Moonlight alley

October

2008-10-04T11:54:00.002+08:00

1 year 3 months into my time in the current company & the current job. Things have changed a great deal during this period of time. Last October, things were still chaotic, extremely stressful & unfulfilling.

This October brought with it new challenges in different areas. Somehow I find it difficult to say that I don't enjoy my current work given the diversity it sometimes offers me; way beyond what a usual HR person would get. Among the usual list of things, I help plan ahead by making recommendations for the future (though not all gets accepted); go for mega conferences & events by world-renowned speakers in the field; mingle with others from the same sector and colleagues from other areas esp. when we cross each other's paths to get a particular plan through.
All in all, still a lot to learn from. Not only in work, but more from how to deal with people.

This October would see 3 major events:

the hosting of foreign guests at meeting & me as liaison officer tag
invitation of Dave Ulrich to give a talk at our site sometime this month &
secretariat & presenter for our monthly Human Capital Meeting.

A whole series of new challenges & a very tight timeline to deliver. They are still not impossible, but not entirely easy to deliver. As the clock counts down to the dates of each event, I'm both excited and fearful. Even before I get started, the stress already threathens to overwhelm.

I will get though this in one piece, like i always have, and come out a better and stronger person. More skills, more adaptablity and more experienced.

Short muses on my vacation

2008-05-11T11:15:00.007+08:00

Been gazillion years since I wrote on this blog or even paid it any attention... Was rather surprise to see that it still existed.

Blogspot decided I might still come back after all... or perhaps such musings have some value to the site. I don't know.

Have been sometime since I started working already. Been about... say almost close to a year? Ups and downs. Not that easy to explain either. Think the hardships were mainly becos I wasn't use to how work was going to be like. Going in with the wrong perceptions.. and even thinking that work could be stimulating.

Like real....

Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, 05 May - 09 May 08

Just came back from a trip over a week in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh city). Shopping was a bit bad though. Had expected to come back with truckloads of stuff. Didn't manage to though. Hate it when a place becomes too touristy. Things sold are catered to the tourist market. Somehow the city seems to be sort of disjointed... Any development you see most likely sprang out of the tourist dollars that was pumped in by people bored of visiting the conventional Thailand for shopping (me included).

Shops like these were common in HCMC and they serve the local fares such as pho-bo etc on their menu.

What results is an interesting mix in the landscape of the city - high-rise air-conditioned buildings and cafes on one side against the roadside stalls that the everyday Vietnamese would patronize. The difference in prices, could be substantial. We decided to try out one of these shops for their ca-phe sua (local milk coffee). We were paying twice or thrice more for the same thing in cafes that cater mainly to tourist or the upper middle class locals.

Iced coffee at a roadside stall opposite a school after our visit to the museum.

One of the key takeaways we had for this trip was to cross the roads bravely. Drivers here at HCMC are always on alert for pedestrians and motorcyclists that frequently zip out of nowhere. There seems to be little point in following the signals (red, green or yellow there's always cars/motocycles on the move). Just cross and they'll avoid you naturally. Panick, and you're likely to get knocked over.

Another point to note, perhaps you would like to pick another time to visit Vietnam. It was HOT, HOT, HOT while we were there. Temperatures averaged 34 - 35 degrees everyday. I came down with a heatstroke. The trip was an eye-opening experience, and allowed us to see the city in the hot summer heat and through torrential rains typical during this period.

Waiting for the rain to end at the Ben Thant market

2007-09-15T22:43:00.000+08:00

I was never very much of a blogger in the first place. Now with work... think the amount of bloggin would drop tremendously. I will still make an effort to drop by and leave a few rods no doubt; as and when I can stole the time.

Work turned out to be a lot different from school and very tiring as well. Long hours in front of the screen, moving from task to task and disrupted occasionally by phone calls and meetings and what have-you...
And when the day ends, you're probably too tired to do anything else. Even if you aren't, the thought about having to turun up at work again and the amount of energy and level of attention needed at work would just put you off entirely for a night out in town. I guess everybody faces the same problem as well...

Still doing the things I love and busting my dollars at dance as well. Dancing brought me and J back together after our break-up and the entire halabaloo that we both went through brought us one level closer to each other than before. He's become a pillar of support after a long day at work or whenever I am going through a rough time. Its a fact that I've gotten so used to having him around its hard to imagine a life without him again. Something I wouldn't want to have to go through a second time. And yes, I love the man.

Leaving school and transiting into work life is quite a change. Hardly had a chance to read... which is a very bad thing. Could already feel my brains turning into mush. Wanted to do mask today... still haben do yet. sigh...

2007-08-26T22:19:00.000+08:00

Was listening to the Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" playing on my hi-fi as I surfed through the net.

Then I stumbled on a documentary that's meant to be aired today on Channelnewsasia's website:

Embracing romance and basking in luxury, her jet-set lifestyle is the stuff of
fantasy. One year after her divorce with Prince Charles, Diana is living life to
the full, amid the constant glare of publicity, in the company of Dodi Al Fayed,
son of international business tycoon Mohammed Al Fayed.
Accompanying the
lovers from the palm trees of Saint Tropez to the sparkling streets of Paris,
this powerful and emotive film reveals the key moments leading up to their
death. Ten years after the fatal crash that stunned the world, interviews and
compelling full-scale drama capture the final days of one of the 20th Century's
greatest icons

So its been ten years since I last bought this CD. Ten years... has it really been that long?...

2007-08-20T22:25:00.000+08:00

You Are a Good Friend Because You're Supportive

You are almost like a life coach for your best friends.
You give them help when they need it... but you also know when to give them a push.

People tend to rely on you for moral support and advice.
You've probably always been mature for your age, so this is a role that's you're comfortable with.

A friend like you is one of the rarest kinds.
You are both a good mentor and companion.

Your friends need you most when: They are confused or worried

You really can't be friends with: Someone who only wants to complain

Your friendship quote: "The only way to have a friend is to be one."

What Makes You a Good Friend?

大战小强

2007-07-23T21:46:00.000+08:00

I really really dun like 小强s... They unnerve me and they disgust me. Those tiny feathery legs running across your body is a disgusting thought. My disgust for them increased from the day I realize they could fly... oh shit..

So when the health authorities decide to fumigate my rubbish chute this afternoon; I knew I was in for trouble. True enough, the 小强s started to crawl upwards and into any crevices they could find to escape the fumes. Since our family did not install the flushed rubbish chute designs that were designed to keep out these pests and the fumes.. The 小强s came into the house.

Round 1 begins... Shieldtox the opening of the chute (not very helpful but hopefully deter more from entering). Guard the chute opening and Shieldtox any of those creepy crawlies that were unfortunate enough to choose my house to get away from the fumes.
Stomped on the bigger ones with the slippers I was wearing. YUCKS!

And I thought they stopped coming. I was wrong... Round 2... Bigger 小强s. OMG!! Somehow they look a bit different from when they're older. The older ones have wings on their backs, the young seemed to have segments for their bodies. Little sections... eeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Maybe I should have given a more serious thought about convincing my parents to install a good rubbish chute...

2007-07-22T21:21:00.000+08:00

You Are a Natural Flirt

Believe it or not, you're a really effective flirt.
And you're so good, you hardly notice that you're flirting.
Your attitude and confidence make you a natural flirt.
And the fact that you don't know it is just that more attractive!

What Kind of Flirt Are You?

2007-07-22T20:56:00.000+08:00

You Have Your PhD in Men

You understand men almost better than anyone.
You accept that guys are very different, and you read signals well.
Work what you know about men, and your relationships will be blissful.

How Well Do You Understand Men?

Wahahaha!!! I still don't think I understand men at all.

You May Be a Bit Borderline...

Your mood swings make a roller coaster look tame!
When you're up, you're a little bit crazy...
And when you're down, your whole world is crashing
Scary thing is, these moods can change by the minute!

What Personality Disorder Are You?

Take note and beware...

2007-07-16T15:57:00.000+08:00

Me, my doggie (aka study buddy), Jiaying & James.

2007-07-16T15:44:00.000+08:00

Above: Yeah!!!

Right: Zhixiong, me, Rach Teo & Lavinia (left to right).

Bottom: Mum and Dad... And Dad really did put on a tie.. a nice but unexpected gesture.

