to count!

Tribute

2008-08-24T01:28:00.006+08:00

In Fond and

Loving Memories of

毛毛

小黑

It's been almost four years
since the day you left us for more adventure.
Every moment of ours,
seeing your every little movements,
had filled us with joy and laughter,
in the lovely three years.
We are thankful to have provided you
with the cosy homes, warmth, as well as
your favourite play-wheels.

Always in the fondest memories of our family.

Anniversary

Departed on 14 Jan 2004,
and 12 April 2004 respectively

Post Exam

2008-08-24T00:12:00.013+08:00

End of semester = End of disaster.

Finally, exam is over! And finally, a load of loads off my mind. And it got out of control! I've released just too much of information till the sluggish me came back into action. Totally out of my mind. Worried, a jogging session of 15mins woke me up at last, a good 48-hour of PHMTS (physically-here, mentally-there syndrome) and don't ask me where is the there.

Exam exam exam; final one is EFMA. An accounting module, which I can't really throw away. I've since started my own accounting system doing some own financial management (mainly expenditure ok). But anyway, at the point when I wrote down the last digit, it's 5.30pm sharp and all pens had to be down. That too signified the end of my last semester's stress, information-overload and the brain-juice-depleting activities.

So went out for a movie. Death Race. Nice! It was thrilling. Awesome. But a pig actually went into dreamland for a moment. Especially so during the most adventurous and exciting section - in the midst of the race. So the pig suddenly went awake only to find out the racer's head was crushed and blood not shed but burst into millions of molecules, off and away from the brain. By the way the show was screened in Grand Cathay - very spacious and classy - but was somehow spoilt by the seat-kicker behind me. grr.

After that kbox! wk da and yc suggested that. I treat it as post-exam stress-reliever. hmm. Sang lots of songs till voice break again. numerous virtual attempts to re-enact puberty? lol. voice break no problem, but the problem was, my mind and heart alike broke down and went one-way into half-slumberland. So effetively, i was almost asleep after 3am. Probably also because of the end of the super supper foodie. just let me lament on how cheap the food was despite the amount we've paid. But it's ok. I had my fill.

After that, we took a train home although the feel for a cab ride really was heavy. Home, and slept. Until 1pm, i didn't leave an inch off my bed frame. Went to weewee and then two slices of bread. Back to dreamland! at 5.45 after the click on my watch i springed up and within 2mins i stormed out of house. Driving lesson with booked circuit session was at 5.30pm. Oh shit, but just before I raised my arm for a cab, Sunny called me to cancel the lesson. Well, thank goodness! He said 'rain ah, cannot drive leh'. Thank heaven! But hopefully it won't rain on Tuesday, my TP! But one thing made me clueless. what's the wiper for on his car. Hmm.. I thought. I wondered.

Today, class bbq at Mr Fong's house! Hmm... I thought and thought again. Anyway, most turned up! Mr ong was there too. Nice food. I had my fill too. Some played, some spoke, some smoked, some drank, some drunk, some drove.

I spoke I listened. I had fun. I felt awesome. I thought, again.

I want a compass this christmas.

It's all it takes. Just like Visa! ;)

LIFE

2008-08-23T00:33:00.003+08:00

Family Spree

2008-08-11T00:38:00.014+08:00

Gosh. Was super shock when i found out there's actually 350 visits to my blog this week!! 20% from countries outside of SG, like Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Canada, Iran, Usa, Malaysia. luckily there's no content about them, if not.... ... jialat sia! (just kidding lah, bro.). I just can't imagine if one day, i have 500 hits per day. I'll be famous then - in the world of my own. hahaha.

Today was a great sunday, aka family day. Started off the day to pay respect to my late grandpa at a temple off balastier rd, as part of the 7th month ritual. While waiting for a cab, we got so irritated by a taxi driver who drove into the taxi stand and immediately, without even stopping, went off quickly. The queue was like having more than 10 groups of people, yet he did so, much to the dismay of everyone there. It added up to the fire of us having been waiting for the past 45 mins, and only 4 cabs arrived within this time. All the time under the sun. What's more frustrating was that he stopped ahead of the queue just about 200m ahead and picked up a passenger!!! Fzcked up lah.

Anyway, we ended up in a Camry taxi. New cab. Nice smell, smooth ride.

Toyota Camry JDM

Classy Interior (Leather seats, rosewood side panels, silver-chromed door handle + Ash tray.)

(Photos: Pocolento's File Photos. These photos are not taken during today's journey.)

Anyway, we reached there in just a moment. There were quite a lot of food, which no doubt ended up in all our stomachs! And later went orchard shop, also ended up with bags and bags of goodies. I bought a pillow, the one that is made to support the contour of your backbone; and a shirt, nice nice shirt.

