moods n musings

2010-01-18T00:56:00.004+08:00

ranting.

despite the fact that yours truly has less than 12 working days to go, reporting for work has long became a chore, with all the nasty passengers, non-stop phone and email queries and whatnot. but at least i'm counting down!

i really didn't meant for my first post of the decade to be so negative, but on a happier note, hope everyone's 2010 been great thus far! looking ahead, i daresay that this would be one of the most eventful year for myself and i'm set to make it as fulfilling and meaningful as possible. so, no more new year resolutions concerned with weight loss and money earning, but now that i've mentioned it, that doesn't sound too bad at all.... hmm.

i'm just a daydreamer,

one of those hopeless believers.

happy 2010 all. xoxo

2009-12-13T22:05:00.004+08:00

ain't no city like the big apple.

for the life of me, i can't exactly recall when my fascination with new york started. perhaps it stemmed from all the movies that i've caught since my youth, where the city has always been depicted as a place where life and love happens and where dreams really do come true. the pulsing heart of the nation with a distinct vibe of its own and the inhabitants of which are ultra stylish and uniquely urban.

that might be romanticising it a little too much, but hey, since i haven't been there, i'm free to have my own perceptions.

the non-stop tributes to the big apple aren't exactly helping.

empire state of mind (part 2) - alicia keys

Grew up in a town that is famous as the place of movie scenes
Noise is always loud, there are sirens all around and the streets are mean
If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, that's what they say
Seeing my face in lights or my name in marquees found down on Broadway

Even if it ain’t all it seems, I got a pocketful of dreams
Baby, I'm from New York
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York!

2009-11-30T21:46:00.004+08:00

for the love of the sport

go ahead and call me adventurous (or crazy) but i was hellbent on getting my 30 laps on my long awaited off day, meteorological services be darned.

update: granted, there was a slight drizzle when i made my way out but a chance encounter with ah son and mei at northpoint resulted in a totally random (but rather enjoyable) viewing of a christmas carol by jim carrey. and i STILL succeeded in completing 30 rounds after that. (that's 1 to the crazy guy, 0 to weather forecasts) woots!

but where's the sun when i needed it?

2009-11-21T23:10:00.003+08:00

floating.

funny how the slightest thing can trigger a flood of memories that just threatens to engulf your entire being. i was watching story of time (光陰的故事) the other day and a scene about childhood friends reuniting for one last time before someone has to fly away had me reminising about my own childhood, and how it had become a thing of the past.

while there was no way that we can go back in time (or at least until someone invents a time travelling machine), taking a minute or five to relish the good old days was rather fufilling for it helped put things in perspective. i've been feeling rather adrift these days for there's been nothing to look forward to nor acheive, but this break from reality provided me with a much needed anchor.

drawing strength from the past to face the challenges of the future.

now that's a thought.

2009-11-20T21:04:00.001+08:00

state of mind.

So what if it hurts me?
So what if i break down?
So what if this world just throws me off the edge
My feet run out of ground
I gotta find my place
I wanna hear myself
Don't care about all the pain in front of me

I just wanna be happy.

2009-11-17T01:16:00.003+08:00

maybe that's what they meant by having the need to stop and smell the roses (or some other flower) but consecutive work days have left me with barely enough room to breathe, much less spending some quality time with none other than.... myself.

and that's precisely what i'm planning to do on my off day tmr. emulate bokkie, eyeore and woodstock's carefree life.

have a happy rest of the week ahead world!

2009-11-05T14:40:00.005+08:00

a breather.

hey world, it's been slightly more than a week since i began my life as a chan brother, and frankly speaking, things have been going smoothly (if you care to disregard the bumps along the way). training has ended and yes manda, i've finally finished covering the tour packages to our many many many destinations.

work has officially commenced and yours truly has been "promoted" (i'm using the term very loosely here), to a counter staff just after 1 day in the call centre. while i've not exactly been thrown to feed the sharks, there's still a need to fend for myself against the endless streams of phone calls and customers (will you all just stop calling and coming so often?!?!).

at this point in time, i think it's only right that the protagonist should sincerely apologise to all the people out there whom he has either given misleading information or tried to hoodwink due to his inexperience over the past few days. sorry!

am slowly getting into the flow of things and how work gets done around here, though i sincerely doubt that i'd ever fit in with the dept.

on a less depressing note, i've managed to get 女人, cpc and their friend down to an interview for some temporary assignments. crossing my fingers that they'd get the job cuz that'd really give me some motivation to get up for work each morning.

2009-10-27T23:03:00.003+08:00

a new chapter

the protagonist has once again come to a crossroad in his life, where decisions have to be made and then stuck with. this time though, i have this icky feeling at the back of my mind telling me that i've made the choice too hastily or rather, didn't get a say at all and just went with the flow. this despite my all-questioning and all-pondering personality. hmmm...

first day at work was in short, overwhelming. i'd hate to attribute it to living too sheltered a life in the comforting arms of the saf (hah!), but seriously, it was just a bit too much. perhaps memorising the entire brochures on europe and exotic travel, right down to the intricate details does that to one. and hey, wouldn't you be a little miffed if the girl in your training group earns a dollar an hour more than you do? (for my sanity and her wellbeing, lets all hope that this gets clarified in the very very near future.)

it's gonna be an uphill task, but i'm determined not to write the job off based on my not-so-ideal first day. seeing that i've got australia, new zealand, usa, canada and turkey to go, this is one huge and super steep hill.

wish me luck.

2009-10-18T00:00:00.003+08:00

i'm risking my eyesight by being online...

...cuz lasik surgery does that to you sometimes.

be back in a few, or when i'm well enough to withstand the glare of the screen.

When our love was new

And each kiss an inspiration

Oh, but that was long ago

And now my consolation

Is in the stardust of a song

Beside a garden wall

When stars are bright

You were in my arms

The nightingale tell its fairy tale

Of paradise where roses grew

Though I dream in vain

In my heart it will remain

My stardust melody

The memory of love's refrain

- stardust, michael buble.

2009-10-12T22:50:00.011+08:00

500 days of summer

"This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story."

And yes, the introduction pretty much sets the mood for the entire show. Essentially the movie was about the story of how boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, but unfortunately, girl doesn't. Quirky and full of irony, yet hardly falling into adopting movie cliches, 500 Days of Summer was able to emote the tale in such a way that was fresh and kept me on my feet throughout the show. I especially liked how the scenes go back and forth by using the number of days (day 347, day 28 etc) to juxtapose the highs and lows of a relationship, if you could use that to describe what the male and female leads shared.

I went in seriously not expecting much, and like edwin, it turned out that we both really enjoyed the film. Being a hardcore fan of happy endings, unfortunately the movie (for extremely personal and selfish reasons) stopped short of wowing the socks off me. but it was the few movies that made me wanna go get the dvd and watch it all over again, and again...

ps: the title "500 Days Of Summer" refers to the 500 days that Tom (boy) spends with his girlfriend - Summer (girl).

pps: at the risk of sounding ahem.., Joseph Gordon-Levitt was really dashing.. me reckons he looks like a younger and not-so-rough heath ledger... :P

2009-10-10T22:49:00.007+08:00

crazy love

a huge "phew" came outta me as i dotted my last fullstop on the exam script this morning. thankfully the paper wasn't all that tough, but it was still rather challening, so distinctions aren't guranteed. in fact, i sorta screwed up the definition of open skies agreements, so aceing it might be a longer shot than previously thought possible.

having crammed my head with aviation theories and going without sleep all night, i came back home immediately and more than made up for it by crashing for 5hrs straight. while sleep's good, doing so at awkward hours just screws up your body clock, no two ways about it. so while others are fluffing their pillows and doing their pre-bed routines, i'm bout as hyped up as the energizer bunny.

chilling out to michael buble's latest disc and he delivers, as always. imagine my surprise to hear his cover of jason mann's crazy love, which is just about one of my favourite songs of all time. while there's nothing wrong with buble's jazzed up redition, me reckons the original still way better.

check out manda's response to my rants about crazy love.
that's what friends are for, no? =P

back to work for half days from mon to wed and then that's it. am strangely subdued about it though when i should be shouting for joy instead.

2009-10-07T17:02:00.003+08:00

taking stock

with 3 more nights of studying to go, yours truly dare says that he has been making good progress and is determinded to get a distinction for the test come this sat.

the fact that distinctions are awarded with a minimum score of 90% and above is IMO, inconsequential. hah hah.

-an incoherent rant from a mugged-out me.

2009-10-05T17:23:00.006+08:00

choo, choo..

you know, when the engine has stopped running for more than 2 years, it takes a hell lotta time to grease the parts and get it functioning again. but guess what, with the exam coming up at the end of this week, time is one thing that i just don't have.

yep, after a such a long hiatus, i'm proud to say that yours truly is mugging again. like mad.

2009-09-26T02:32:00.008+08:00

bangkok bound. again.

considering that it's about 3 in the morning and that i have to make my way to the airport in slightly more than 6hrs, i really shouldn't be here. but heck that.

while i'm really glad to be actually flying out of the airport instead of heading there to chill, there's a part of me that's not too excited about my first holiday this year (taiwan in apr doesn't count for i was there on ah-gong's orders). for starters, i really really like bangkok (who doesn't?) but frankly speaking, was planning to head elsewhere had it not been for my travel companion.

looking on the bright side, while i don't have any say with regards to the choice of destination, itinerary planning's all mine. hoping to condense what i liked from my previous trips and fuse it with some new activities (thai cooking class, chinatown etc). barring any unforeseen circumstances, i'm hellbent on having me some fun on my 4th trip to the thai capital.

will keep ya posted.

2009-09-09T01:37:00.003+08:00

tick-tock.

d-day : 43 days and count i n g . . . . . .

seriously, it's about pretty darn time!

2009-09-09T01:25:00.003+08:00

backposts part iii

Apr 10 2009 1.03pm

I've figured out long ago that I'm not much like the average guy. I don't play basketball nor scoccer, don't follow anime nor manga religiously, am not a fan of any console games nor I do I salivate at anything that walks past wearing a skirt. Okay, the last one might be too harsh but heck, even the bestfriend knows a whole lot more about soccer than yours truly. and that says alot when your bf is one of the other gender.

guess what, i'm perfectly fine with that.

well at least i don't degenerate into one of those cussing and swearing slobs who're pretty much devoid of intelligence and whose hygiene and manners go out of the window when they come together with others of the same kind.

hallelujah.

disclaimer: this is not a hate post (or trying not to be too much of one).

2009-09-09T01:14:00.005+08:00

backposts part II

--

apr 7 2009 10.32pm

Lets bitch.

Well this could very well end up in the wrong hands and come bite my in the rear, but seeing that I'm not divulging any army nor national secrets, I really don't give two hoots about it.

I hate suckers aka bootlickers. In my list, they rank above scum-of-the-earth and serial killers, but just marginally. Just. Unfortunately through the years, I've encountered more than my fair share of them, but that doesn't make me any more tolerable. In fact, I despise them more with each new one I meet. They might think that they're making their lives easier or journeys smoother but the least that they can do is not to be so blatent, lest they incur the wrath of others (like me).

But nope, these people are usually so obvious in their worshipping but so oblivious to just about everything else that they often wonder why others ignore or even hate them so much. Em, good luck with that gaining that realisation guys and oh, watch your back. You never know when that knife's gonna find its way to there.

2009-09-09T01:02:00.005+08:00

backposts

--

Apr 4 2009 9.43am

I've always wondered if I'm capable of penning those introspective entries that my friends do with such aplomb. Perhaps it's really beyond me to go beyond the surface of things and delve deep within, or that laziness got the better of me, but I'd reckon it's due to the fact that I don't put such thoughts into writing.

I tend to do a lot of self-rationalising and self-talk, which (despite the risk of this post sounding really schizophrenic) I do. I find it easier and more practical unburdening to myself first and work things through instead of running to someone whenever I encounter a problem or obstacle. Most of my issues get solved that way and it allows me to project a calmer (and more put together) front that I really feel within.