2007-07-16T15:34:00.000+08:00

Above: Weilun and Trixie. Weilun... the guy who brought a lot of laughter in my final year in school. Glad the both of us pulled through. Trixie.. what can I say; she's been there for me all this while.

Left: Jingyu... the guy who tried to kill everyone with 2nd hand smoke. wahaha

2007-07-16T15:17:00.000+08:00

Ok... I actually try not to post pictures of myself on the blog. But here goes, the first time I'm making an exception.

Top: Eileen and Me outside the honours room.
Middle: Alvin and I. This chap helped me a great deal through my time in uni. Particularly during the last period when I was going through a rough time. ^_^
Bottom: Bobby... My teammate for one of the modules. Great guy, initially thot to be 'unfriendly', turns out the guy has a great sense of humour. HAHA!

slavik-karina rumba 2004

2007-07-16T13:15:00.001+08:00

Amazing how effortless they manage to make it look. Its almost like she din weigh a thing. Sigh.

2007-07-13T01:48:00.000+08:00

I think I finally understood the reasons behind the bouts of loneliness that I occasionally feel. Sentiments that usually hit you when you are on your own... deep in thoughts.

It started off with something almost unrelated.. An idle chatter about fragrance...
A: What is that fragrance you're wearing?
Me: Hmm.. Hugo, deep red.
A: Smells rather musky.. Musk is usually reserved for guys right? Quite masculine.
Me: Not really. I rather like it.

I always believed that the fragrance you choose should reflect who you are, your real self. Musky, complex.. maybe these scents appeal to me because they're bold, but not loud; strong and confident. In certain ways, I feel I am like that. At least emotionally.

But then again, it reveals something else. This bold and strong side of me... mask a more fragile aspect. An emotional loneliness or solitude. With no one for me to lean on emotionally; I can only be strong both for myself and those around me. There really isnt much of a choice... and anything less, seemed to be less of me.

Till the time comes, when he walks into my life, to be my pillar of strength. I shall walk alone. Alone, like I always have...

One man Band

2007-07-06T23:23:00.001+08:00

HAHAHA! So reflective of life

Soulmate (Full Video)

2007-07-06T23:04:00.001+08:00

2007-06-24T20:20:00.001+08:00

What Your Bathroom Habits Say About You

You are a very considerate person, but that doesn't mean you let people walk all over you.

You spend a lot on clothes, and you tend to be a very dresser. However, it's hard for you to throw away trendy clothes when they go out of style.

You have the perfect blend of confidence and class. You're proud of who you are - but you don't broadcast it.

In relationships, you tend to be very romantic and demanding. You'll treat your partner like gold, but you expect a lot in return.

What Do Your Bathroom Habits Say About You?

Hmm... Frens.. I suggest you try some of the quizzes as well just for fun. But like all quizzes, sometimes they dun quite describe u adequately.

Just for fun.

Your Dominant Intelligence is Interpersonal Intelligence

You shine in your ability to realate to and understand others.
Good at seeing others' points of view, you get how people think and feel.
You have an uncanny ability to sense true feelings, intentions, and motivations.
A natural born leader, you are great at teaching and mediating conflict.

You would make a good counselor, salesperson, politician, or business person.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

You Are a Classic Beauty!

You have a timeless beauty that looks great in every decade
Instead following trends, you stick to what works
And this means you never skimp on your beauty routine
Upside? Your classic looks tends to attract gentlemen - not boys.

What Type of Beauty Are You?

Good or bad?? you tell me. HAHAHA!!!

2007-06-24T19:47:00.000+08:00

“To be adult is to be alone.”
Rostand, Jean

Being alone. That shouldn’t be too hard isn’t it? After all, I have been alone for a while. Alone in the house or simply wandering the streets on my own. A common occurrence for the past ten years.
Alone doesn’t seem to be such a scary prospect after all.

But things are never that simple. Of late, I seem to want company more than being just left alone. And then when it suddenly disappears and you are stripped of all the interaction. You come face to face with you. It can be disconcerting at first, an awkward silence because you haven’t faced yourself for so long. But then it gets comforting, this is the real you. The only time you can find yourself, orientate, make-sense and think. Shut out from the world around me and those who know me. Sometimes you still find yourself acceptable… someone you can live with. Other times, you feel disappointed about certain things that you do or what you have become. I hope I have not lost too much time.

Perhaps I have lost myself in the bustle of urban life; only to realize that some important part is missing once the crowd dies away. Lost my bearings I think.

My recent visit to a monastery while on my trip started to make me think about several things. Who I am, what I am, how I would like to be. It might be time to make them concrete.

Alone.
What does it mean to be alone? 孤独和寂寞之间有很大的差异。The latter has elements of the former while the former could exist on its own. If you simply desire to feel human presence around you, are you 孤独or just 寂寞?

2007-04-06T11:29:00.000+08:00

今早看到了一个很温心的画面。一位老翁和他可能只有两岁大的孙女用餐。那一老，一少的对比。老翁一头松散的白发，和小女孩乌黑的蘑菇头。女孩只是静静的坐着，而老翁则细心的把食物分成小份好让小孙女能吃的下。

其实，我小时候和何尝不是如此。公公也常带我到附近的咖啡厅去用早点。虽然还记得有此事，可能时日久了，也无法从脑海里找出当年那个画面。看看小女孩与老翁的那一面顿时让我回想起自己曾经有过的日子。

回家的路上，突然注意到父亲其实苍老了许多。有如另一个人似的... 那种感觉，有点酸酸的。很不是滋味。爸老了，我也不是以前那个小女孩了。说真的，简简单单的一顿早餐禁吃出了这么多感触，有几分意想不到。

2007-04-03T23:25:00.000+08:00

你是否有过以下的经念？

其实你身后还有一大把东西等着你去做。可是不知为什么，你就是想要上网。当你接上的那一刹那，面对着电脑银幕。突然间有了一种失落感。可能参经推动你上网的原因，已经不再了。留下的是你那依依不舍，仍旧每天重复着同样的动作。

是在等待吗？你不是已经开始放下了吗？可是心里深处，总是残留着一丝丝的怀念。

*叮!*

他来了。该去打声招呼吗？过后说些什么呢？还是不了。只要知道他过的好，可能就足够了。

And so this is it...

2007-01-30T22:30:00.000+08:00

Week 4... time flies. Counting weeks is like.. i don't knw.. counting down or up to something. Things are changing... Mixture of emotions, seem to feel a bit of everything that you end up not knowing how you feel anymore.

How should I go about relating this... writing is suppose to induce a catharsis. So here i am...

But nothing seems to come.

2007-01-14T17:12:00.000+08:00

Week 1 of school.
New semester, last semester. More pressure, more demands and a leap has been taken. An ISM (independent study module) would be done and on a foreign topic as well – Decolonization in Algeria. Why? Its interesting isn’t it? Has fascinated me since I first came into brief contact with it a few semesters ago… never had a chance to do a full module on it. Why not now?

The cat likes her fun. Since when has cats rejected having a ball of a time. But this needs to be balanced with other demands life has. School for now has to come first but do I still have the ability to keep it there at the top? Reality demands it to be at the head of the hierarchy, but personally I want to move it down a little. Not that I have lost interest, but I want to do other things as well.

Dance, time with friends, getting a job that matches my passion (but what?) and time with J. Right now, it seems like I would rather do these things than school. Week 1 has turned out to be rather tiring and a little taxing, maybe I’m still not sufficiently prepared… The cycle has started and it would make no concessions if you are not ready.

Keep my eye on the ball and paws to the floor. Just that few more months.

2006-12-17T19:44:00.000+08:00

Have you ever had a friend, not an acquaintance, but a friend, whom you feel comfortable with you wish to know more but realize that its not possible? We come across different people in life and our friends... well they how close we are to them differs as well. A close friend might not be a trusted friend and no matter how close you are to someone, you might still have reservations about what to tell them.

Back to this friend, for convenience sake we'll call the person 甲. To outsiders you look as if the two of us are close friends and always fooling around with the other. But you both know that there's nothing much beyond that. Maybe the fooling around was to cover the unease that would otherwise exist because you know so little of the other. Sometimes I feel the more I talk to 甲the more it seems that there's something behind the person I'm speaking to and 甲is not about to let me know. Yes the person's a nice one, you would like to get to know more as a friend, but you've come up to barrier that doesnt seem to be coming down anytime soon. Perhaps that's just how far you can go. There's a sadness about 甲that I can't seem to put my finger on... maybe he has walled himself in trying to come to terms with whatever he's facing. I can only hope he would find it soon.