It was pouring and grandma sat by the edge of the sheltered area. What she did was to protect herself from getting splashed! What a cute grandma.

Aunt drove us to Orchard and i decided to go Cathay to catch Bad Habits, a Picturehouse film, wanted to watch alone for the first time, as others went for their shopping. But sad, it failed. Called YC, he was late for work. Wanted to find him talk. But, ya. And it's scheduled 3.30pm, i thought i'd be late to go grandma house in time for dinner.

So, went to PS, walked around and saw nothing interesting. Ok, indeed I was really bored and lonesome. I caught a train and supposedly heading north one station, i took it down and return that made the journey seven stops in total. That's hilarious when I could well reach Somerset in 3mins to join in the shopping spree. And when I reached Marina Bay the entire train was emptied and empty. So I took a photo to shout out the meaning of 'really empty'. Kang Kang.

Why's there short of one empty seat at my row!!! GO FIGURE.

Yesterday's dinner: 241 Pizza!

Happy National Day!

2008-08-09T14:48:00.009+08:00

First of all,

Happy National Day 2008!

43 Years old already, a lot of things have changed in our land! Congrats! But still the same old yew. Time for a change too! I love Singapore!

Just watched the garmen's national day speech. One issue, again, is to get people coupled and produce babies. I really wonder how're they going to ''control' and then get people to 'connect'. Give $$ lor. Easiest way. HAHahahah.

Yesterday, I went for an inspirational trip to Botanic Garden yesterday seeking quality concentration for my new song writing project! I was there at about 4pm and the dusk sun shone comfortably, though scotching, at me. Till about 7pm i was still sitting by the Swan Lake and trying to complete the rhythms and tunes. Occasionally, the duo white swans would peddle their way around the side of me, probably giving me more and more ideas. Though alone, i felt surrounded.

After that, met wk and wd at Orchard. Probably for some while to kill time at Foot Repubic. Then went home. What's really with me yesterday? I seriously don't know. In a state of lethargy for so long already, and yesterday just got worse. I missed two red light at two separate junctions during driving lesson. Kena scolded by instructor, and luckily, no accident. Phew... Just couldn't concentrate enough, or at all. In school, presentations were sucky, not like anytime before. At least they were better than this time round. This round, I couldn't think on the spot. CAN'T. HOW. I'm worried about my score.

HAHA. Ok that aside, I just saw Melissa from hillgrove band on a promotional pamphlet. It's Melissa Lek! Long time no see how are you? I guess you're doing great! As seen from the photo, you're as great. LOL.

Model sia!

By the way, I took quite some photos which I deemed them 'artistic' (in my own way at least).! (But only 3 lah) Who needs it now!?!?

Contemporary sia...

This one! Little Mr K.K. Cheow walked around me for so long. never fly away. I wonder what you really are!

Letter of Offence. (LOL!)

So what's with this letter? Few nights ago, natassya went out with a grp of friends and smoked at a public park. Upon flicking a used cigarette, two officers from NEA asked her: What's this? Did you just litter the park with your cigarette butt? She promptly answered and got herself summoned $200. But what's funny is the description! Look. LOL!

Phew...

2008-08-07T20:15:00.005+08:00

Phew... Finally! Phew!

All projects, presentations and reports likewise, are history! WoohoO! Time for a short break, like, for two days, before Exam starts on next Fri. =(

Sad. Why. Three years. Plus one month somemore. Why. Jan. Happy birthday legally to u.

On the go(al)

2008-08-04T22:57:00.008+08:00

Finally, after days and nights of restless soul, my workload came almost to a halt. For the whole weekend I've been working like hell, occasionally releases stress with games as companion. Most of the team members were with me. Three cheers for the thoughtful us! Just today, we've completed ICTSCM E-commerce implementation report at 1730hrs when the dateline was 1659hrs. I would say, a job greatly done, but no pat on the back. I would expect not an A, but maybe a B or C cos there isn't much 'meat' in it. Due to? Last minute 'implementation'. Phew..

So we're now left with IB presentation, where the report has been handed up weeks ago. Thurs will be the end of everything! Except for sem exams... five papers to sit for, in two weeks. Sigh...

Today - a great day ended up with burning thoughts. I was thinking thoroughly about something while onboard the train from Yishun. And I stormed through...

"We're who we are in the league of our own - to each is own."

Who doesn't know? But one more thing...

"Competition holds the value for which we obtain victory by surpassing the benchmark of our own. This is value."

The true value of competition is what we can learn at the end of the day. Surpassing our own capability is what lies behind the true value of competition. Compete by oneself, for yourself and within, yet not without. It is dire. No point crossing the mark when at the end you find yourself at nowhere here nor there, and end up crawling back for milk.