While others might read this and think "this guy has got some serious problems with coping" and while I'm all for people having their own opinions, that doesn't mean that I have to agree or conform. To them I say "Go find something better to do with all your thoughts, like uncover a solution to global warming or world proverty if you're that free."

Now excuse me while I go talk to myself in that corner over there.

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

musings from the roc

i know it's been a while since this site has seen action and frankly speaking, i'm rather surprised that i decided to pen my thoughts down after such a long hiatus. old habits die hard, i guess. here're some random entries that i'd keyed into my trusty itouch while on a month long exercise in the roc (that's taiwan to those not in the know).

Apr 3 2009 7.34am

Maybe it's because I've finished reading all my 5 books, or that I've got nothing better to do at 6.51 on a friday morning. Maybe I'm resisting falling into bed again or it could very well be that I'm just a big ole romantic at heart. So while others around me are engrossed in the PSPs or caught up in their card games, I shall write.

After what happened with Nicholas Sparks in South Africa last year, I really should have know better than to pack yet another potential weep-read with me. Unfortunately it was a spur of the moment decision that resulted in Dorothy Koomson's Goodnight, Beautiful accompanying me on this trip. Devouring the book on the back of a landrover might not have been the best way to relish it (and definitely not doing the author justice), but the emotions I felt were no less strong nor compromised. Here's the blurb which I shamelessly copied from the paperback.

"Everybody has secrets . . . will this one break somebody's heart?

Eight years ago, Nova Kumalisi agreed to have a baby for Mal and Stephanie Wacken. Halfway through the pregnancy, the couple changed their minds and walked away, leaving Nova pregnant, scared and alone.

Eight years ago, Stephanie was overjoyed at the thought of becoming a mother - until she found a text from Mal to Nova saying, 'Goodnight, beautiful'. Terrified of losing her husband to his closest friend, Stephanie asked him to cut all ties to Nova and their unborn child.

Now, Nova is anxiously waiting for her son, Leo, to wake up from a coma, while childless Stephanie is desperately trying to save her failing marriage. Although they live separate lives, both women have secrets that will bind them together for ever . .

Incredibly moving and powerfully written, Goodnight, Beautiful is a tale of love, friendship and new beginnings."

Falling in love with your best friend might be an often used them in chicklit, and trust me, I've read my fair share of them to provide a (somewhat prejudiced) view. Dorothy manages to weave this together with coping with loss, the illness of loved ones and how to stay strong when everything in your world is falling apart and the only thing you felt like doing was to crawl into bed and never come out again. But I believe that our self-defense mechanism is much stronger than that. Yes, we might shed tears or even break down in times of adversity, but we always bounce back stronger. Scarred and wounded, but stronger.

As usual, I had to take deep breathes and rein myself in throughout the climax of the story to preview myself from tearing. But a good read's always a good read. And I'm passing it to the bf pronto when I get back.

2009-05-03T00:32:00.003+08:00

am pretty sure that you'd never ever get to see this so...

i'm actually glad that i got through a day without speaking with nor texting you.

but that doesn't settle the uncertainties that i have within.

2009-01-06T20:53:00.004+08:00

and here it is...

my first big splurge of 2009. while i know it might seemed rash to purchase the instrument just after a single guitar lesson, but i'm hoping that the (rather hefty) investment will spur me on to practice like mad each day. i've been allocated homework and it makes sense to get one so that i wouldn't be left behind come lesson two this friday.

have acquired blister-like bumps on 3 fingers on my left hand after daily sessions. painful they might be, but i am not deterred (at least not yet).

was planning on becoming the next leehom but have decided otherwise after hearing manda's wise words.

me: hey, at the rate i'm practing my guitar, i'll be the next leehom!!

manda: hah! you wish. he plays the piano,violin,er-hu,drums as well!!

me: >.<

okay, tanya chua better watch her back then. :P

yay! first post of 2009!

i sincerely hope that the first 6days has been good to all and lets keep our fingers crossed for a recession free year (unlikely it might be)...

2008-12-31T18:13:00.014+08:00

the 2008 lookback post

in slightly more than 6 hours, 2008 will officially become a thing of the past as we welcome 2009. and good riddance to that! This year hasn’t exactly been a fantastic one for me in terms of personal and professional development and I cruised through the first 9 months not accomplishing much. It was also a year marked by feelings of haplessness and some adversity. I guess that’s what happens when the army gets to you. thank god I’d made it through though. But 2008 had its highlights as well, for I fulfilled my quota of taking 3 trips every year and managed to reconnect with some of my primary school friends.

I certainly wished that your 2008 was much better and way more fulfilling than mine. if isn’t, well, you definitely have a chance to work on it in the year ahead. Here’s the first of what I hope to be an annual entry whereby I bid farewell to the year that’s ending and hopefully emerge a better person all around in the year ahead.

2008 marked the year in which i...

turned 21 and became eligible to vote.

Received government subsidy!

bid farewell to my home of 10 years

and shifted to a brand new abode

finally got my own room, small as it might be

welcomed a new addition to the family!

missed watching the apple of my eye turn 2

hopped on my longest flight ever

stepped foot on the African continent!

Spent an entire month halfway around the world

Wore 4 layers of clothes just to keep warm.

Lost money in an African casino. Darn.

Got awestruck by a scenery for the first time

Literally saw rain before it poured

Went on a safari drive!

caught sight of a lion and a half-eaten giraffe (or less)

Ate Chinese food in the heart of Africa. Surreal.

Went to old trafford :P

Had banana milkshakes and fried stuff in the death of the night

Saw the south African equivalent of San Fran’s golden gate bridge

Finally went on a 2nd trip with the bf

Visited the largest market in the world (and suffered a heatstroke as proof)

Saw a horse made entirely of swarovski crystals

Tasted the greatest calamari! salivates

Went crazy over phat thai

Published my own magazine (yea right)

Saw genting through the eyes of a first timer again

Revisted the fabulous capitol hotel

Jumped up and down in front of KLCC for at least 30mins

and Watched it come alive

Had the best wanton mee ever

Finally signed up for my guitar lesson!

Started making plans for my future – NTU? UQ? UNSW? Uni of Hawaii?

Went up a rank

And then went as far as I’d ever go in army.

Crossed the halfway mark towards regaining my freedom. YESH!

Revisited the zoo after more than a decade

Heralded the return of circus to town

Caught the diva in concert for the 2nd time in a year!

Got myself transplanted to New York, Greece and Australia, courtesy of the big screen.

Went all out to celebrate the lunar new year

Went all out to snap Christmas trees

Made new friends

lost a friend

Reconnected with old, old ones

Realized that we'd all grown up

or maybe not.

here's to a fruitful 2009. happy new year.

2008-12-30T23:27:00.002+08:00

undeliverable

i didn't know that my new place is actually an impregnable fortress when no one's home. comforting.

but not so for the poor delivery man who had to make a second trip much later just to deliver my course document.

happy eve of new year's eve everyone!

2008-12-26T14:36:00.005+08:00

the sun's got something against me

i decided not to head for the pool today and the sun comes out in full force, as though it's scorning me. should i change my mind later, i'm sure the sun would change his/her too.

at this rate, i'd never ever get my tan back. but why am i not surprised?

happy boxing day everyone. ah bish!

2008-12-25T16:45:00.003+08:00

falalalala..

disclaimer: dang, this image isn't supposed to look so lc. i guess something went wrong during the uploading.

still, happy holidays everyone!

2008-12-25T16:37:00.003+08:00

my favourite tree this year. period.

at raffles city shopping mall

any resemblance to the high fashion brand better known by its initials is strictly coincidential i hope. lest the lawsuits start flying when the festive spirit runs out.

x'mas at the airport. dig the motif. :)

2008-12-25T01:18:00.002+08:00

just returned from my family's annual christmas eve get together (or better known as a no holds barred makan session). am freshly showered and just settled down in front of my laptop with a cuppa steaming peppermint tea in hand and love actually's soundtrack playing in the background. i'm planning on reducing the sleep debt that i've accrued since eons ago and so will wake up naturally tomorrow morning (more like afternoon really).

ahhh, bliss. merry christmas 2008 everyone.

now why can't everyday feel like this?

2008-12-23T12:25:00.001+08:00

let the festive eating begin!

the venue : spice kitchen at simpang bedok

the players: 6 ravenous current and ex cathay staff versus a multitute of seafood, satays, poultry and a large tom yum claypot.

the verdict: the food never stood a chance. we polished off almost everything.

i proceeded to work it all off with a visit to the pool today. didn't get much sun, but i did manage my usual laps, which theoratically should offset all the food i ate.

wishful thinking i know, but indulge me on this...

2008-12-21T23:51:00.000+08:00

two movies in a day and there'll be hell to pay

this title pretty much sums it all up. with back to back exercises and uni applications, i haven't been able to spend quality time in a cinema until yesterday. since i didn't have much on my plate for a change, yours truly actually managed to catch 2 shows. my list of must watch movies has been getting longer and longer so it was an accomplishment (of sorts) to strike 2 films off.

thanks to my uob debit card and my safra membership, i managed to get discounted tickets for both shows, but still, ticket prices these days are getting exhorbitant! i will always have fond memories of paying $4 for student discounts during my primary school days. try beating that price. :P

twilight didn't place high on my list of movies to watch and i actually was rather adverse to catching it. for some reason or another, i didn't get started on reading stephanie meyers' books so there wasn't any motivation for me to pay $24 bucks (i sponsored le brother and le cousin) just to sit in the theater with teenage girls swooning over robert pattinson's portrayal of a vampire. that was until i found out that kristen steward would be playing the female lead. her small but powerful role in the indie flick into the wild was certainly memorable and i was looking forward to seeing more of her.

overall, the movie was a-okay. with a focus on action scenes and intense staring between the two leads, it was no doubt made for the younger and mtv-oriented generation with the attention span of a housefly. as expected, story development was rather weak and the cheesy scripts had me squirming at times. i mean, seriously, "You're like a drug to me. Like my own personal brand of heroine?"

kristen steward's role as bella, the out of state transfer student who ends up falling in love with edward, the lone ranger who turns out to be a vampire was well fleshed out and the fact that she manages to be vulnerable and stong (sometimes at the same time) made this show all the more watchable. on the other hand, robert pattinson (harry potter's cedric diggory) started off extremely uncomfortable, relying on his pouts and hard faces a little too much before finding himself mid film.

judging by the phenomenon twilight and its stars have created, it's safe to say that movie adaptions of new moon, eclipse, breaking dawn are definitely on the way. while i don't consider myself a fan, the movie has intrigued me enough to pick up twilight at harris bookstore today (it was quite cheap). well, time will tell but it's for sure that the twilight series will do for kristen steward and robert pattinson what harry potter did for daniel radcliffe and gang.

been wanting to watch cape no 7 (海角七号) ever since it broke box office records in taiwan, surpassing ticket sales set by the mother of all films, titanic. jl, who had watched it via unmentionable means, strongly advised me against watching this show as the show didn't make sense at all but i kept thinking that so many taiwanese can't be wrong. thank god i didn't listen to her for i'd really have missed out on a good film.

the storyline can be a little hard to explain so here's an exerpt from moviexclusive.com, an excellent local movie review site with great giveaways.

"Aga left Hengchun for Taipei in the hope of becoming the singer in a band. After ten years of hard work, he returns home, his dream unfulfilled, and soon gets a job at the local post office. Tomoko is a Japanese model going down in popularity who is just asked to put together a local warm-up band for an upcoming Japanese super star beach concert to be held in Hengchun. However, recruiting the band members proves to be difficult a task as the search for the famous seven samurai. Still, seven ordinary Hengchun residents end up forming the band.

One day, Aga receives a parcel from Japan not meant for him – in fact, it was to have been delivered at Cape No.7., an address that doesn’t exist anymore… But even though he cannot find the address, Aga doesn’t return the parcel to Japan. Rather, he opens it to find love letters written some 60 years ago by a Japanese teacher and addressed to a Taiwanese girl he was deeply in love with, but had to leave behind Taiwan.