Been having a school break for about a week already... trying to do several things.

Meet up with friends hasn't been successful thus far.
Torn about an ISM (to do or not to do) when i should already be well over this stage.
Spending time with my parents.. something I havent been able to do much this semester. Perhaps it only started this year, I'm not certain... but it seems like I've drifted a little further from them towards an unknown. Been bz? But that's always a convenient excuse isn't it?
Spending more time with the dance classes that I'm picking up. Thinking about possibly increasing the level of commitment there.
Start to think about a job. I met up with Soh recently and he gave me some advice on this. Its about time I should start considering this issues seriously...
Read some fiction or anything outside history.

The worst part about all this is that I haven't started much on item 2 & 5. The others are still not so hard to do. Yes I'm just lazy... I know I should get going but I'm not moving.

现在到底想干什么？

The next step

2006-11-29T14:54:00.000+08:00

It’s the middle of exams… I really shouldn’t be doing this. But the urge has never been so great. I had to write it out somehow and the blog seemed like the best place to put this.

Have been in the education system for almost 17 years already and yes, I’m starting to get sick and tired of it. I never really thought I would reach this stage (that was me six years ago), now it’s a totally different story. Similarly, I never thought I would be remotely interested in business; now I am. Perhaps a sign from above that I should be getting on with life out of school and onto something else.
Meow was never cut out for the academic track anyway. Whatever remains of that dream would remain as it is… just another dream.

Why the sudden interest? Not really quite sudden, going into business has been suggested and talked about by people around me quite often. Yes, I have witnessed dramatic failures and successes among these cases. If you’re thinking I’m gonna try out something big, wrong… just something small. A little business on my own, something I am interested in, enough to help me get by, enjoy what I am doing (at least in the early stages) and if possible have the scope for expansion.
It’s not going to be a bed of roses, definitely bumpy at the start but to do something on your own, something you like and enjoy. Doing business becomes part of sharing what you enjoy with your customers. The motivation is there to keep you going and I’m very certain your customers or even the potential ones would feel it too even if they choose not to purchase your product or engage your services this time round.

Short term plans
Starting to think about the jobs I would want to do once I step out of school in a few months down the road. The job would help me clear the immense amount of debt that I have chalked up with my education and also give me the experience about the working world before I decide to venture out on my own. There’s of course a lot of learning to do from those who are already doing their own business and also hopefully any nuggets of advice I could get from those already working about the work world and what to expect. Transition into a new lease of life, a new phrase of my own little growth and development as an individual.
Exams seem like only a speck in this entire grand scheme of things. It’s a necessary road every individual has to go through in life. What matters is passing the University of Life, failure is not allowed. Pass or get eliminated. (Courtesy of WL).

Yes I should be getting out of school… I never felt this urge last year, maybe because I wasn’t ready then. Meanwhile, I am learning all I can from where I am before looking back in July and bidding the institution adieu.

考试也只是人身计划中的一小情节，有如过眼云烟一般。以后的路该怎么走，前途会是如何还是个未知数。抱着满怀的理想与信念，勇往直前。渺小的我在这辽阔的天地里寻找自己的天空。

2006-11-10T15:37:00.000+08:00

Its been soooooo long since I last drop by this blog.... I even had trouble getting in, not only because of password trouble, but I had also forgotten my username. Now that's something.

Not blogging for sometime for several reasons:

I had no reason to. My life is boring and who really want to hear another person lament on and on about having so much work. Just do la! It comes a point when you had enough of your own complains and just shut up.
Note: I still reserve my rights to whine at times.
When I have something to blog about, I usually don't have a computer near me or time for it at the moment.
The event/incident gets stored and then conveniently..... forgotten.

Decide to blog now over a bowl of soup before I get back to LKY and the Grand Design for my final presentation.

As the semester draws to a close, I look back at some of the happening this sem. Boy has it been fun.... The friends I've made, the new acquaintances (potential frens or otherwise), the changing perceptions that I had with a few of them has made this semester all the more fruitful.

My main complaint over the university system was that the modular basis and the subject of my major itself does not lend much possibility towards the development of a closer friendship with those on a similar track. The problem has been pretty much solved in yr 4 with only 6 modules around and a compulsory module you see the same people over and over. So much so that a stranger in our midst is always noticed.

Humans are complex beings... greater group cohesion also means more things gets brought up to the surface. Gossips (of no malicious intent, or so I hope), rumours of sabotage (I don't know how true) are always around. People you know can be malicious when provoked and the attack methods are usually not frontal assaults.
But there's a lighter side to this. So far, there are a few helpful individuals around, the stress level is definitely there and everybody is working so hard it makes you guilty when you're not performing.

Need a lighter side to life... holidays in sight. Its coming...

2006-09-12T20:55:00.000+08:00

"History is the most dangerous product evolved from the chemistry of the intellect... History will justify anything. It teaches precisely nothing, for it contains everything and furnishes examples of everything... ... Nothing was more completely ruined by the last war than the pretension to foresight. But it was not from any lack of knowledge of history surely."
Paul Valery on history after WWI

"You are what you are and you will never be different; this is, was, and always will be your life. He who has money, lives long; he who has authority, can do no wrong; he who has might, establishes right. Such is history! Ecce historia! Here is the present; take of its body, eat, and die."
German poet Gottfried Benn

冷笑...

Nightwalk

2006-09-08T23:43:00.000+08:00

Which one do you prefer? Morning or night?

I guess night... Its not that I reject sunlight but I'm attracted to the dark. The night: mysterious, unknown, comforting, seductive, soothing, introspective and calm.
The only time when you can stop and slow down, reflect and think deeply. Or just be left alone, without the rush, to do things at your pace and understand issues in your own time.

Head to a club, pubs or even the nearby 24 hrs MacDonalds if you want some human presence. For now... at this very moment, I want to be alone. Here, pondering.

Frustrations

2006-08-30T19:48:00.000+08:00

Had intended to pen this on the blog when I get home... somehow it just couldn't wait so I started writing the entry on a slip of paper before transfering it here... so here goes.

Writing this on the train again. Sign of pent up frustration I suppose. Storm of emotions, issues never seemed so convoluted and lucid at the same time. Contesting list of 'to-dos' piling up in school. -----> Balancing problems.
Much work, little time, the constant need to pace yourself and keep up. The same old mantra, "do your readings, don't wait till last minute, keep your heads up and the datelines insight". I know, I know, for one, I was never a person who could deal with a last minute influx of new information.... but somehow you feel more could be done, that you are probably not doing enough ----> inadequacy.

Emails, IVLE, forums, module blog, projects, presentations, essays, book reviews and critiques. Keep the due dates insight people! Things I have been grappling with and rather poorly. Things could have been more controlled and more predictable. Feeling as though you are both keeping up and being dragged along at the same time. Nope, you're not extremely behind but yes there's a lot more you could have done.

Took a weekend off, didn't check my email nor the IVLE. 3 days, and you go back on Monday to find you have to do damage control. Things have changed, you received an urgent email on Friday that you replied on Monday, only to have an irritated party on the other end saying he has to wait 3 days for that.
Three days...
That instant, I felt a sudden inclination to curse the people who even created the technology to draw us closer together. Connectivity has brought work right to your doorstep, threatening to intrude & spill into your personal space when you least want it to happen. Yet, the same technology has its benefits too.

In a period of change comes a source of comfort, the someone I met has been a real source of comfort and calm in times like these. School and personal life has come together in a potent concoction that is still taking me on an emotional roller coastal ride that I'm attempting to grapple with....
The multitude of emotional ups and downs had its share of contributing to this frustration that is manifesting itself at the present moment, yet so far, it has been worthwhile.

For the person out there, thank you for coming into my life and thank you for just being there. To all my friends reading this, you people have been a real joy, thanks for the laughter, the company, you make it easier for me to get through the nonsense life throws in your path ever so often.

That.. was therapeutic.

2006-08-13T14:02:00.000+08:00

This holiday has been magical for more reasons than one.

Got a part-time job faster than expected though I would have hoped for something more related, it was an experience nonetheless.
Went on two trips instead of one. One to Rome and Venice, the other to Taipei. Burnt a hell-load of cash but both were memorable.
I met someone. (We shall leave it as that..)
Met up with friends that I've not seen in a while and witness the growing of the Animal Farm.