Really, I still don't know how hell the train inspired me with these valuables. It was on my way back home from my grandma's house. I shall, rather, start off the story of today...

As usual I dreaded myself away from my cosy bed and off for school. It was 8.30am and class supposed to start at 9. So, chicholokio I got down to the bus stop and saw a cab waiting there. Ok! I decided to take and $17.30 brought me to school in 20mins, and it was a toyota wish! But hell, only to have realised the lab session has been changed to 10am. What the, I really thought I'd gotten to his class early the first time and also last. This week being the last week for the sem. Who knows, I got there really early, together with about 6 other victims!! Lesson started and then I continued with projs and more projs. I missed the last GSCM and EFMA lectures just to complete them. Oh heaven, in the end I went for a sun tan by the pool. !! wk and da were there swimming, so I took the chance for a 'sun' break.

1730hrs I left school and hurried to chinatown to buy a new tripod, rushed for fear it would close ops and I would not get one in time. But who knows the friend quit her job already, so no discount. Plus, there were only one type. Yacks! Thank goodness she told me City Hall's Cathay photoshop (the largest scale in sg i think) and I stormed there via MRT for fear it would close shop too. I stood at the concourse of Dhoby Ghaut station feeling a little lonesome and twisted my fingers for the closing time info on my ipod. Really appreciative, this poddy has helped me countless times whenever i needed help. 7Pm. half hr more before I can't do anythin! so MRT one stop and crazied across the 6-lane road. Got to peninsular pizza-plaza, and ok settled! It can be repaired, so the person took it and got it fixed with a spare part. A small plastic handle in China costs about $1 minus all freight costs and here, it was $20! No discount somemore! Ok no choice. 20 only? Give him la!!!! thank goodness it is repairable, if not another set of the same would have cost $148. dA wants to pay me back $20. Lol! "Dont pay me la, you helped me set up for filming i havn thank u. Had i bought the $148 set only maybe I'll get $10 from u. lol."

So walked all the way from there to plaza sing. Yes walked, i really enjoyed the scenery of the civic district. I wanted to take a train one stop back to Dhoby one, but concession wouldn't be enough for my return trip home. So then decided to take a bus. Chased for bus 175 and with just few more steps, mr captain drove it off. Fumingly startled totally. Flagged down 136, 64, 131 ...... much to my frustration, in my sweaty and smelly red shirt, before I decided to give in to my very own legs. Walked by and through the SMU and the feeling was like 'how I wish I could study here in time to come'. Really, my whole body turned green (...as if) as much the beautiful street landscape when i see bunches and crowds of the students walking around. ... LOL.

Again, I day dreamt until one chilli Ferrari nearly (NEARLY) kissed my butt with an IMPACT while I crossed the junction. Ok leh, nothing happened to me, just felt so restless why didn't the Ferrari did so, at least it's a Ferrari ok! Not any toyotas. And even the honk sounded so nice lah... Till I nearly turned red, red and more red! (red shirt, red Ferrari, then the pool of blood). So, found wk and da at arcade in PS and they were playing silent hill again! That was while I enjoyed watching. Blah blah blah, then I hurried off to Yishun. Daiso's oolong tea was nice!

Saw the whole sequence? Went to my grandma place to return the tripod to aunt and from then, is when I gave myself the honour to realise the 'burning statements' hahaha. Maybe it doesnt really matter.

Immediately blogged the moment i got bathed. And it is quite interesting to note that actually, i do have visitors from canada, iran and korea! Maybe scary? hahah. No la. World without boundaries ok! Hey friend, welcome!

Seriously, i feel so skinny now after long walks and sprints. Plus and indefinite flame of thoughts. Smile! Next stop, Dreamlands. Thank you for travelling with pocolento. Good night =)

Grrr...

2008-08-03T00:04:00.006+08:00

Today supposed to go grandpa house. Haven't been going to his house for quite some time already. Feel bad ok. Sad. No time in the beginning. But in the end. Went to watch movie! Wad a grandson.

Money no enough 2. Haha is the word. Albeit not a word. Haha. It's just plain funny and as usual, jack's movie contains political-humour. This time, he showed a 'virtual street demonstration' about ERP. I think it's purely a movie-version of a real protest. There's also a 'We're Singapore' national song sang in Hokkien. Very funny and creative! Good job, Mr Neo! You spoke our hearts out. Midway through there's a very touching family issue that, too, very well reflected our Singapore's way of handling family problem. Yet another clap... Cry cry cry... Many sponsors' adverts though. Like OCBC, Singtel, and Mitsubishi Electric.

So for today's intake i had subway as snack and KFC as dinner. Grrr. KFC again. Just couldn't control my diet.. Grrrr.....

When will the next revolution for a 'dieted' me starts??? I mean rev-solution. How to kick start. Boom Boom! Help!