During the process of putting the band together, Aga and Tomoko are constantly at odds with each other, but thanks to the love letters, their conflict-ridden relationship slowly turns into love.

And even though they eventually find the lady the parcel was meant for, it seems that Aga and Tomoko are destined to follow the same footsteps as the girl and the teacher in their own love story… Tomoko must now decide whether she will stay together with Aga or go back to Japan alone"

in short, cape no 7 is a love story and it isn't ashamed of being so. i really got feeling that the production team was just trying to tell a story and they really managed to tell the tale well. not only did i understood what the movie was all about, i felt the sincerity behind it as well. in short, i was touched. and not just by the story, but also by a stellar ensemble of relatively unknown actors, the picturesque island of heng-chun and excellent music throughout.

had it not been the fact that i was wedged between my mom and bro, it was a forgone conclusion that i would have bawled my eyes out when the film reached its climax. music was heavily featured in the finale but in addition to that, i was rooting for a love story that not just had heart but manages to be uplifting in the weird times that we live in today.

2008-12-21T22:49:00.003+08:00

one of these days that makes you wanna go &@^#!!

in view of the current economic crisis and heightened security alerts, it took me long enough to finally decided to crawl out under my rock to regain my tan and to swim off some flab before the festive binge eating begins. just went i stepped off the bus. this greeted me.

where is the blardy sun when you need him?

the same sight accompanied me while doing my 25laps or so. after i headed for the shower and was en route to my lunch date with kj, it came out bright and sunny.

am trying again tomorrow.
hope i won't resort to cursing and swearing again whilst swimming.

grrrrr.

2008-12-20T18:13:00.010+08:00

who is she and what's her secret?

now there are a few traditions that i absolutely will observe come each holiday season. well, jostling with the crowd for last min shopping, attending all night xmas eve barbeques, watching love actually (again!) and gorging myself silly on festive goodies are all a must as is the following. well, it isn't something that's even remotely related to christmas or the new year but i have to catch the victoria's secret's fashion show (vsfs) every year. and it has to be ahead of its broadcast on local television no less.

to me, watching the vsfs's like being able to attend the jingle ball concert or the rockefella lightup. christmas just isn't complete without it. before you write me off as one of those hum-sup guys who watch the show just to ogle at scantily clad models, let me tell you that yes, i do ogle at them but that's not my sole reason for tuning in religiously year after year.

it's the glitz and glamour that comes with each and every runway show that appeals to me. i keep watching to see if they could top the success of the previous year's show. the victoria's secret fashion show is in short, a huge prime time commercial for the brand itself and i have to say that victoria's secret markets itself extremely well. for example, victoria's secret's angels is such a successful advertising campaign that went a long way in helping vs turn in $5.0billion in sales last year. that's like the gdp of some developing countries! not bad for a company whose sole business is selling lingerie.

this year's show went outdoors for the first time (i think) as the angels descended on Miami Beach, which in my opinion was the perfect (and sensible) venue to stage a lingerie cum swimsuit show as compared to the kodak theater in downtown los angeles. segments this year ranged from the usual glamorous goddesses and pink planet to the somewhat avant garde Ballet De Fleurs (think loads of frills and flowers) and black tie holiday.

i'll let the pictures speak for themselves (with my comments thrown in for good measure):

pictures from vsholic.com and Alessandra Ambrosio Official Forum

the good

this is one of my favourite outfits in this year's runway show. part flapper and part circus ring leader, this brings to mind the glamourous 1920s showgirls. while i dun have any info on her, lindsay ellingson (or rather her abs really) brought the outfit to life. britney's people should give victoria a call. this look is perfect for her upcoming tour.

while she has hardly been given the spotlight in the vsfs, ana beatriz barros has been one of my perennial favourites. she has this been-there-done-that look and a i'm-oh-so-worth-it attitude that might be offending in other industries, but works in her favour in the modelling world. a stark contrast from those dime a dozen fresh faced girls, ana always oozes sophiscation and has that je ne sai quoi feel about her.

caymanian selita ebanks has been a victoria's secret's angel since 2005 and while she's often featured in the ads and interviews, this is the year that selita finally registered high on my radar. chopping off her locks was risky business (as she couldn't toss and flip her previously long hair like the others) but the risk proved worthwhile. she reminds me of iman and has the elegance and sass to boot. the first shot simply blew me away and i really like the details in her black corset (bling it on!).

better known as the girlfriend of a certain orlando bloom, aussie-born miranda kerr is actually a bona-fide angel in her own right. like selita, i only took notice of her this year for there's something about her that looks different and more supermodel-ish. she is also the proud wearer of my favourite wings this year (first shot). the picture does not do the wings justice for it was extremely intricate and the butterflies seemed to have come to life while miranda walked. even though i can't imagine why anyone would want to wear the red swimsuit, complete with accessories, but she managed to rock it too.

the blah

the honor of wearing this years 5 million dollars fantasy bra went to victoria's secret stalwart adriana lima. while she has been sharing top billing with heidi for the past 2 shows, i feel that adriana hasn't been able to inject personality into her walk nor interviews. she seems rather empty at times and prefers to let her killer eyes and sultry pout speak for themselves. which is a good thing i guess since she is gorgeous. gorgeous, but a little blah for an angel.

the bad

this feels like a ripoff. isn't the outfit a very plain black bra top and granny undies paired with some streamers? as mr j would say, i'm not feeling this.

it might look cute and preppy but i was afraid that erin heatherton (i did my research) might be suffocated by her long scarf (it's really a single piece!) midwalk.

while i really liked the fabric used in the swimsuit, pairing it with knee-length leggings and a lumberjack hat just screamed trailer trash.

the very bad

heidi, heidi, need we remind you that you're not victoria and so this is not your show? i was still suffering from withdrawal symtoms after watching your tres lovey dovey duet with seal during last year's runway and you had to spring this disaster of an outfit on us? i'm a fan of bling but i know my limits. you look like you're feeling all that weight and am slouching a little, which even i know is a big no-no in runway shows, angel or not.

and the unrivalled

i feel that the vsfs just hasn't been the same since tyra's last walk in 2005. try as heidi (and to a certain extent adriana) might, but they're just no tyra. i almost (repeat: almost) gave up watching vsfs in 2006. that until alessandra ambrosio walked on screen and changed my life for good. i've realised that she doesn't really resort to tactics like pointing at the camera screen (which adriana and heidi are fond of) or going crazy on the runway (tyra: but in a good way).

she just does her walk, and she does her walk well. and fierce. that's what made all the more memorable, the simplicity and no drama. don't even get me started on her smothering eyes or her hair, which is seems to be perfect all the time.

this just screams i'm so good and i know it. take that b*tches.

what made it even more incredible was that she was back on the vsfs 2008 runway just 3 months after giving birth to her daughter. i'm not worthy.

my favourite shot of this year's vsfs. actually she has delivered my favourite pictures for 2 years running. or maybe i'm just highly prejudiced.

and there you have it. my rundown of this year's runway (pun intended). back to feeling empty until next year's victoria secret fashion show comes along to fill the viod. :P

2008-12-17T11:43:00.001+08:00

budding tanya chua in the making

after much procrastination, i finally hauled myself down to kylie's music school (okay, she's just working there) and registered for the acoustic guitar lessons. it was sure good catching up with the ever effervescent kylie and the exchange of gossip + bitching made it all the more memorable. it's been wwaaayyy too long kylie!!

granted, it might have taken me long enough for i have been contemplating it since 2007 but the important thing is that i've finally signed up. woots!

tanya chua / lee hom/ david tao / any other guitar playing singers be warned.

2008-12-15T23:52:00.002+08:00

wenjie is...

saddened that he has to report for work tomorrow. the fact that it is his last full working day of the year doesn't help.

2008-12-11T22:42:00.004+08:00

od-ing

java dark chocolate with orange peel - sinful but oh so indulgent.

heaven knows how much of a chocolate addict i am but even so, two visits to max brenner's within the span of 5 days is still too much.

can't believe i'm actually staying this but for the overall heath of my body and mind, i'll be staying off chocolates cocoa for the time being.

it's a self imposed sabbatical that i fully intend to follow through. i hope.

2008-12-09T21:23:00.003+08:00

Dear Mr Phua,

I am pleased to offer you admission as an International fee-paying student to the University of New South Wales' Bachelor of Commerce - Services Marketing, Hospitality and Tourism Management program. This offer is made on the basis of your prior academic qualifications and your performance during the interview held with our professors.

yes! at the risk of sounding aloof, getting into the program was more or less expected but my heart still skipped a beat upon seeing this in my inbox.

sydney, here i come!!

now i'd have to start worrying about getting the money.

scholarships anyone?

2008-11-22T23:08:00.006+08:00

just in case...

anyone needs further convincing that christmas IS indeed sneaking up on us.

and on a rather calculating note, yours truly has got 11 more months and slightly less than an hour before regaining his freedom...

happy sunday in advance!

2008-11-20T22:35:00.004+08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year

the decor at j8

With the kids jingle-belling
And everyone telling you
Be of good cheer
It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

me and an overglittered stiletto

indeed it is. somehow or another, the air just seems that much lighter and people, that bit cheerier come late december. perhaps it might really be due to the magic of chrismas, or maybe most peeps are just glad to get another year over and done with.

whatever the reason may be, with the my favourite festival only a month and 5days away. i'm more than ready.

are you?

2008-11-20T12:04:00.005+08:00

phew.

that was definitely not my best showing for an interview for yours truly was battling a nasty cough and was on the verge of giving sage like sarah palin answers on a couple of occasions but apparently the interviewer was very impressed.

understandably she didn't offer me a placement right away (cuz she can't) but i'm holding her to her words when she said to look out for their acceptance letter come early next year.

2008-11-20T00:27:00.005+08:00

butterflies.

with my interview for unsw's undergrad program being scheduled in little less than 11hours, the winged creatures in my stomach are fluttering with a renewed vengence. while most people have no qualms about me aceing the interview on all counts, i'm not so optimistic. like i told the bf, one year plus of underachieving has seriously dampened my self-confidence.

wish me luck everybody...

2008-11-08T23:44:00.004+08:00

it's only now that i realise...

- how my worries about the impending exercise were not unfounded

- how 15hours workdays can screw up my body clock and eating habits

- how taxing mental exhaustion can be

- how pricy public transportation in singapore can get : $4.25 a day to be exact

- how childish and ignorant the people i work with are

- how no life my em, life currently is

- how i am in need for a holiday. to anywhere.

scratch that last bit. i'm always up for a holiday. it's just that i need it more urgently now than possibly ever before.

spent most of today holed up on my couch, catching up on back issues of straits times and vogue. having seemed like i was the one doing everything through the course of the week, doing nothing has never felt this good.

2008-11-03T22:16:00.006+08:00

wallowing..

be warned, this is a rather despondent post, so if you're in a rather cheery mood like the bf, who's gotten herself a tattoo over the weekend, pls refrain from reading...

i've just found out that out of my drama ex-co gang, vince is studying in canada, mel is pursuing a degree at the university of pennsylvania while brandon ho is living it up at cornell doing hospitality management no less. these people really ARE the cream of the crop and have been outstanding since their secondary school days so while i'm really glad for them, yours truly's feeling very jealous and unworthy at the same time.

think they've been there for quite a while so this goes to show how out of touch i've been with the sec school peeps.

while they embark on a new day of learning in far far away lands tomorrow, i'm headed back to plc for some serious sh*twork that no one else wants to complete and will probably result in me doing ot. again.

seriously, what the hell am i doing with my life.

2008-11-02T18:15:00.005+08:00

this says it all..

"If you just realized what I just realized
then we'd be perfect for each other
then we'd never find another
Just realized what I just realized

we'd never have to wonder if
we missed out on each other now."

am feeling the calm before the storm hits.
hard.