Its amazing how so many things can happen during the holidays. The only time during your school life when you have enough free time on your hands to actually pursue things that you wished you had the time and attention to give.

School would be starting tomorrow. The closing of a chapter and the beginning of another...

Hawaiian Fright Night!

2006-08-10T15:46:00.000+08:00

Had a wonderful time at a chalet yesterday organized by the Singapore History Consultants, Journeys pte ltd and Changi Museum. It was a company function actually, so just popped over to have some fun.

Lots of booze, loads of frangipani (Hawaiian mah... but frangipani in the 7th month. I think we were just trying to be funny), food and more booze. The crowd was wonderful and a lot of fun as everybody chilled through the night with a drink in hand. Games and pageants and everybody had a good laugh. N of course being a firm engaged in historical works the usual history quiz came up. Best part of it was probably the ghost trail.

Yes, I went on a ghost trail at midnight around the Old Kitchener's Barracks. The building was built in 1935 for the Royal Engineers... rather dilapitated with frangipani and fig trees (a sign of spiritual activity) alongside the road leading in. Stories were told of the deaths that occured there and the horrific murder case that happened on the very carpark in 1956.

Taipei trip

2006-08-05T21:24:00.000+08:00

Its been a long time since I last posted so yes I'm back again. Blog was dormant; not dead people. So come back once in a while there would be something here again.

Went Taipei about two weeks after my trip to Italy. Come to think of it, it was pretty crazy burning money like that. Not to mention laptop died on me, so spent $$ getting a new laptop. Burning even more cash than ever. This holiday was perhaps the one time I spent an immense amount of money within such a short period of time.

The Taipei trip took place between the 23rd of July to the 30th of July. Went there with two other friends with the mentality that I would probably not get to go with them anytime in the near future. One would be starting her 5 years of education in Australia, the other possibly going over to UK for postgrad studies.

Trip was simple and mostly confined to Taipei city. We didn't even get to go to the scenic sights that we had initially wanted to head for because of a few hiccups along the way. Somehow, the entire trip became a shopping trip. Honestly speaking, there wasn't much you could do at Taipei beyond visiting the temples and some memorial sites; but once you've been to China, those in Taiwan would pale in comparison. Shopping was not too bad, there isn't much cost-savings since the prices are about the same as those back at home. We met with typhoon, a 6.1 earthquake and a bout of food poisoning. Safely got through it all and shopped through both the quake and the typhoon.
Didn't feel the quake cos I was on ground level and typhoon didn't affect us except occasional showers since it didn't sweep through Taipei.

Accomplishment on this trip?

1st time out alone with friends without my parents around. Nice one, maybe do more of these in the future.
I'm amazed at my own shopping abilities. Shopped at
五分铺 from 2pm till midnight and brought a tremendous amount of clothes. My advise to people going Taipei. Forget about
西门盯 head straight for 五分铺 instead. You won't regret it.

Wonders of the internet

2006-07-16T12:43:00.000+08:00

The internet. Keeps people surfing online totally annonymous, you won't even know if you rubbed shoulders with your best webpal on the street if you've never met him/her before. This seems to add a great deal of courage to people and allows many to lead fantasy lives that they would only dream of and wouldn't have the courage to do.

Take Habbo for instance,
a good idea to meet friends but I think some have more than friendship in mind. I've never played habbo before but a female friend of mine recounted her experience to me.

She had been playing for sometime with a female character. Just for the fun of it, she changed her character to male and almost immediately attracted a horde of female characters who wants to talk to her.
My guess: they wish they had the guts to do that in real life. Otherwise why bother doing it virtually when you can do it in reality?

Excerpt 2

2006-07-09T00:03:00.000+08:00

Day 4: Venice

Cut the chase and to the point, I'm just bringing out an incident I met that night in Venice.

Quiet streets, little alleys, romantic yes, but not good to get lost in the middle of the night. (Getting lost in Venice in the day is ok, I do that most of the time, can still find my way back eventually, not at night).

While crossing a bridge near the accomodation, a toddler from the family in front of us fell on the steps, it was rather dark so I didn't reali see what happened. But she was definitely wailing a minute after that fall.
Well, kids fall. Its common, nothing to worry, just comfort her and it will be fine. Or so everybody thought. Until she got up...
Her face was covered in blood. There wasn't anything jutting out from the steps of the bridge. Her clothes are bloodied, her mother's hands and the father was obviously shocked. Thankfully there was a nurse around who happen to be going in the same direction. The girl needed stitches.

Advice for travellers: Need a good map. The streets are all over the place and sometimes the locals even have to guess where it is at. San Marco didn't flood while we were there but it certainly looked like it was going to around the waterway near the Doge's Palace.
& lastly, train ur bladder. Toilets are difficult to find and there aren't many public toilets around.

Italian trip Excerpt 1

2006-07-08T23:30:00.000+08:00

Day 3, Roma

Current position: Roma Termini, platform/binario 1. Eurostar departing 10.55am for Venice.

Taking the Eurostar direct to Venice. Though its a direct trip there, it still takes around 4 hours 40minutes to get there. Train would be making a few stops along the way passing by Firenze (Florence, would have stopped here if the trip was longer).

Visted the Vatican City yesterday and spent a day at the Museums. St. Peter's Basilica was magnificent, the carvings, the architecture, the square outside, the statues; all these were just a hint of what to expect inside the museums. Despite the sweltering heat outside, the basilica felt extremely cool (a result of the large amt of marble around?).

Ok enough of the tour guide stuff. Now for a personal touch...

The requirements of the Vatican city insists that visitors (men/ladies) should not bare their shoulders and the area above their knees within the Vatican. The amount of visitors inside made it highly difficult to enforce this, so bare shoulders, shorts, caps, we have it all. The guards... well, they seem to lost control. You can check the visitors when they first enter and the guys can change from long pants to shorts (detachable mah! the wonders of zippers). Hahaa!

Even in areas where photography was not allowed and silence was supposed to be observed; reality was far from it. Flashlights in the Sistine chapel. There was so much people in the there that one literally had to rub shoulders with strangers to get to the other end of the chapel.
For most of the journey, there weren't any seats in sight. So for those planning on a holiday and a visit there. Be prepared to walk, & I really mean walk.
The crowd, the exhaustion of walking for an entire day, I almost came down with asthma at the end of the day.
Went back took a short nap after a bath and almost missed dinner again.

Till them ciow better get some rest, got quite a lot of distance to cover when we reach Venice. I still don't know exactly how to get to the residence. BTW, did you know we drank a lot of spring water. Piping all over Rome carry water from the hills to the city, as long as you see a flowing tap around even on the streets you can drink from it (unless there's a sign that says otherwise).

The power of words & of language

2006-07-08T23:20:00.000+08:00

Its amazing what a simple word can do. Spending an entire week or so in Rome surrounded with menus I hardly understand and constantly bombarded with numerous Italian road names and the notoriously difficult to navigate Venitian alleys and waterways; the pleasure of hearding a familar accent could not be overemphasized.

This incident happened as I was about to leave Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci Aeroporte (also known as Fumicino Airport, hence FCO). An Asian manager of the airline company was standing nearby and rendered the necessary assistance to get us to the gate (took us an hour to get there because of the incredible queue at the customs).
The words went something like this, " Don't go wandering around the shops, you wouldn't get to your gate on time. The customs 'jin gao tu' ".

It may seem ridiculous but hearding the three words "jin gao tu" was very comforting especially in a foreign land. It was meant to be negative, but it had an opposite effect on me instead.
*Sigh*
The power of words & language.

Drjnking at worK?

2006-06-29T14:10:00.000+08:00

Got to work at this place in Chinatown doing transcribing for an interview that was conducted lately. The job scope is simple, you come in for as many days as required to finish transcribing that tape, but you get the same amount anyway no matter how long you took since it doesn't go by a per day basis.

Well, there was only 2 recordings (1hr 19mins & 16mins), doesn't seem that long right? So I thought what can be so hard, with a day at hand, I should be able to finish them before 6pm.
But NO... I ended up finishing at 10 that evening. Haha, but there were reasons for that.

The interviewers were clear and succinct in their questions, but the interviewee had a tendency to go all over the place and occasionally the voice just wasn't captured clearly.
Since the most impt part about the interview is the comment given by the interviewee (which happens to take up the most part of the interview).
So transcripting 10 - 14mins took up to an hour to do.
When it was finally done and we ran the first QC, it became quite apparent that I missed out some parts. I admit, I tend to summarise and pick out the main points when I listen to conversations like this. Things were muffled and sometimes instead of typing in the expressions, I went straight to the point and left out what might deemed a critical part of the research. *BEPH*
So have to recheck and alter it.

Good thing about this job was the little drinking session with the boss. Quite surprised when they brought out their store of hard liquors from the pantry (think they might be better stocked in this than coffee and tea, haha!). This 'little' drinking session was suppose to last only 30 minutes, we ended up having such a good time (partly because we were a quite tipsy towards the end) that it dragged on for 2 hours. Thankfully the world stopped spinning half an hour before I had to continue working on the tape. But that was perhaps the most fun part while I was there for the day.

All in all, a good experience.

2006-06-27T17:37:00.000+08:00

*Snip.. snip... snip...*

I can't remember my last visit to the hairdresser. Must have been sometime ago given the length my hair has grown since then. The good thing about being female I guess, doesn't really matter if your hair grows incredibly long.
But the time for the haircut has come... I'm dropping quite a lot of hair lately, probably due to the weight of my entire crowning glory (poor scalp must be complaining).

As the hairdresser snips away, I keep worrying whether she would either cut it too short or give me an uneven cut. It would take quite sometime before it grows back and in the meantime I would have to live with whatever she gives me. Luckily it turned out quite ok but it could have been better, cos I think she wasn't really putting in much effort to do it. Probably change a hairdresser next time.

2006-06-09T00:34:00.000+08:00

Many things to discuss over here... Havent been blogging for a long while so why not now. If everything seems disconnected, pardon me. I'm trying to squeeze whatever comes to mind into this one single entry.

Firstly, CAP fell. Highly disappointing considering how much effort went in for this semester. I tried to cut down on possible distractions and really worked during the sem. Somehow things screwed up at the last minute. I had expected something a little better... an A- at least for one or two modules. Hoping that could save my score. Just didn't work out the way I wanted to. Need to think about fourth year once this holiday job ends...

Secondly, gonna miss the job at the pet clinic when I leave. The lady boss allowed me to go back and help out on Saturdays so will still be heading there on a weekly basis. Gonna miss the bunch of them.. Lily, Handsome, Nana, Sonny, etc. The informal environment makes it rather enjoyable to work there sometimes if things go smoothly.

Pet shop experience & Movie Marathon

2006-05-15T21:13:00.000+08:00

Okok, lots of things to blog about little time.

1st of all got a job at the Pet shop with KC and Siying. Must say its been great thus far. Time flies whenever I'm there. Working six days a week but not complaining as much as I use to when I was doing data-entry (at least now I know not to look for an entirely desk-bound job next time). Nice colleagues, a boss with a quick temper (but otherwise a good boss to have) and a highly relaxed environment though it can get a bit crazy when the customers flood in at the last minute.

I'm gettting a hang of the medication for the cats and dogs but mostly handling front desk jobs and preparing of vaccinations etc. Just groomed a shih-tzu today. Hates hair-dryers. Gotta be a bit wary of him whenever you use that lest he bites you (poor colleagues got bitten, I luckily managed to avoid that). His photo is on the left. Looks like a giant furball and he's only 1 year old. If only I could take him home with me for a day... Heehee. SO CUTE!!

Sat the 13th had been smashing. Thanks to Dan and the gang. We should do this again! Movie marathon at your place was great! I shall upload some of the photos on the animal farm so everybody can get it alright. A pity we didn't take a picture of the human sandwich that we made on the sofa. Anymore sloppy and it would look more like a blanket party. Haha! Excited about the next possible meeting. We'll arrange again k.

2006-05-05T13:27:00.000+08:00

Two for the Money

Finally got down to watching the film. Had it for at least 3 months?

Synopsis: Story revolves around a few characters: Walter, Toni and Brandon Lang (John Anthony). Brandon catapults to prominence after Walter head-hunted him as a game picker for American football and begins to rake in truckloads of dosh for Walter. Walter (an ex-compulsive gambler) runs a company that provides betting tips. Living a life on the edge, the only anchor in the real world seem to be his wife, Toni (an ex-junkie).

Comments: Not a bad show to catch it you have time though there are other sub-plots that doesn't seem to contribute to the entire show in general. The main theme seems to be anti-gambling and how money causes one to lose yourself. Brandon Lang becomes John Anthony, the more he fits the role of John Anthony the more he loses the original him. If you're easily offended by foul language this is not the show for you. Much of the movie is covered with the 'f**k' word but beyond that it provides some element of humour in the early part of the film.

The last few days...

2006-05-04T14:55:00.000+08:00

Was reading a friend's posting on her blog lately about the fight that's brewing before we all take to the polls on Saturday. They have another day to convince the people and you can sense the heat is building up.

Sadly, the political scene is turning more into a fish market brawl. Yes we understand the point you are trying to make about Gomez, we hear you. Can we hear about other issues? Why has all the speeches so far been bashing the opposition? I didn't favour the opposition because I felt they were bashing the PAP all the time, trying to discredit their opponent (not a good method to attract attention) . Now the PAP is joining in. Very disappointing, why not just make the point and move on? They're just missing a few seats to becoming once again the dominant party here (little surprise) you can't help but feel that they're doing this to squeeze as many votes as possible for the party this time round. Its natural that they would want as much votes as possible given that its the first time that Mr Lee HL is leading the party to the polls but such actions could backfire by making the electorates feel negatively about the party.

We do need opposition voices and that is an important part of a democratic society, otherwise you might as well be a authocratic state. Arguing that you could use more attention to focus on future issues and long term plans doesn't really cut ice, the argument is sound but you still need to learn to deal with an opposition if you really value democracy(opposition outside of parliament doesn't count since we can't resort to people power here).

Playing safe is one reason why people continue to vote for the dominant party. But the situation now is a lot different from the periods under SM Goh and MM Lee. Who knows, the new generation might like a prefer a less conventional choice?

As for me.. I'm still thinking about it. Nothin is fixed till the ballot paper ends up in the box.

Random thoughts

2006-05-03T00:42:00.000+08:00

Finally its all over. Hasn't been all marvellous and some were downright killers to begin with. But bottomline being... its all over. Looking back 5 hours and 45 minutes after the end of my last paper, a few random thoughts came to mind:

I met a bunch of really nice people in my JS project. Thanks guys for making it just a memorable experience. Do keep in touch.
Reached a whole new level of sian-ness towards exams.
(Had never only studied my stuff 2 days before a paper. Usually I would have at least covered half of each module at least prior to start of the exams. Things certainly have changed.)
Other things seem to matter more this sem to me rather than studies. A sign of a change? A new focus in life with a whole new orientation?
(Old friends really matter... Ultimately they're still the people I feel more comfortable around. Perhaps this sem felt a lot better because I had you people around me. Kudos to the animal farm. The cat might always be sleeping away in some corner but its heart will never leave the farm...)
Strong sense of mujo.
(Friends are graduating... new people coming in, familiarity with the lecturers... the place has began to grow on me & I would be sorry to leave it when the time comes. 6 years back we were still running around secondary school thinking its going to be along way till we even reach the world of work. Time flies.)

Possible plans for after the exams:

Get a job?
Learn driving?
Read all the fiction I so wanted to during term time but couldn't.
ISM or not? (I figured thesis is out of my league. Never try to take too big a bite out of something you can't handle.)
Catch up with all the Uni people that I didn't really get to meet during term.
Volunteer services at museum or with some performing arts group?
Holiday in some nearby island with my pals.
Chalet. Let's not waste that voucher.
Moscow, Madrid or where? Plans for July.

Memory, lived reality & morality

2006-04-08T13:10:00.000+08:00

Yes.. its over. I hope.

Now to start on catching up on the backlog of work. Prior to that I went to some of the sites my friends have been bloggin at. Really quite amusing. One of them was musing about how a bench got thrown into a canal... Weird things people do.

Some time back I was thinking about the issue of memory. You can consider yourself to have 'lived' if someone remembers you right? What if those people who do pass on? Does it mean you cease to exist? A name, just like any other names, on a tombstone/tablet just like any other.