2008-11-01T17:31:00.006+08:00

a (close to) perfect off day

despite having screwed up my body clock completely during the last exercise, i managed to drag my a** out of bed and over to vivo city for a lunch and movie date with bert on wednesday. was blissfully early thanks to a ride from mom and promptly spent it visiting all my favourite shops. there's something special about having pageone's travel section to myself and even golden village was surprisingly (and thankfully) queue free.

with an abundance of natural light and friendlier than usual staff, this is one of my fav outlets

bert was running late due to a particularly punishing satistics tutorial and what better way to wait than grabbing a grande iced passion tea at my fav coffee chain and pouring over the october issue of travel and leisure s.e.a?

finally caught nights in rodanthe, which starred 2 of my favourite thespians of all time, Richard Gere and Diane Lane. reviews about the movie weren't the most desirable to begin with and unfortunately i'd have to agree with them. though the acting was flawless (i wasn't expecting anything less), the choppy editing and a lack of build-up left me wanting more. the novel, which was one of bert's fav Nic Spark, certainly had potential, but the movie, like most other adaptations, didn't live up to it.

the too good to be true hotel that's right smack on the beach

that being said, the sets were gorgeous and the beach hotel, with its robin blue shutters and eclectic mix of furniture was certainly alluring and kudos to the music team for producing such an appropriate score to accompany the movie. the sub-plot about the simple yet solid love between a man and the woman which died on Richard Gere's operating table moved me and left me in tears. having read the book, we both knew how the story was going to end but bert's floodgates (and i'm not exaggering here) still opened when James Franco turned up on Diane Lane's doorstep clutching Richard Gere's last belongings.

bert had to leave for work not long after the show but that didn't stop him from getting a brand new protector for his ipod and promising the apple vendor that he'd return for the macbook skins that he'd set his sights on. i was really blown away but the range of new macbooks with a single sheet of aluminum and the ipod touch like mousepad. really put their older and slightly cheapo looking cousins to shame.

i hereby promise myself that should i get a scholarship, any scholarship, i will get my hands on one of those delectable babies asap. shallow i know, but who's complaining?

random i know, but i really like what they did with the e at the end.

had dinner with hiang, who was on yet another price survey in town. i swear the woman spends more time on such surveys than on her actual job. floated aimlessly around raffles city before finally settling on canele, which i've heard so much about.

sorry about the lack of food pictures but kicked off dinner with a steaming bowl of comfort style crab and corn chowder which was nothing to shout about. i thought it tasted too much like clam chowder while hiang reckoned that it was only marginally above average. she had the seafood marinara and i settled for the beef stew with red wine sauce with pasta. while both mains where enjoyable, but they fell into the so-so category. the beef stew at the now-defunct (why oh why?) cordury cafe at vivo city beat this version hands down.

the tres atas version of the gummy burger i'd say

we spied macaroons amidst the dessert spread on display and since we both haven't tried them before and were rather curious to find out what the hype was about, we had them for dessert. it wasn't the revelatory experience that i was expecting but was impressed with the begamot flavoured one. the unanimous afterthought was that the hazelnut macaroon tasted too much like nutella and the 60% dark chocolate version was nothing fantastic. at around $2.50 each, i left feeling rather cheated.

a most unremarkable dinner unfortunately and coming in at more than $30 per person, a very costly one to boot.

the initial plan was to head for max brenner's at esplanade mall to satisfy our chocolate cravings over hug mugs and chocolate shots but considering that the next day was still a working day for both of us, we very sensibly headed for home instead. saying no to a cuppa Java Dark Chocolate with Orange Peel called for a lot of self control, but yes, we did it. high five!

waking up fashionably late,

shopping without the crowd,

catching up with a dear pal,

bawling over a ~~good~~ okay weepie,

aimless strolling and dinner with the best friend,

and not having a thought about work the entire time,

off days just doesn't get much better than this.

now if only i'd gotten my chocolate shot. >.<

2008-10-24T15:45:00.004+08:00

new skin

because life can never be defined purely by black nor white.

well that and the fact that my template finally works.

enjoy.

2008-10-24T14:49:00.003+08:00

just realised that i haven't posted a picture in quite a while, so here's a rather random one...

this was dinner a couple of days ago. at the rate i'm going, can 成仙 soon. hahas.

dun worry, i'm not on a fruits only diet or whatnot. was too lazy to cook that's all.

2008-10-23T23:37:00.003+08:00

a thousand dreams

here i am, sitting infront of my laptop, surfing sites at random and contemplating the state of the world over a cup of very hot floral tea while chilling out to the mamma mia! soundtrack.

though i'm due back at work tomorrow and have absolutely no idea if i am required to return back to camp or head to plc by myself, i'm not giving two hoots about it for the relevant people have been msged and if no replies come my way, hey, don't blame me for that.

this devil may care attitude is a far far cry to the paranoid me when i first enlisted. guess when you've pretty much seen it all, nothing fazes you anymore. or at least i hope so.

on another note, in about 20mins, yours truly will only have 364 days more to go before he is through with army.

1 year soldier! whoohoo!!

2008-10-20T22:36:00.004+08:00

little joys

can't remember when was the last time i caught a movie all by myself on a weekday afternoon, using a student concession no less. the fact that i really enjoyed the film and i had the day off was almost enough to off-set the last minute recall late on sunday night and the unearthly working hours.

i repeat, almost.

2008-10-17T02:18:00.003+08:00

getting off work at 1am is no joke. running around troubleshooting for the better part of the day, going without much food and water and being at the receiving end of much bullsh*t has resulted in a tired, hungry and pissed me.

just polished off a mug of comfy microwaved milk, a banana and a 1.5 days old bun while my brain's already very much asleep.

which explains why i'm still online at such an unearthly hour on a work night. digesting.

2008-10-16T00:33:00.004+08:00

heartpain*ouch.

relax, i'm not having a heart attack or anything remotely cardiacally(?) related. however, if you consider heartaches as an ailment, then in that case i'll need medical attention pronto.

"In my eyes you do no wrong
And I believe in you
Although you never asked me to
I will remember you
And what life put you through

And in this cold and lonely world
I've found one love
You're still you

After all,
You're still you."

ps i hate heartaches.

2008-10-08T22:08:00.005+08:00

boy am i glad...

that it's thursday soon. for some inexplainable reason, i hate mondays, dislike tuesdays and can barely bear with wednesday. on the other hand, i love thursdays and am over the moon on fridays. bah!

i've received university of queensland's offer to enrol in its bachelor of international hotel and tourism management and with all the credit transfers, it's gonna be a 1.5 years course as expected. unfortunately, didn't get any form of grant or whatsoever. maybe cuz i rushed idp, or it could very well be due to the fact that i just wasn't good enough.

am planning to see how my application at unsw works out but for now, its triple major with an ultra long course name of bachelor of commerce - services marketing and hospitality and tourism management seems way more appealing.

i need money. and with the aussie sing exchange rate dropping like flies, i need it real quick.

any sponsors? *sq, are you reading this?!?!

2008-10-06T22:50:00.005+08:00

i know it's only monday but..

i'm more than ready for the weekend to come.

workwise, the week ahead doesn't seem too rosy. >.<

ps a*mei's star tour 2008 totally rocked. can't wait for the dvd to be out.

2008-10-04T15:47:00.004+08:00

the case of the missing earphones

it's been slightly more than a week and i've just about exhausted all means of searching for my missing ipod case and S$178 sound isolating earphones. it's no walk in the park for me to admit this, but yes, i think my earphones are gone for good.

while i'm really really really thankful to mom for agreeing to sponsor 1/2 the cost for a pair of replacement phones, i'm still kicking myself in the a** for misplacing such an important item.

haiz, another sign that yours truly's getting old le :(

2008-10-04T15:37:00.005+08:00

spinning: katherine mcphee - O Come All Ye Faithful

thanks to our muslim friends, i'm currently savouring every minute of my 5-day leave. however, the nagging thought that sh*t will fly once i'm back at work is seriously irritating.

in slightly more upbeat news, we're in the last quarter of 2008! though this year was a good one for me, i can't wait for 2009 to arrive. ORD LO! whoohoo!

now for very very upbeat news, in slightly less than 5hours, i'm due to catch the diva for the 2nd time in a year. this time round, sexy baby aka bah soh will be accompanying me so i'm pretty sure we'll have a ball of a time, belting out her tunes at the top of our lungs. *cue weird looks from other concert-goers sitting near us*

ps i'm ready for christmas.

2008-10-02T23:42:00.004+08:00

revisiting memory lane

now if god was a woman, meryl streep would pretty much fit the bill

having literally grown up listening to ABBA's extensive collection of songs, i was delirious to hear that a movie remake of Mamma Mia was in the works and it starred Meryl Streep and Colin Firth no less. watching the trailer last year only fueled my anticipation. while this might sound extremely exaggerated, Mamma Mia! was my only IT movie this year.

i'm not going to even attempt to review the movie since i went into the cinema already liking the film. the fact that most of it was filmed on location in greece certainly aided the clause.

Meryl Streep, in her role as Donna Sheridan, the young hippy singer turned aged hippy hotel owner was stunning as usual. Unfortunately her previous turn as the ultra tyrant Miranda Priestly left such a deep impression that i was waiting for her to start calling her daughter (the very talented Amanda Seyfried) "Annnnddrrreeeaa" or something. But I digress. Mamma Mia! being a musical, I was rather unsure if she could hold a tune but as it turned out, she blew me away, especially when emoting songs like "The Winner Takes It All".

Seriously, is there anything that Meryl Streep can't do?

This being a rather imperfect world, I totally didn't see the point of the subplot about Colin Firth's homosexuality. Well, cept to pave the way for Mr Pierce Bond-James-Bond Brosnan to get the (~~old~~ matured) girl in the end.

Great sets, great songs, great cast. What's there to dislike?

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life..

now excuse me while i go sing along to SOS for the nth time...

2008-09-29T21:43:00.003+08:00

the emo post

even eeyore's bluer than usual

today's a downright horrid day for yours truly cuz...

1) today is monday but considering that i only have a 2-day work week, so shall let it rest.

2) i thought i left my westone sound isolating earphones together with my ipod pouch at my cousin's, so had to endure the train ride to camp and back on my cheap (and non-sound isolating) earphones. update: earphones are still MIA and upteen search at various places have come to no avail. ~~shit.~~ MAJOR SHIT.

3) i received news that there'll be a parade tmr which means waking up earlier than usual.

4) i was the only person who was sweeping the bunk from top to bottom (i exaggerate) while others slack and chat.

5) something potentially earth-shattering might be coming up with could very well change the remainder of my ns life for worse. i am pretending that all's fine and dainty until concrete news comes down from my bosses (while crossing my fingers and praying very very hard).

6) the something potentially earth-shattering is serious enough to ruin my pre-during-&-post holiday mood that's been gaining momentum since last weekend.

pls pls pls let that NOT be true. i'm not saying what it is for fear (and supersition) that once it's spoken it's confirmed.

CHOY CHOY!! -frantically starts touching wooden surfaces which isn't much of a problem as my room's practically a pine/teak/some dark wood plantation...-

2008-09-28T17:16:00.006+08:00

into the wild.

having always been fascinated by the idea of wanderlust, it came naturally to me to pick up a copy of jon krakauer's into the wild while browsing through the shelves at dasa secondhand bookstore in bangkok. the narrative tells the tale of Christopher Johnson McCandless, a young man with an educated background who gave it all up and live in the wildness of alaska. his body was found 4 months later by a party of moose hunters.

while i'm not gungho enough to throw caution in the wind and follow in his footsteps, the novel threw up many thought provoking ideas. are interpersonal relationships really that necessary or just a facade? are we too caught up in the perpetual rat-race to see beyond it? and just how many people can leave everything behind just to gain another persective of things?

the quintessential ideas of man versus nature and man versus himself kept popping into my head. needless to say, i pulled a couple of all-nighters devouring the book.

hence i was over the moon to know that there was a movie adaptation of the novel and it was being directed by Sean Penn no less. Emile Hirsch stars as the protagonist together with a stellar ensemble including Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener and surprise surprise! Vince Vaugh. though it was critically received, the indie nature of the feature meant that it went straight to dvd locally.

i went into watching the film with much apprehension for we all know how horrid movie adaptations can turn out. understandably, some parts of the novel was dramatised to make for a better watching experience but overall it was a very poignant movie which did the novel justice. thank god.

the bf might be rolling her eyes and going "not again" but yes, i bawled my eyes out towards the end.

if there's the adventure streak in you, no matter how small or insignificant, i say, go catch the show. you might not come out all raring to go off on an off-road adventure, but at least it'll make you go hmmm... and what if...

go read or at least watch the show.

"I read somewhere... how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong... but to feel strong." - Christopher Johnson McCandles

2008-09-28T00:40:00.003+08:00

i heart the two tailed mermaid

if starbucks was a bank, i'd be filthy rich by now, considering all the moolah i've invested on dark mocha frappachinos and caramel macchiatos. can't really pinpoint what's the cause of my infatuation, perhaps it's due to their corporate culture, branding, good service, or simply just cause they have great drinks.

standard starbucks run attire. big tee, shorts and (unpictured) havaianas

plus they've got funky merchandise to boot. i'm totally in love with my daily mug and the new anniversary one which i've gotten from genting.

my daily subsistence

as jl aptly puts it, the cup's very me. is it?

2008-09-27T18:06:00.018+08:00

drumroll pls

alright alright, i think i've been keeping the suspense for too long that it has ceased to be of any interest as to where i went for my short-and-tightly-under-wraps getaway last week. so, dear readers, yours truly was over in....

TAH DAH!! Genting and Kuala Lumpur!!

granted, it may seem like a major disappointment for people who think that i've been whisked away to exotic locations like bora-bora or maldives. trust me, i wish i was too. however, what made this trip unlike others was definitely the travel companions aka my partners in crime. the guilty parties are listed below and they've known each other for at least 12 years. uh-huh, more than a decade.

the only group shot we had

it never fails to amaze me at how close we are despite leading vastly different lives since graduating from the same primary school. although we've gone on to different secondary schools (okay, jem and i went to the same place) and embarked on different tertiary routes, that hasn't diminished our friendship the least bit. this really goes to show that long-lasting friendships are possible if we all just make the effort to do so and that's very heartening to know in today's everchanging world.

be it late night mahjong sessions (just nice 4 people!), the supposedly study sessions that always ended up being gossip marathons, the last minute dinner/supper dates, we've all been there and done that. the only question that i've been asking myself on this trip was, "you mean it's taken us such a bloody long time to go overseas!?"

and so it has but still, always better late than never. this entry's not gonna be groundbreaking as there's seriously nothing much that i can harp on about genting, it being my 7th or 8th time to the gambling mecca/huge bore (depending on your age).

the only semi-high i got from genting was entering the casinos legally as oppossed to sneaking in. there was a sense of ah-ha! take that! when being asked to show your passport and proving to the security that you ARE officially 21. that being said, i lost (as usual) so perhaps it wasn't all that great after all.

the rain shower was a pleasant but under-utilised surprise

we spent the night in resort hotel, which wins my vote for the (only other) place to stay in genting if you can't get the members-only highland hotel. there was no way the buy-one-get-one-free or super-duper cheap promotions were going to convince me to park myself in the oh-so-small rooms at first world, even if only for a night. resort hotel has recently completed a massive revamp and while its plain rooms are nothing near to being spectacular, i'd take plain rooms over jail-like cells any day, thank you very much.

oh and we went to the theme park, which proved to be more of a disappointment every time i went back. forking out RM51 was definitely a rip-off if not for the looks on the ladies' faces after we forced them up the pirate ship and *insert random thrill rides.

jem and i on the cockscrew. if your eyes are that good, we're in the 2nd row.

jem on spaceshot. i decided once was enough, even if it was way back in 2004

a smiling jy at the seemingly scary but ultra boring dinosaurland

the extend of the girls' propensity for excitement

em, random posing with greenery shot

next stop, kl where it was all shop shop and shop!! our humble abode was none other than capitol hotel, where i have very fond memories of (and where the bf will be on her illicit weekend trip). funny how i don't seem to have any pictures of the room (think i was busy plotting our shopping route) but here's one with the view from my room, which i'd say is rather unexpected but very welcomed.

ma, you can see the twin towers and the tv tower from here!

found this pic of us outside the lobby

the second part of our trip has much lesser pictures as we (ie myself and jem) were busy blowing our ringgit but here are some of the shots we took while on a break from all that shopping. ~~most~~ all of them were taken at klcc and for some unfathomable reason, i prefer this mega-structure to the mother of all mega-structure (well at least for now), the taipei 101. perhaps having 2 towers means there's really more to go around. plus that makes for more dramatic pictures.

and then there was light

reached klcc in the early evening and was fortunate enough to bear witness to its transformation into the night. though it was a daily affair, watching something so spectacular come into light was still a rather humbling affair.

me in 2006

me 2 years on.

i definitely liked the first picture better. other than the fact it was taken by a certain ex-vice president of the tkgs photographic society, i looked thinner in there. ouch.

and then there was the non-stop cam-whoring...

and then we started getting creative...

before plainly going mad...

this was take 2 cuz jem was shooting...

this was take 25 cuz we were both NOT shooting.
i was bone tired from all that jumping.

i really like this shot.

after all that exercise, we headed for a&w to replenish our already-grumbling stomachs. it seems that once abroad, we're always seeking for things can't be found at home. a case in point would be my non-stop gorging of dunkin donuts the minute i step foot in thailand and now, clogging our hearts with mugs of root beer floats washed down with greasy curly fries.

my idea of hell, but apparently it's jem and jl's perception of heaven.

a&w bangkok vs..

a&w kuala lumpur.
ps they taste the same. how different can rootbeer float get?!

the a&w fanatics versus

the health conscious advocates

he's in heaven, almost...

but pissed with his imperfect waffle

and while we're still talking about food. let me introduce you what is in my opinion the number 1 must eat dish while in malaysia. though it's something that i'd rarely touch in singapore, i'm obsessed with it while in the land up north. it's none other than wanton mee!

the malaysians got it right i'd say. surprisingly the wantons are rather nondescript but i don't give two hoots cuz it's all about the springly noodles tossed with gleaming dark sauce and served with crispy lard and crackling char siew. oh so sinful but it's oh oh oh so good.

the coffeeshop just beside our hotel serves up a mightyly wicked version.

came across this feature while jl was busy quarreling with taxi touts who wanted to charge us exhorbitant fares for a 10mins ride. my snapshot was insuffcient to do the huge installation justice. the feature was at least 50m long by 10m high and it was FULLY constructed by f&n cans. either the price of tin cans recently fell drastically or they simply manufactured too many. either way, i'm not complaining cuz it was a sight for sore eyes and tired legs alike.

this is more than lifesize. more like giant sized

jem doing his jay chou impression at 1am on the streets of kl

and there you have it. my genting-kl jaunt report. nothing too heavy nor too in-depth, for the trip was a chance for 4 long long long time friends to get together while getting away. i've learnt things i'd never otherwise have known and while not all are pleasant, they only serve to strengthen an already solid friendship.

or at least until i find out about something even more earth-shattering.

2008-09-26T23:05:00.000+08:00

the happy post

wenjie's feeling particularly cheery this evening and it's probably due a combination of the following reasons:

1) he's got a TWO page academic testimonial from ms tan

2) he finally set off the application form for interview with the necessary documents to unsw for his second round of approval.

3) he left work approximately 17mins early today

4) he heard brit brit's new single and is totally loving it!

5) he has finished editing his recent holiday pictures and finally will post them tmr.

6) last but not least, probably the single most important reason is simply because...

or at least until monday comes along..

2008-09-19T23:46:00.006+08:00

the protagonist has to report at sun plaza in slightly more than 6hours time for what has got to be the most spontaneous (ie last minute) holiday in all of his 21years. while the money has been changed, the bag is very much a work in progress and all the necessary gagdets are getting a last minute charge.

and instead of crashing in bed or finish packing, at this very moment, the talented multi-tasker is blogging about his trip and playing viwawa wahjong.

as ms ivy tan would say, ai zhai! :P

2008-09-14T21:13:00.003+08:00

a mid-autumn night's dream

-okay i cheated. this was taken in south africa and nowhere near mid-autumn-

like many hdb dwelling kids, i've had fond memories of mid-autumn festivals throughout the years. i'm sure we all started with battery-operated lanterns that belted out the most irritating anthems and gradually proceed on to the real candle-operated ones. while many might associate the festival with tea drinking and mooncake gorging, what really comes to mind for me are the massive bon-fires at the end of the night, where we pool all our paper lanterns, candles and other flammable whatnots together to create THE biggest fire we could. more often than not, we were that close to arson.

i call this unexplainable behaviour the post hungry ghost festival offering syndrome.

even though the full moon has decided to take refuge behind a rather cloudy sky and that makes chang-e and jade rabbit spotting almost impossible, this hasn't hindered kids from burning up a storm and bring the PSI index up a couple of notches.

so excuse me while i go grab another slice of mooncake.

happy mid-autumn festival everyone! HUAT AH! (it IS a festival after all.)

2008-09-13T02:42:00.002+08:00

the unearthly hour post

there's something strangely therapeutic about hanging freshly laundered clothes out to dry at 2.30am on a saturday morning.

or that may just the night owl in me talking.

happy weekend world!

2008-09-12T14:24:00.005+08:00

the friday afternoon office post

here i am, sitting in front of the internet pc, willing the clock to go just that bit faster so that i'll through with another week of doing nothing. the soon-to-be-past week, like many others before and to come, was pretty uneventful, with the exception of a very last minute guard duty thrown in midweek.

yes i know i've yet to post my birthday pictures and i should (used very very very loosely here) be able to get them up by this weekend since nothing's scheduled as yet.

made some headway in my aussie university application(s). to my relief, found out that my application has reached sydney and that idp wasn't cheating me. considering that application fees were waived, i had every right to think that they might take a long time, that is if the application forms were being sent out in the first place.

unfortunately, out of all the courses available at the unsw, yours truly had to go choose one that has by far the most complicated selection process, consisting of the initial application, an interview application and an actual interview before they actually think about choose you. the fact that i'll need to submit the same credentials again and that unsw wasn't my first choice to begin with, didn't help in the least. speaking of first choices, uq has been silent thus far. darn.

in a rather random event that my life just seems to be filled with, i might be headed up north to genting and kl with my primary school mates, who are the same group of people (okay only 3) whom i've known for more than half my life. while am looking forward to the trip, it's not gonna help my already barren bank account. argh.

absolutely abhor the idea of being mediocre.

2008-09-08T21:02:00.004+08:00

b in the house

after her major faux pas at last year's ceremony, all eyes were on her at mtv's video music awards 2008. she didn't disappoint. shimmering onto the stage, looking amazing in a silver vintage silver Versace mini-dress, she went on to win her very first moonman(s) ever for piece of me.

she make it 3 in a row by bagging the top honours of the night:

its official y'all. it's britney bitch. and she's back.

all pics from breatheheavy.com

2008-09-03T23:51:00.017+08:00

the very-long bangkok post

okay this i've got to admit. the following entry is SO late that it should be renamed the way-overdued bangkok post instead. but, as a firm believer in the art of procrastination, being late is always better than never. the best friend might be complaining that i'm behind the deadline (by today) but hey, if not for an unexpected break, this post might not even happen at all.

spent half my day in bed and the other half photoshopping these collages, so i only want to hear the good stuff.. hahas!

enjoy!

-bangkok in a nutshell-

day 1 - thursday, 24th jul 08

it was a late afternoon flight so decided to meet the best friend (bf) for lunch and to stroll around transit as we usually do. checked in like 4hrs early (all the more time to shop!) and finally decided to ploink ourselves at the soon-to-be-closing-down brewerkz for some lunch. (note: brewerkz has since ceased business at the airport. pity.) the meal was quite good and it did sorta justified the higher-than-normal prices.