Then something came to mind. Maybe it doesnt matter if you're someone who did immense good for the people, or simply a trusting fella who was caught in trying times (Dubcek in Czechoslovakia). They are extra-ordinary because they possess certain attributes that favours them in their present circumstances.

If Hitler, Stalin and other well-known mass killers wanted to leave a legacy, they were highly successful. If your aim was for someone to remember you, the morality of your actions doesn't really feature in does it? We remember these people, not pleasantly though, but they're never forgotten because the enormity of their actions doesnt allow us or society to forget them.
Wonder if they ever thought about this when they acted the way they did.

I'm such a disappointment

2006-04-04T16:50:00.000+08:00

SHIT!!! I've totally neglected to include the '89 dissent in East Germany part into my essay when it clearly says in my sub-headers 1960s to 80s. While the lecturer was covering it today everything just starts to look a lot bleaker.

Its so important, so unique and so significant; best part of it all, I left it out while discussing Dissent in East Germany. I'm so going to pay through my nose for this! 40% of the grade! Shitty things happen when you realize you should have done more while reading up.

Its just typical isn't it.. there's always things i would like to have done if only there was more time.. yet again I don't think I would be satisfied even with that.

Exams around the corner.. assignments not cleared yet and then I still feel I know peanuts about everything I've been doing thus far. Most probably I'm going to end up sumitting peanuts and get a monkey grade for that.

I'm not angry with myself or anything... its just disappointed I guess. Could have been better, but isn't that what life is about? You always try to make it better. At least things weren't as bleak as last sem when I almost thought I should just go on a sem break given how ill I became.

A lot to be done yet so little I seem to be able to do. Suddenly I feel I'm damned to mediocrity (this is so going to sound megalomanic), not that there's anything wrong with being average but I've always thought if you could be better why not right?

Then again what is better? Maybe I'm fine, just thinking too much. Time to stop thinking and go eat, I'm starving, stomach is growling, presentation at 6pm later for the marketing plan...
Its time to get going again.

2006-03-26T22:57:00.000+08:00

This is simply marvellously executed. Very smooth and very very sleek. Worth a watch. I hope I can get the player here so you won't have to go to youtube to watch it but just in case I can't here's the link.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZY4CQWmdMXo

Its taken from the 2004 world Super Stars Dance Festival with the two dancers Michael Malitowski & Joanna Leunis dancing the Rumba.

Enjoy.

Breeding season

2006-03-10T22:36:00.000+08:00

That was the last straw.

I had enough of unwanted guests in my bedroom. Just a couple of days ago I was visted by 小强 (a medium size roach) just as I was about to fall asleep. The shock of having a roach that near to your face (was like about 30cm away from that wall ) totally dispell any notion of sleep and thus cause me to lose another precious 1 hour.

That was around 1am, two days ago...

New guest arrived today in the shape of a little white commar. Probably around 2mm max. in length. I didn't even notice it was there until I accidently touched it.

Me: Eh... what's that. Feels rather soft and cushy to touch. (Looks so much like a piece of rubber shaving that it never occured to me that it was alive).

When it finally reacted to my pencil poking I was filled with curiosity and a tinge of disgust. I only realize it could be a termite grub when I offhandedly mentioned it to my parents.
OMG! I'm in big trouble if I have a termite infestation, almost 75% of my room is filled with wood.

That's it! Last straw! You pests are not going to build a nest right under my nose. Not when the lizards have just started to breed an entire new generation (new baby lizards running around the place) . Just placed poisoned pellets around and hope to see the effect soon. No more 小强s and hopefully its not a termite grub that I saw. I so regret not killing them when I see them. (I had the aircon on when 小强 was visiting and somehow I just didn't add one & two together to see the threat that seemingly innocent white thing posed).
Just go somewhere else.

Ramble ramble

2006-03-09T21:12:00.000+08:00

Seemed like forever since I last posted something here. Wasn't really because there wasn't anything happening in my life per se, was more of a sense of disconnection I guess. Felt as though I lost touch with my emotions and sentiments, I wasn't really put off by the ridiculous amount of work or even meetings at weird timings and hours (meetings at 10 o'clock at night, or discussions and presentation rehearsals on saturdays & even possibly sundays).
Must have pulled out the plug somewhere during this sem. Either that or the successful hitting of the reset button during the 1 month break really helped.

Meeting friends a little lesser and hitting the library more often. I figured I wasn't really cut out for the super 'chiong' kind. I can't have both and any attempt is bound to result in extreme dissastisfaction & disappointment. You just gotta give yourself a break once in a while, pushing till you break is definitely not a good option (learnt this the hard way).

Recent craze: Birkenstocks sandals. (See picture below)

Colourful and comfy with a hefty price tag. I doubt I'll be getting but its one of those things you get obsessed over for the moment and hopefully it passes.

2006-02-11T09:16:00.000+08:00

Its a crazy rush. Feli, do this. Feli do that. N don't you forget you've got that to take care of. The last thing I need is a group that doesn't function like a group. 6 members... 2 are not responding online; one very quiet one; another very cocky. I smell trouble. People submit your stuff when you have to CAN?? Be more pro-active, a little help here? Why do I always have to do admin? At least show some interest so I won't look ridiculous here.

So little time... so much stuff. Looking at the stack piling up week after week it just dawns on me why the information doesn't go in. I simply don't want to know anymore. I don't care who dies, how many died, what happened and how it happened. Lectures are ok, I just don't want to read anymore.

Damn it!

2006-02-05T00:36:00.000+08:00

Countries visited thus far... Maybe time to start expanding...

2006-02-01T19:11:00.000+08:00

Thanks to all who came and those who made this CNY enjoyable. If I've been a bad host, please forgive me. I'm quite lousy at this, so just make yourself at home should you come by next time.

The same few questions that are normally asked during these visitations popped up once again (nobody asked about relationships this time round). We always go back to the same few questions whenever they ask what I'm doing in Uni.

Me: Oh, I doing history, currently in 3rd year.
Reply: History? Hmm.. wat do you want to work as when you come out? Teach? Its like quite limited in its application in the real world. Why not something practical like architecture, business or engineering.

Then just yesterday, someone asked: Do you really enjoy what you are doing?

Both yes & no. Its something I would rather do than any other things being offered. Frustration sets in especially when I just don't seem to do well no matter how hard you try. I keep missing the point, more importantly, I'm concerned that I might be losing my enthusiasm (not as in hate the subj, I can't bring myself to do that even after being bashed quite badly a few times). Maybe something else radically different like Art or Design & technology. Anything outside the world of academia.

Time has shown that the paths taken by my close friends tend to be radically different from mine. But we all share a similarity, we all stumble through the education system to get to where we currently are. I consider myself blessed in that I manage to miraculously keep on the standardized path of progression. Others have taken alternative routes and are still looking for their way. You people know who you are. Just want to say I'm behind you guys and gals always. We will get there...

My Way
i will find my way
i want a different way
i'll change the wind and rain
there be a brand new day
小时候受伤有人心痛失落有人安慰
现在遇到困难自己就要学会面对
i will find my way i want a different way
nothing will stop me now no matter what they say
困难要用我的坚强和努力勇敢面对
现在用心去追感觉就对
i'll find my way
i will find my way

2006-01-18T17:20:00.000+08:00

People really shouldn't have too much free time. You tend to dwell on negative thoughts before long and start to go into depression. If its happening already, then its about time you do something about it. Anything.

2006-01-14T19:23:00.000+08:00

Went for the my very first facial session at Coslab today. The facial was a complimentary service with some products that my mum bought the other time she was there. Being a greenhorn in this, I didn't know what to expect and what I would be getting in this session.

So I went and the lady showed me into a room that reminded me of the aromatic massage that I went for in Thailand (see above pic taken at the massage parlour in Thailand), almost instantaneously I knew that this was going to be a real treat (^_^). The entire session took about an hour and a half and includes a shoulder massage. Absolutely relaxing, except for the part when she tried to get my blackheads out... the pain is something I won't forget easily (my face is still covered in little red spots now from that)... otherwise, its pretty much like being pampered like a princess. Haha.

Better not get use to this..

Rain, rain come again

2006-01-13T21:52:00.000+08:00

Finally! It stopped raining early this morning, a much anticipated change for many after almost an entire week of continuous rain. Its amazing how the weather system here manages to keep it up, on and on for days and nights without end.