-beautifully fried calamari with marinara sauce, my crab linguinie with lemon basil cream sauce and the bf's cowboy burger with out of this world mash and something else-

considering that we both have airport experience, we were fashionably late at the check-in gate since seats were already reserved and singapore airlines (theoratically) can't fly off without us. yea right.

unfortunately, being law abiding and considerate ex and current airport staff, we weren't so late that our names had to be paged over the intercom. "mr XXXX and ms XXX, pls haul ur a**es over to gate E4 now!" that would have been a nice start to the holiday though.

-couldn't resist-

-onboard. the bf linken the 2h20mins sq flight to a shuttle bus-
-i had to agree and service wasn't much to shout about unfortunately-

touched down at suvarnabhumi airport slightly after 6 and hopped onto a taxi immediately. travel tip: pls ignore all the touts clustered around the arrival hall and head straight out and turn all the way left to the official metered taxi stand. a trip to the city shouldn't cost you more than 500BHT and for god's sake don't blow your money on airport limousines that costs more than double the price. you'd still get to your hotel in the end and bkk's cabs are relatively new.

join the queue, inform the staff about your hotel address and they'll direct you to a cab driver. you should (i repeat should) be standing in your hotel lobby in one piece and all set to enjoy your bangkok holiday within an hour. of cuz, that didn't happen to us. the downside about choosing a hotel that's slightly off the beaten track means that you can bet your last baht that your cabbie won't know the location. and he didn't. the fact that soi (street) 50 was apparently on the other side of bangkok as sois 49 and 51 didn't help.

it was with much luck (and praying) that we managed to arrive at the tres chic imm fusion sukhumvit safe and sound, albeit a little fazzled. that's where our troubles ended. for the night at least cuz the hotel blew us away with its sincere service and outstanding design (and cheap rates). as le bf aptly put it, "we'll be spending 4 nights in a arabian shiekh's boudoir right smack in bangkok." no complains there~!

-photo repost: imm fusion at night-

then it's off to the trendy thong lo, which is the bangkok equivalent of our holland village. maybe cuz we weren't there at the right time, or the happening spots were located too far away from the bts skytrain station, but we spent a good part of the night walking the streets. (as it turns out we'd be doing a lot of walking in the days to come. good way to slim down though.)

the only thing that was remotely interesting and happening was this swarovski lighting fixture that caught our eyes. we stood there for like 20mins trying to take in the subtle colour changes and wondering aloud if people would actually pay for it. the pictures below hardly do the feature justice, but hey, at least i tried.

okay, this is where the blow-by-blow account of our bangkok trip stops. i'm gonna post up random things that are actually worth posting about instead of taking you through what we did from 9am (sleep) till 2am (getting ready to sleep).

chatuchak weekend market

one of the reasons why our trip stretched over the weekend despite having to pay higher prices for the hotel was so that we i could visit the mother-of-all weekend markets, chatuchak. funny how i only get to step foot inside on my third trip to the city of angels, while most people pay tribute (and spend obscene amounts of cash) to it immediately upon touching down.

-random shops, the clock tower as in "see you at the clock tower later" clock tower, beneath a brillant chatuchak sky-

well details aside, chatuchak was in short, huge. well, i don't expect you'd get away with calling yourself the biggest market in the world without actually being any less do you? reached at around 8am (as per travellers' tips), just when the shops were opening. personally i'd suggest heading down slightly later, say 9.30ish as that's when most shops would be ready, as opposed to watching them get ready for business.

-my stash from chatuchak. check out the eeyore bedroom slippers!-

the goods on sale were pretty much the same as everywhere else, the mass printed tee-shirts, lacquerware, buddha potraits but there were some treasures to be found amidst the monotony. got myself some not so bling-bling tees which were a steal at S$15 and 2 pairs flip-flops for the baby at slightly more than S$2. prices like these wouldn't even exist in singapore.

had a quick lunch of funky fried chicken hips (yea hips) and a mango salad with fried papaya when the weather got slightly unbearable. both dishes actually turned out really nice and with the tangy dips and an ice cold cola, provided a much appreciated relief from the unrelenting sun and also the humidity.

-berry berry good iberry-

got ourselves outta there at around 2pm when it was really too hot to go persist in our shopping quest. took the bts to ari station in a bid to lose ourselves in the air-conditioned mall and ended up at iberry, which was akin to our bakerzin, only cooler. had a refreshing iced raspberry tea with a sinful chocolate banana cake while the bf absolutely refused to share her strawberry shortcake. the audacity.

baywatch

since the bf got herself 2 pairs of bikini at chatuchak, she decided to make the best of it by taking a dip in the hotel's lap pool. i, for one one would hardly pass up on a chance to swim but while she indulged in her mermaid fantasies, i took the opportunity to snaps some shots of the hotel in the daylight. the bf did her part by taking some shots in the pool while i was on edge about the possibility of dropping my beloved ixus into the water.

-fusion by day-

couldn't resist the inviting waters anymore so i took the plunge in my brand new red fisherman's pants. (was rather afraid of staining the pool red though since it hasn't been washed before) the water was f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g, something which the bf casually mentioned (casually as in "you might find the water a little cold." -.-) but it was good to work off some of the phat thais and tom yums that we've been ingesting over the past few days.

-lonely havaianas, us in the pool and erm.. don't ask.-

suan lum night bazaar

really enjoyed myself at the night market when i was here in oct 07 so imagine my sadness when it was reported that suan lum would cease operations in may 08. largely thanks to the inefficiency of the developers and the can-do mindsets of the vendors, suan lum was still very much in business when we headed there after our swim.

-i like my lighthouse!-

went with the intention of getting a bedside lamp but this lighthouse series of candle holders really caught my eyes. after much deliberation (and running between the 2 shops), finally decided to heck it and get the latter instead. while i'm still in need of a reading light in bed, the lighthouse is sitting very comfortably on my bedside table as i type. :)

-THE calamari-

had dinner at this alfresco restaurant that screamed "tourist trap!" but the food was surprisingly good, if a bit expensive. their calamari (whiche we always seemed to be having no matter where we go) was one of the freshest i've ever tasted and it had a really airy battertoo. so people, next time you're headed for suan lum, don't miss this place. directions might be sketchy, but they're under this huge ass tree that keeps raining pods on you and right by the roundabout. can't miss it.

can't take the heat

maybe it was a combination of the heat from chatuchak, the sudden switch of temperature at iberry, the swim and the tom yum from the day before, but i wasn't in the best of conditions when i woke up the next day.

nonetheless, gung ho us trudged down to hit the malls again. managed to get my wall clock at a rather reasonable rate while the bf got more stuff for her bf (not me). blew a combined S$300 at loft, a lifestyle megastore but it was money well spent (at least to us) for we both gotten things which we liked.

-my body and soul ring and the blah lunch-

things got really so bad at lunch (which was nothing to write about) that we had to head back to the hotel. felt really shagged and vomit-y so popped 2 panadols courtesy of the bf and knocked out soon after. i think this is my body's way of telling me that i've overshopped and need a rest for both the body and the wallet.

woke up feeling starving, so at least that's a good sign. so it's off again to mbk, where the bf managed to pick up the latest enrique iglesias cd. dinner was at fuji japanese restaurant, another must eat whenever i'm in bangkok. overordered and overate as usual, but since the bill came up to like S$40, it was worth feeling like a bloated balloon. i think.

-takoyaki, groggy me, the feast/pigout-

food food food!

since we're on the topic of food, managed to chug down an impressive amount and variety over our 5days there. numerous orders of phat thais and tom yums soups not withstanding, there were many good food to be found, most of which are on the streets. while it might not sit well with my ongoing battle against flab, we all need a break every now and then. (that's just another excuse.)

way back home

having been caught up in all the shopping and time-wasting, we were running late for our return flight for real this time. with no thanks to a law abiding taxi driver in a country where hardly anyone heeds the traffic rules, we arrived with barely enough time to check in. was kinda hyperventilating on the drive there as we got really cheapo tickets which cannot be changed no matter the circumstances.

-the essential bright plane dark me shot-

-the bf likes this, but i think i looked like i just had a very rough night-

thanks to the ingenious idea of prebooking seats online, i still retained my window seat, which led to pictures like these:

the flight back was way more enjoyable, both service and food wise. i was just happy with my window seat, and was grinning away into the sunset.

-home sweet home! i STILL look like i just woke up.-

granted, bangkok wasn't a soul-searching, life-changing kind of trip (that honour belongs to south africa) but this being our way overdue "graduation trip", it was certainly enjoyable. crazy and random stuff that only us can do like promising to go get our nails done (never happened), heading out in tees, shorts and flipflops to get supper, talking way into the night/early morning are just some of the many things that made this trip special.

here's to more traipsing around the region/world in time to come!

next on the cards: visit manda in perth next mar/apr!

phew. that was long.

2008-09-01T23:32:00.005+08:00

random

as the title suggests, this post is gonna be exactly that. readers be warned.

was browsing through my blog when i realised that most of my entries are unravelled rather late. this may be attributed to 1 of 2 things:

1) I have such a happening life that I only return home late and hence post entries at what are unearthly hours for a full time nsf.

2) I am procrastinating and do everything under the sun before blogging despite booting my laptop for that purpose.

duh choice right. coming to such a resolution would evidently mean only 1 thing:

1)I'd need to post early so that I'll be able to end early and thereby sleep early. This is to avoid paying the price later in my life for burning midnight oil unnecessarily now.

need to head for bed like ~~now~~ 40mins ago.

-bonne nuit world- :b

2008-09-01T23:26:00.003+08:00

il est officiel.

yes it is. the protagonist has bid a rather reluctant farewell to his youth and will be concluding his second day as an adult in slightly more than 30mins. contrary to popular belief (including his own), there was a birthday cake involved.

the protagonist hereby promise to upload the relevant photos by tmr as he really needs to crash soon cuz there's work tomorrow. (ARGH!).

2008-08-27T22:19:00.002+08:00

countdown to d-day:

quatre jours / cuatro días / 四天

am so not looking forward to it.

2008-08-27T22:13:00.003+08:00

pieces of bangkok part 1

as promised, here's a collage of the ultra fab imm fusion sukhumvit, our home for 5 days, the base for traipsing around the city of angels and warehouse for ~~our~~ my shopping exploits.

be on the lookout for more pics in the days to come.

photo-editing can be such a chore, but its oh-so-worth-it. :P

2008-08-24T22:05:00.002+08:00

random.

because i felt like it.

the divine ms lye @ subway marina bay | aug 08

-cindy and myself. weekday ikea lunch | apr 08

boots @ south africa | may 08

me and buzz lightyear, hk disneyland | mar 07

semi mudpies gathering, yishun playground | early 04

told ya it was random.

2008-08-24T21:45:00.005+08:00

le weekend.

have not gotten up before sunrise on sundays for a long long long time. so imagine my reluctance at having to rise at the unearthly hour of 6am (the fact that i wake at this time most weekdays doesn't count. it's SUNDAY) in order to attend the army half marathon at marina bay. was extremely tempted to hide under my comforter and pretend that it was just a really bad dream but unfortunately you don't get charged with awol in your dreams, so there i was standing on the padang at 7.30am. to add salt to the already very painful wound, it ~~rained~~ poured the entire day yesterday so the ground was muddy beyond belief.

that being said, the event wasn't that bad after all for i got to catch up with my training mates, who provided me with a much needed respite from the guys at work. despite being there to officially show face and look after bags, ran into bak wei and decided to join the 6km fun walk/run to find edwin and the guys, who were supposedly at the water point at suntec. while 6km wasn't a walk in the park (or around the city for that matter), it was surprisingly manageable. might (very unlikely though :P) actually run it come next year.

headed down to orchard hotel for the study in australia fair after the run ended. was supposed to go first thing yesterday but since i came back late on friday, slept at 4am and my bed was really really really comfortable, decided to have a lie in. until 1.30pm. bliss.

and to cut a very long and admittedly rather boring story short, yours truly has applied to 2 different universities, namely, university of queensland's bachelor of international hotel and tourism management and university of new south wales' (SYDNEY!) bachelor of commerce in services marketing, tourism and hospitality (quite a mouthful no?).

since i'm applying for the 2010 intake, which was of the least concern on everyone's minds, i've been told that the universities would really take their time to process my application. oh wells, i'm fine with that if they decided to subsidise my tuition fees or to award me a scholarship. like pls do so... >.< style="font-style: italic;">good, with half days on monday and friday so i theoretically only work 4 days. whoohoo!

so how was your weekend?