Today morning was just perfect. Misty winscreens of cars, nice cool weather (no need for an umbrella and no more wet jeans for a change), everything was just shrouded in a light mist. Great way to start a weekend but that's as far as the good part goes...

The scorching sun made its first appearance around mid-day, thankfully for the aircon in the library I managed to avoid the heat until 2pm when I had to step out of school for another appointment elsewhere.
The sun heat always manages to effectively dull my senses if it gets into my system (often the case). Suddenly, I was hoping for rain again. I've never felt very positively towards sunny days because the heat insolation is tremendous; rain seems to be the only thing that provides relief.

Now we've exhausted the rainwater in one fell sweep, its gonna be really warm for days to come...

2006-01-10T01:42:00.000+08:00

Have any of you out there ever thought about what sort of lover you would most likely be? The highly boring and pragmatic one or the absolutely romantic to the point of being impractical? Relationships often start off nice, but quite a lot of work is needed from both parties to keep it going in the long run; most importantly perhaps is the commitment to one another.

What exactly is Love? An inexplainable fondness (for lack of a better word) for someone or something built upon an irrational emotion. But this could easily be taken as infatuation as well izzit it? Seems rather hard to put your finger on this.

Most of us spend our early years hoping that as we go on in life, we would meet the Right person that we would want to spend our lives with. What if you never did, or you missed him/her in this sea of humans? It certainly would be nice to have someone to share your joys with and be with you while you are down and out instead of having to be strong all the time to face the elements that life would throw in our path.

Just musing... pardon me if the above text seems a bit dis-jointed. I'm rather much in a dazed having just got back home after a really long day (nothin much to do with sch which only took 2 hrs even though its the first day of sch).

解开我最神秘的等待
星星坠落风在吹动
终于再将你拥入怀中
两颗心颤抖
相信我不变的真心
千年等待有我承诺
无论经过多少的寒冬
我决不放手

每一夜被心痛穿
越思念永没有终点
早习惯了孤独像随
我微笑面对
相信我我选择等待
再多苦痛也不闪躲
只有你的温柔能解救
无边的冷漠

2006-01-06T19:30:00.000+08:00

Went over to Malaysia for three days to visit an uncle of mine during late December thought I would just add some photos of the trip. The houses that you see are taken in the area that he lives (the suburbs actually). These are housing for commoners but in Singapore the physical size of the house would easily put it under the category of bungalow or semi-detach.

The three photos on the left were taken on morning walks around the neighbourhood. The photo on the one with me in it was taken at a roadside stall near the sea.

2006-01-06T19:16:00.000+08:00

Just reread my last entry on the blog, pardon me if my blog is starting you readers out there. Haha was not my intention to do that but just can't help myself musing over these issues especially when the course just ended hours ago. I'll try do some light-hearted next time round. ('',)

Balancing the personal & the public

2006-01-06T18:38:00.000+08:00

Attended a two day seminar with regards to job search skills, things to look out for during interviews and employers expectations. I am both eager to step out into the working world to pick up other skills outside the academic realm and also to work in a different environment. At the present moment, I would be continuing my studies for another year (decided on this after struggling with myself for sometime & eventually figure out I should just do it!) since its likely that I won't be stepping back to school after I graduate (I like to move on in life and to disrupt your career and study again seems to feel a bit like backtracking).

Everyone dreams of holding big jobs, earning good pay, being a high flier and enjoying the high life either because they really want these things or because society uses this as a gauge for success and we've come to internalize it as something we want. Those who have the qualities for being such a high flier might not make it there simply because of the obstacles in the way or other due considerations.

The modern working world isn't very friendly towards the family life. We're so connected these days that it does not seem to make a difference the time of day or the day of the week that we are in. Any day, any hour, can be a working day. We twist and turn our entire lives topy-turvy and organize it so that it would fit our work schedules; I'm hardly surprise that work has become the center of gravity for many (not a very healthy thing, considering how volatile the labour market has become). How do you strike the balance between work and family? Where do you draw the line so that your family life doesn't suffer and at the same time, you don't compromise your career advancement either? The man might not have so much of a problem (apologies to the feminists out there, but this is so very true) because its still acceptable for the man to place their careers before the family and leave that to the woman. Then what is going to happen, may I ask, to the poor modern working woman? Especially when the children reach their teen years (I'm sure most of you know that parents especially are very concern about this stage in life when the child starts to experiment with who he/she wants to be & think about issues like "Who am I?"). How should she balance work and family?

These concerns doesn't seem very important for people my age, but eventually, we would come to face them as have every other working individual. There's no strict or hard and fast formula about this.. and gradually I'm coming to believe that sometimes for the sake of family, you might have to risk or slow that race to the top.

2005-12-25T23:40:00.000+08:00

The young Severus Snape. A rather good artistic rendition. Sigh. If only I could draw like that.

Christmas

2005-12-25T23:27:00.000+08:00

Went for two Christmas parties this year round, one on the 23rd which had been real fun (thanks to the presence of good games, kudos to Alex, you guys have been fun to hang out with!) . Had another one today at my uncle's with the relatives from my paternal side (was rather boring after the first two hours & I was dying to go after the fun ended). Just thought I would attach a picture I took at his place. Not very sure what bird species this is.. probably a humming bird because of its small size. The nest was just hanging outside the window of the study.

How-it-should-have-been

2005-12-22T11:12:00.000+08:00

The Chinese have a saying, “同人不同命”, some of us are born more fortunate than others, both on the material and psychological levels. For those of us fortunate enough to be sitting in front of a computer, typing and reading off the screen; you would be part of the minority of the entire world's population that have access to modern amenities, a reasonable amount of income & a certain level of education.

Modern life has certainly provided us with many comforts materially, but progress so far had done little to push the level of satisfaction psychologically. Let's face the truth, life today in the hustle and bustle of the city is alienating. Sometimes I wonder if we've traded our psychological satisfaction for a little more progress on the material side.

That's when hobbies come in. Remember the times when you were in primary school and your teachers made you write essays on things like "My Favourite Hobby". I always had difficulty doing that.. simply because I didn't have much of a hobby. Over the years, I'm surprised by the amount of people that didn't have one too. We all need something to take our minds off the drudgery and the ups and downs of everyday life & hobbies seems perfect for this (if we can find something we really enjoy doing) .
Some hobbies tend to be a little more expensive than others (scuba-diving, travelling, flying clubs etc.) but if the level of satisfaction is immense I figure you should go do it anyway if you can afford. At least there's something for you to look back to when you reach your fifties instead of a giant pile of gold (the next gen wld most probably get to spend it after you've minused out your medical bills) & a life filled with 'how-it-could-have-beens'.

2005-12-19T12:55:00.000+08:00

Its been 18 days since the last paper of the exams... Time flies and I've been dreaming my life away for 18 days, not that I cared much and I'm still admist a dream. Its been a wonderful holiday thus far (shouldn't demand too much out of life, I'm contented with simplicity.. to put it differently, I'm easily satisfied) . Results are coming out soon.. two days from now in fact, not thinking about it much though.. Trying to lose myself in fantasy land (through books and Celtic music) and occasional meetings with friends.

Hope those who are having holidays out there are having fun during this period of time. Enjoy while we still can.. I don't suppose we get much of this once our academic career ends.

It can't be the wine right?

2005-12-16T19:01:00.000+08:00

Dad went to the service centre today to fix a problem with the Canon Ixus I. I attempted to use it to take a 'Before-After' shot for my bro just before he heads to the military only to realize that the shutter seems to have problems opening. Seems like something got in and jammed the aperture... Would cost him about $200 to change the part since they can't just change the shutters..

I'm beginning to wonder if its the kiwi wine that I've spilt on the camera about 2 years ago (nobody knows about this yet).. But it can't be that right? Otherwise the thing would have spoilt long ago.. Can't recall any other time that something spilt on it. Its working (for now) , hopefully it'll stay this way.

Lose Urself

2005-12-13T00:05:00.000+08:00

Absolutely enjoying every single moment of my holidays at present. Things have been going at a relatively easy pace, no work, no stress and I'm going about doing whatever I feel like doing. Its just marvellous. Somehow I seem to enjoy my holidays more if I'm in a massive reading mode (like right now.. chomping into third book and have already re-read Half-Blood Prince twice) , thanks KC for the books that you recommended though I didn't really like The Partner (not as exciting as his other books) and Hot Zone (didn't like the way he goes through the story.. rather chronological but Ebola does scare me shitless ever since the first time I read about it).