2008-08-24T18:15:00.002+08:00

classic .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqn9Y1nIGCs

2008-08-20T11:06:00.002+08:00

options, options..

okay, 3 posts within 15mins of each other might be too much but since i'm really free today (as with most of my other days), i shall blog (again)..

went down to idp singapore last monday to explore my options about pursuing a tourism management degree in australia. granted, the counselor assisting me wasn't the most knowledgeable about studying in australia despite working in an organisation that's pretty much ALL about studying in australia, but i went away with a great deal of information that's gonna go a long way in helping me make my final decision.

after much deliberation (not really considering there were only that many choices and she was focusing only on this to begin with), i've decided to go with university of queensland's bachelor in international hotel and tourism management program. yesh, the exact one that ril's bout to complete come year end.

before the accusations come flying that i've not covered all bases before settling on this choice, let me assure you that me being me, i've gone through everything like 5 times before moving on to the next item on the list. and trust me, the list's quite long.

there shouldn't be any problem with being offered a placement but the issue that i'm more concerned with is how to afford my 1.5 (2.5 with honours) years there. really am crossing my fingers, toes, everything that the singapore airlines scholarship comes through but if that doesn't happen (which is VERY likely not), my application through idp will be considered for a scholarship that may cover up to 75% of my tuition fees. and that's a savings of at least 40K. aussie dollars.

so dear readers of my blog, any donations towards helping the poor island boy study in another (much bigger) island is very much appreciated.*

will be heading for orchard hotel come saturday to submit my application and hopefully am able to drag the best friend along for bruch/lunch. then it's off to attend my very first 21st bday party in the year where almost everyone i know turns 21. quite sad actually, considering it's already august . this goes to show how popular a person yours truly truly (can't help it here) is. sad right..

*cash and internet funds transfers only

2008-08-20T10:57:00.005+08:00

agnes b

now anyone who knows me well (ie le best friend) would know of my obsession with a certain madame b who hails from france. popped into her boutiques at scotts and wisma dozens of time but didn't managed to buy anything cuz they're just too darn expensive!

the best friend did though and she's loving her ring.. :)

was at wisma's agnes b this monday (dun ask why) and this hp accessory caught my eye. granted, paying $45 for it wasn't the most economical choice by a stretch, but hey, i've paid $110 for one by swarovski before.. anyway, who's taking scores? plus it was simple and tres tres chic. perfect as......

a gift for someone's 21st birthday. and that person isn't moi.

le best friend's gonna flip when she sees this but YES, my very first purchase from agnes b wasn't for myself. but i'm still proud of that despite it burning a whole in my already hole-ridden wallet.

yay me?

2008-08-20T10:51:00.003+08:00

freedom.

during my poly years, i used to take things like planning your own schedule and having free time during weekdays to shop around or to catch a show without having to jostle with the crowd for granted.

now that i'm stuck in a permanent 8am - 5.30pm job for the foreseeable future, how i yearn for such carefree days to come by again.

"One day I'll fly away
Leave all this to yesterday
Why live life from dream to dream?
And dread the day when dreaming ends"

feeling aimless.

2008-08-17T22:55:00.003+08:00

wenjie's to do list for his blog:
(i'm on a roll here)

- transfer south african blog entries from ipod touch to lappie
- actually blog about abovemention entries (with extensive and fustrating illustrations)
- do the same for bangkok trip in jul 08
- do the same for bangkok trip in oct 07
- do the same for krabi trip in jul 07
- attempt to find a kick-ass blogskin
- failing which, attempt to create abovementioned kick-ass blogskin

not very difficult things to do and should be able to strike most of them out with blog intensive sessions over a good weekend. question is, do i have that weekend available? next week doesn't look good (aussie fair, ahm), neither is the week after (21st bday)..

procrastinating already? haiz..

2008-08-17T22:49:00.005+08:00

wenjie's to do list for his life right now:
(in no particular order. yet)

- improve skin condition (either at medical asthetics or bioskin. leaning heavily towards the former)
- LASIK (provided that there isn't some sh***y directive that forbids it)
- decide on Aussie uni and course to study
- apply for abovemention course come 23rd aug
- take up some useful courses (guitar, Spanish/French, the like.)
- lose weight (and pigs can fly)
- apply for sq cabin crew position by year's end, latest jan/feb 09
- apply for sq scholarship in feb/mar 09 to cover abovementioned Aussie education (should attempt for abovemention job application fail)
- very, very, VERY patiently (i'm using the word very loosely here) wait for 25th oct 09 to arrive

yep. that's my grand plan for now. unless i come up with an even grander one later. as in like 5mins-kind of later.

happy work/study week ahead folks.

2008-08-09T22:26:00.004+08:00

singapore spirit

funny how the organisers for ndp 2008 settled on singapore spirit as this year's theme considering the fact that our nation's birthday falls right smack in the hungry ghost festival. lets all cross our fingers and hope that they successfully invoked a spirit of unity, of less-kiasuism and of celebration instead one of a whole different kind. choy.

attended the preview again this year and didn't manage to catch much of the event despite snagging quite a good seat. well, if you had to attend to a 2-year-old who's an angel most (i'm using it very liberally here) of the time, you wouldn't have your eyes on the parade too.

-the culprit in action-

nonetheless, the great and ever precise black knights were thrilling to watch for they actually had a segment to themselves this year instead of just flying past like every other year before. check out the piece-de-resistance below:

sorry bout the lack of fireworks photo this year. my trusty camera decided to die on me during the performance segment cuz i didn't charge it after coming back from bangkok. oh wells. murphy's busy at work again.

happy birthday singapore!

2008-08-08T23:02:00.003+08:00

no other way around it

today's date warrants a post all to itself. not because the olympics' commencing today, not cuz it's fir's first ever concert in singapore, not due to it being a friday (but that's very important too). just cuz it's...

080808! huat ah!

-waited a long time to say that :P-

despite lucky signs like managing to get a seat on the train this morning and a busy but fufilling day, yours truly didn't manage to grab any part of the unprecedented (?) 8million toto. not even the group z prices. so did 99% of those who bought the tickets but still, thought things were going great for me. bah!

managed to grab the bf from of her terribly packed schedule and will be headed to expo for borders first ever books and music warehouse sale. planning to hit it early (argh!) and hit it hard (my wallet. haiz.). thank god mum lent me the car.

books books books! here i come!

HUAT AH!

2008-07-31T22:50:00.004+08:00

darn it.

it's exactly 1 month to yours truly's 21st birthday and instead of looking forward to it, i'm kind of dreading the day in fact. 21 is when you are officially an adult in the eyes of the law and pretty much just about everyone. even though i kinda gave up being a child ages ago, it was still great to take comfort in the fact that you aren't all that grown up. well not anymore i guess.

come that fateful day, rest assured that there'll be no awkward gatherings of friends with me being the only common point, no fanfare and fireworks, and (i'm hoping) no birthday cakes. there's nothing like blowing 2big candles coupled with a tiny 1 to make you feel your age.

presents are always welcomed though.

gosh. can you imagine what happens when i turn 30? -.-

note:

tmr's the start of the month long hungry ghost festival. take care of yourself guys. don't stay out too late and don't turn around when you hear your name being called out while walking alone at night. unless you dropped your wallet or something.

i'm under strict orders to be home by 8pm (huat ah?) but paranoid me reckon i'll be back latest 6.

2008-07-31T22:25:00.008+08:00

back from the city of angels, khrup.

-first time in chatuchak. def an unforgettable experience-

the best friend and myself FINALLY embarked on our subsitute-for-not-going-to-sydney holiday. while i am aware that it is bout 10months overdue and bangkok can't really be considered as an alternative to sydney, a short jaunt 2hrs north was all the time we could afford on my meager leave allowance. :(

that aside, i must say that we i really enjoyed myself on this trip. granted, all we did was shop and eat, but the company more than made up for the lack of breathtaking sights or pristine beaches. it felt good to finally be able to get away from it all and not think bout work (too much). as expected, we failed to make time out for thai massages and medi+pedi for her and medi for myself despite talking nonstop about them since day one and spending FIVE days in bkk. but then again, that's just typical of us. maybe next time?

went with 5 tees and came back with 25. as usual, i outshopped the best friend, who would have spent even less had she not been shopping for her boyfriend as well. lolz.

will update when i feel less lazy. have been wanting to sleep earlier for the past few days but me being me, that seems unlikely. will attempt to make a headstart. like now.

in other news, IT'S FRIDAY!! whoohoo!

2008-07-10T23:48:00.005+08:00

don't forget to remember me.

-smiling only on the outside.-

cliched as it might seem, but someone once told me,

"Good friends are easy to adore,
And you've been
such a good friend to me...
... that I could ask for nothing more"

guess you forgot.

2008-07-04T11:34:00.000+08:00

here's to freedom

the great martina mcbride once sang:

"let freedom ring,
let the white dove sing,
let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning,
let the weak be strong,
let the right be wrong roll the stone away,
let the guilty pay,
it’s independence day!"

happy fourth of july! :)

2008-06-04T01:45:00.004+08:00

argh!

okay, i know it happens everytime i try to post large amts of pics on my blog and i've mentioned this before on countless occasions..

but photo posting on blogger can be such a bitch.

2008-06-03T23:40:00.006+08:00

disclaimer

entries i've written whilst in south africa are (or will be) listed below in chronological order (commencing with the earliest). i've also included south african & singapore times for a clearer understanding.

pls do not be turned off by the somewhat tame nature of some entries. they have been censored as yours truly is a law abiding citizen who's afraid of being thrown into the detention barracks for unintentionally disclosing confidential exercise information.

that being said, enjoy!

me.

2008-06-02T22:08:00.005+08:00

home again

the sweltering heat, the skyscrapers, the congestion, the 24hrs coffeeshops, the hustle and bustle, the language...

constant affirmations that i'm very much home.

with a new outlook on life, a new blogskin and (what i believe) a new and (somewhat) calmer me, it's true...

i'm back.

but am already missing the vast openess that is South Africa.

watch out for updates about spending May in Africa - wrote quite bit and took loads of pictures.

2008-05-11T16:39:00.001+08:00

oh simba where are thou?

Sunday, 11th May 2008, 4.39pm (South Africa), 10.39pm (Singapore)

Present location: Somewhere in South Africa, atop lookout point, surrounded by outrageously gorgeous views.

In the second entry of my long running oh where are thou series...

-told ya it was bumpy.-

Endured the mother of all bumpy off-road rides this afternoon while on my way here. Not only was it backbreaking (notwithstanding my already-broken back) and assnumbing, it bordered on being life threatening (I exaggerate) for we were bouncing around the back of the vehicle WHILE it was chugging up the mother of all steep hills. But it was a most unconventional journey too, for we passed friendly locals on a donkey cart, a lone wild horse and had to wait not one, two but three herds of cows to clear the road before we could proceed.

top & below - the essence of africa i suppose?-

Finally reached our destination and the view was indeed to die for. Lush plateaus stretched as far as the eye could see, bordered by hills and rifts in the distance. Witnessed my very first sunset here and while this might sound ultra clichéd, but words left me at that moment. There was nothing that could do justice to the spectacle that was happening right in front of me. It was as though the sky was putting up a performance just to welcome me. (Yea right.) I’ve been though that today’s sunset wasn’t all that amazing as compared to other days, so am guessing I’m not that welcomed after all.

-the crazily beautiful natural phenomenon, otherwise better known as a sunset-
-sry, couldn't resist myself...-

-a last brillant burst and it was gone.-

-what it looked like on the dark(er) side-

Dinner was a simple affair but to sit outside in the rapidly (and I DO mean rapidly) cooling night and watch the moon and stars slowly come into light, this was one meal that I’ll definitely remember for a long time to come.

-adore this shot. check out the moon!-

Caught National Treasure with the rest of the guys around and while the show proved to be just as watchable the fifth time round, it was the sight of the 5 of us huddled in the back of the vechicle with nary any moving space that made it all the more memorable.

-this natural gradient of colours never fails to capture my breath-

-as the dark encroaches...-

Emerged from the vechicle to a sky filled with stars shining so brightly and with such an intensity that a flashlight wasn’t all that necessary. Standing outside with the cold cold cold winds rushing past me, taking in all that the South African night sky has to offer, I’m struck by a sense of insignificance. I’m positive that this scene has been here way before I existed and would probably remain unchanged long after I cease to be.

-specks of light u see slightly off centre are in fact the distant towns of Sishen & Kathu-

It’s comforting to know that in today’s everchanging world, there are still some things that stay the same.

Am writing this while being assaulted by strong, chilling winds. This place is truly out from the pages of National Geographic and I’m thanking all my lucky stars (while looking up at them) that I’ve got the chance to experience it. Now if only I could stay out here for a few more days.. :P

Happy Mothers’ Day to all mums out there, ESP my very own.

2008-05-09T22:11:00.000+08:00

uncertainties abound

Friday, 9th May 2008, 10.11pm (South Africa), 5.11am (Singapore)

Heading outfield for the first time tomorrow and while am looking forward to immersing myself in the great outdoors and the (according to Ian) to-die-for vistas, there’s a sense of apprehension within as well. Would I be up to it? Well, shall find out.

Had a weird dream last night and when I say weird, it’s really so. Can’t recall the exact details (I hardly ever do so) but it involved the cookhouse here, Singaporean food, some secondary schoolmates whose faces where blurry and a waaayyy out of place Eugene. Hmm. Analysis appreciated here!

I’m often struck by things to write during the course of the day but when the actual time comes to translate my thoughts onto paper (or into my iPod), they often elude me. So I do apologise in advance if my entries seem rather shallow and brief at times.

Just realised that I’m a fifth of the way through. Surprisingly (and thankfully), it doesn’t feel that long. Am seriously enjoying myself here despite the hard work and don’t have much to lament about (for the moment).

Coming from someone like me, that really means something.

2008-05-09T22:00:00.000+08:00

bliss is...

Friday, 9th May 2008, 10.00pm (South Africa), 5am (Singapore - I know!)

- Daydreaming beneath an everchanging sky
- Having your breath taken away by the stunning sunsets
- Sipping a hot cup of tea while gazing at a sky filled with stars
- Taking a hot shower amidst the cool weather
- Tucking into great western fare at the cookhouse
- Snuggling under my sleeping bag after a long day’s work
- Not being homesick, well at least not yet

-thorny native tree outside the bunk. clumsy me has already been scratched a couple of times!-

There’s something about being in such vast and open fiends that makes me retreat into myself. Perhaps it’s an unwillingness to break the silence, or maybe there’s really something about this place that inspires self-reflection.

For all you know, I might really get in touch with my inner self and return home a better and calmer me.

-but not before some no-so-subtle self shots!-

2008-05-05T15:18:00.003+08:00

first impressions...

Monday, 5th May 2008, 3.18pm (South Africa), 9.18pm (Singapore)

-touched down in jo'burg! an 11hrs flight is no joke, i tell you, even if it's on sq-

Vast, unspoilt and arid plains flourishing under the glare of a harsh and unrelenting sun,

Clouds that hang low beneath a flawless sky filled with every shade of blue,

A-cool-but-not-too-cold climate that’s too dry,

A you-be-sunburnt-before-you-know-it afternoon,

Roads that seemed to go on forever,

Speed limits that would be deemed illegal in Singapore,

Laid back people who seemingly spend the entire day queueing for the ATM,

Towns and reststops reminiscent of America,

All glimpsed through the window of a never-ending coach ride.

This is what South Africa means to me now.

2008-05-04T22:31:00.003+08:00

butterflies

one last jaunt before i head off to the land of the big 5 and diamond mines. am getting a full-blown pang of last minute jitters and butterflies are just burstling to come out from within. wish me luck and i might just return a more mature and calm me.

love,

he.

2008-05-04T02:19:00.001+08:00

mia

for all it's worth, my last ~~post~~ posts in a while all turned out to be quite short. am not in the mood for flowing expositions so short and sweet they shall be.

to emulate golden sparrow from the forbidden kingdom (and to irritate hiang), he will be away for almost the entire month of may and in his absence, he will miss (in order of importance):

- his bed
- enya's 2nd birthday
- mothers' day (hope she doesn't see this)
- long hot showers
- the internet and msn
- the library
- 24 hrs coffeeshops
- karaoke joints
- vesak day

he will only be back come 30th may and while he will make every attempt to jot down thoughts and take breathtaking shots of africa, he cannot assure that he is motivated enough to blog about them immediately upon his return.

he wishes the readers of his blog (all 3 of them) a very fruitful may, a happy mothers' day and a spiritual vesak day in advance.

blessed be while he (attempts to) find inner peace and ponder the meaning of life amongst the vast savannahs of south africa. omm...

2008-05-04T02:10:00.004+08:00

frosty where are thou?

-checkout the daily lows. they barely hit 10C-

he'd be with me for the rest of the month apparently, if weather forecasts are anything to go by.

while the protagonist is quite safe from being frozen solid while he is over in south africa, he still must battle the (not-so) cold and prevent his bits from falling off while relishing being in a cold country for the first time.

mixed news for cold-loving-island-boy. ie he.

2008-05-04T01:41:00.004+08:00

funny lil feeling inside.

in the words of elton john, "it's a little bit funny, this feeling inside, i'm not one of those who can easily hide".

haven't felt this way in a while for haven't thought of you in a long time. but a msg from you from a foreign land brings back emotions that i thought i'd left behind. you, and only you have been able to make me feel this way, even after all this time. timing's impeccable, for i'm just about to depart for a foreign land myself.

gave up hoping for anything a long time ago. just wish that you're well and that we can really stay in touch.

actually, i'm good at hiding how i feel. but not so when it comes to you.

"I hope you don't mind that I put down in words,
How wonderful life is while you're in the world"

2008-05-04T01:30:00.005+08:00

jitters .

countdown to south africa: 1 day

yep. that's right.

this time tmr, i'd be at the airport and getting onto SQ478, heading for johannesburg, more than half a world away. as in my previous post, am feeling no excitement yet but paranoid me's getting a serious bout of last minute jitters while packing my bag(s) today. am not sure if i'm really prepared for what's to come in terms of packing (afraid i'd leave things out despite my already overflowing bag), the weather (ultracold i've heard), the work (ultratough) and the company (not ultra close). gosh.

am already getting homesick even before i leave. dotz.

-you'd def be missed eyeore!-

2008-04-27T22:32:00.003+08:00

quarter way there .

despite all my counting downs and looking forwards, yesterday passed by without any fanfare. truth be told, i almost forgot all bout it. april 26th marked the 6th month of me serving the country. well, despite all my neverending complains and whining, ns has been good to me thus far. like seriously. lets just hope that the rest of my journey passes just (if not more) peacefully than the past half year.

yea half-year-and-a-day soldier!

speaking of journeys, come this time next week, i'd be all set to embark on my longest and furtherest yet. however, there's no excitement or anticipation this time round. perhaps its due to the fact that i'm not going on a holiday, but still, how many could boast of spending a month in south africa the year they turn 21? am crossing my fingers that there'd be decent shopping at least. hah. superficial right. am hoping that i'd be able to get a feel of the place and of cuz, its people too.

countdown to south africa: 7 days.

dear ma,

2008-04-21T23:44:00.003+08:00

dear mom,

i'm really sorry to say this but unfortunately i'll not be having dinner at home and will be out late for the rest of the week in lieu of the upcoming overseas exercise. (will be having meetups/running errands)

schedule is as follows (so you'd know where i'd be):

tueday: return way overdue dvds/vcds (and pay hefty fines). (be back quite early)
wednesday: gym duty and possible trip to mustafa (yes mustafa) with ian. (shouldn't be too late.)
thursday: return wwaaayy overdue library books (and pay heftier fines) & dinner cum gossip session with bert at sun plaza. (should be late, but not unreasonably so).
friday: dinner/kboxing/gossiping session with mel and kylie/kaili. (don't bother waiting up) .

don't worry, i've reserved saturday and sunday for you. :) (plus you don't cook, so it's okay.) :P

sincerely,

me.

woah, thats quite a schedule for someone who likes to rush home after work. (ie me again).

really should be in bed by now. nite world.
have a happy rest-of-the-week ahead.

mr grouchy

2008-04-20T02:20:00.003+08:00

mr grouchy

in case you haven't realised, my life absolutely pales in comparison to those that my friends of the fairer sex lead. one's a stewardess that gets to travel the world, another's a mass comm grad currently in india on overseas exchange and lastly, a close friend that's completing her degree down under while living the laid back aussie life. deep sigh.

any reason why i shouldn't be complaining? just dawned on me that all 3 are travelling/overseas. that gives me even more reason and right to brood. :(

timeout

2008-04-16T20:58:00.003+08:00

timeout .

haven't done this in a while and didn't realise how much i missed doing so. in case your mind starts wondering to godknowswhat, i was referring to having a weekday to myself. yep. no work committments to fret over, no need to be jolted awake by an alarm, no crowds and queues everywhere you go and most importanly, no stress and knowing the fact that you have a whole weekday to spend it according to your whims and fancies. shiok ah.

decided to get outta bed on yesterday at 9.30am but knowing me, snoozed till bout 11am, just in time to head down to apple centre and repair the cousin's new ipod touch. to my surprise, no queue, no waiting time at all! ah, the wonders of weekday off.

zipped down to meet sexy baby and hiang at ikea to indulge in their delectable spread. (although we almost always order the same things. poached salmon and chicken wings). it was great being able to meet cindy over lunch just for a brief catchup cum gossip. though it was short, the session was enjoyable (and scandalous) as always.. -sry bout the lack of food photos though, we were all famished.

-here's one with the girls in place of food. :P hope they dun read this-

commenced our usual stroll/mad brainstorming session around ikea with hiang and this time, we were seriously looking at furniture and fixtures for i will be moving house soon and she's toying with the idea of revamping her whole room. we fell in love with same piece of furniture, a double bunk, and would have gotten it immediately if not for the fact that we were both worried bout the bedframe's height. practicalities..

me: eh at the rate we're going, our rooms are gonna look the same
h: considering our tastes, very surprising meh?
me: .....

that jaunt around ikea took close to 2.5hours and we BOTH left emptyhanded (not considering the mineral water that she got and ice-cream cone i bought).. as usual.. strolling through the displays and trying out the beds and sofas really transported me back to my poly days, where we (and the gang) were frequent customers of both ikea's alexander and tampines outlets.. we would really play house and pretend amongst the fixtures.. ahhhh..

headed to whitesands for hiang to get some stuff and just whiled time away at coffeeclub. which is quite ironic la, for we always order tea at coffee joints, be it starbucks, coffee bean, tcc or coffeeclubs.. there should be a chain of tea cafes instead, and you'd definitely find me there on any given day.

-random shot. check out hiang's agnes b ring. tres chic no?-

but i digress, we chatted about anything and everything (as usual) under the ~~sun~~ increasingly menacing sky considering the weather.. and we (more me) came to the conclusion that why we ended up being such close frens was due to a chance sakae lunch after service @ sentosa. imagine that!

-random shots 2, reflections-

good food, seemingly random converstations that make sense, worry-free and lazy afternoons, great company..

god i missed that.
should have such things more often (ie take more leave? hah!)

sick food

2008-04-14T16:51:00.006+08:00

noodles for the sick soul

since we're on the topic of food, here's lunch which the sick patient (ie me) had today.

dried noodles with lettuce and xiaobaicai, ham and poached egg, topped with a sprinkling of fried onions and anchovies.

comfort food all the way! - but my stomach's still not feeling too well though.