While reading through the Half-Blood Prince I felt a little disappointed... seems like Harry Potter got a relatively peaceful year despite the death of Dumbledore (which only occured at the end of the story), but Snape really started to catch my eye here. I always like characters that can are neither completely good or bad, mysterious and a little dodgy (with Snape being a double agent and his loyalty questioned, I'm naturally drawn to him). Started noticing him more since the Prisoner of Azkanban, didn't expect him to save the trio but he did. I'm still inclined to think that he's working for the Order. I need the next book to come out soon. Come on Rowling, write faster.. more haste less speed.

Dumbledore... dead

2005-12-04T11:51:00.000+08:00

Dumbledore died! I've known this even before I started on the book... but still can't accept the sad fact he died. So much injustice in the way he died. WHY!!! Ok I admit, the writer got me. I'm waiting eagerly for the 7th book at the present moment. Long time since a fantasy tale caught me like this.. the last one had to be Tamora Pierce's Emperor Mage... Wasn't very impressed with LOTR I must say. LOTR has nice background, scenery and a not too bad storyline (soundtracks are marvellous); but perhaps its too different from our world for me to really feel strongly for it. Sadly, its just an overdrawn fight between the forces of good and evil.

Dumbledore's demise in the book reminded me rather strongly about the death of Richard Harris, the previous actor of Dumbledore. He could easily pass for Merlin with his stature and that air of dignity that the current actor seem to lack. Perhaps due to the height factor? Eagerly looking forward to the next series... in the meantime, I'm going to catch the movie this coming Tues... Can't wait till i get to the theatres!

2005-11-17T20:42:00.000+08:00

Studied in the airport today. Tried a few places before the staff canteen & also Macs.. still have a preferance for the latter. Somehow I don't feel drowsy so quickly. Sitting there and watching people go by... those in business suits, family members picking up relatives, tourists, students. Not a bad place to study if you go early. The parents normally bring their kids there around the afternoon and that's when the attention span of the students studying there start to wane (its a given after you've been staring at the papers for a few hours). Might head there again.

Two more days to first paper, two more days to KC's arrival (looking forward to seeing you here pal). So near, yet so far till the 1st of December when everything ends. What am I going to look forward to when the 《王子变青蛙》 ends? Brain seems to function alot slower than before.. no idea why. A contributing factor to my fiasco in these few months? 还是别想了，要不然心情又要陷入低潮了。来吧！我任命了。

看电视剧算日子

2005-11-15T23:45:00.000+08:00

Thought I might just add another post here. TV shows seem to mark the passing of days for me now. Living in such an unreal situation these days. In the short term, the end of an episode marks the end of one day and the only thing to look forward to is the start of the next episode. My life is sad sia. HAHA. Things will get better once this is all over.

Whose watching Harry Potter?? My exams ending on the 1st wondering if its still running then...

2005-11-15T23:37:00.000+08:00

Yawns... 好累啊！Studying at home can be pleasurable but at the same time rather dull. Can't help but feel overwhelmed by a sense of guilt whenever I stay out for too long... Yes, I know nobody can keep going on and on (same kind of things we keep telling each other) and its not as if I really study continuously when at home (naps in between seem to help in relaxation and hopefully consolidation of whatever I've read... read somewhere that your brain works to compartmentalize the things you read when you rest.. you just need to know where to find them when the time comes.)

Whenever its time for breaks, I would either take a walk or just watch some tv otherwise just laze ard. Haha. Wanna go get some stuff simply for the sake of distracting yourself doesn't seem to work well either. Never seem to find anything that seriously interests me. The malls can only seem interesting if you don't head there too often. Given the proximity to my place, I head there at least once a week simply out of convenience; things there are starting to bore me.

So much to do, so little time. Maybe its because I'm staying home most of the time these days.. seem to develop this heck-care liao attitude (maybe not.. perhaps just trying to avoid facing the notion of exams). Just waiting for the sky to fall on me. (Perhaps the sem help to build it up too.) Praying hard nothing screws up when the paper starts this Sat...

2005-11-06T22:18:00.000+08:00

Same time of the year, quite the same kind of feelings. Still don't know how to deal with it effectively after so many years.. maybe I'm just plain dumb. Starting to wonder where this is going. Why am I getting so worried when people around me are getting a B+ and I got a B or when i just messed up a little or impose on people. I don't like to feel that I owe people favours, especially those I don't know well. Its one thing that's the hardest to return... (makes it a lot difficult to reject them the next time they need you to do soemthing.)

Realize that throughout my life my friends don't stay with me. Either we lose touch, or we go on different paths (90% or so fall into this category) . Feels a bit lonely to walk alone sometimes, but who knows you might come out stronger?

当我看电视看上瘾

2005-11-04T07:49:00.000+08:00

明道好帅噢！Have been watching this Taiwanese tv drama lately. Its a modern rendition of the Cinderella story, but in order to make it more interesting they added in another 2 more characters. I still don't know the ending but they'll probably end it the usual way. (Two of the swap partners and 有情人终成眷属。) The guy featured in both photos happens to be one of the main characters that the show revolves around (he's the prince in this Cinderella story). Yes I'm watching the show in part because of him and also to kill time (should be preparing for exams... but nvm.) He's among the few people who can carry off the 蜡笔小新 eyebrows and not ending up looking like the cartoon charactor.

Catching tv dramas can be a chore. Their timings might not suit yours, otherwise you never seem to get enough of it within that miserable 1 hour. Sigh...
In the meantime, I'm also watching another show the 《射雕英雄传》 (don't know if i've blogged on this before). I've watched 2 versions of it the 90s version made by HK and currently the mainland version. ^_^

Seems like I can only place the photos online within a post... My Hello spoil le meh? Hmm...

凌晨，思念。

2005-10-30T01:47:00.000+08:00

星期天，失眠。夜，凌晨一点多钟。心情起伏不定：寂寞，烦闷，着迷，自言自语。想谁呢？是人，是物？说不清。可能是刚才人多吧，心情因此变得无法平静。空，是最好的朋友；时时刻刻的默默陪伴。我仓促的离去，可能会对我社交生活没多大好处。离开，很奇妙的带给我说不清的平静。

水，是我一位要好的友人。面对他是种是能不由自主的立刻静下来，恢复真正的自我。

好想在一片星空之下慢慢的睡去，在水池旁听听水的歌声。顿时之间，一切都不重要了。

Quakes, Winds, Tsunami.

2005-10-27T09:38:00.000+08:00

Was just glancing through the news on Yahoo to update myself about the latest happenings (Dear ST has decided to charge for their interactive services). As I read through, I can't help but feel that the amount of disasters that struck recently has seemingly increased... Maybe its psychological (their frequency, I'm keeping myself updated more frequently etc). I know about the annual typhoons that strikes Taiwan and other coastal cities in East Asia but lately the death tolls and the frequency is rather amazing. First we have the tsumami (really scary shit, for something with an epicenter near Sumatra, its waves are able to drown people in South Asia its a scary thought. If we weren't shielded, I don't think anyone would have survived here), then we have earthquakes elsewhere in the earthquake prone regions around the Belt of Fire, followed by a series of tornadoes/typhoons/cyclones (depends on what you call it, hopefully it ends there, Volcanoes please don't join the action). World starting to go crazy? Hmm.. maybe not. I believe the geographers should have an answer to this, or at least at attempted answer. Haha.

Cheers.

2005-10-21T10:37:00.000+08:00

计较
我个性太直不喜欢去掩饰
爱情之中你我都有独特的样子
我偶尔幼稚
你偶尔太固执
感情最近怎么回事
争吵变成沟通的方式
计较你爱得多爱得少
计较你让我哭让我笑
你若多给一个拥抱感觉就不会太快走掉
计较你对我坏对我好
计较你带我疯带我逃
爱的越久越不明了
谁对谁比较好
有什么我需要有什么我得不到
你要知道爱要让我看到

两个人都怕爱输给自私

Valid not only for relationships. 有时，不要太计较大家的生活都会容易过一些。

Ghostly encounter?

2005-10-21T10:19:00.000+08:00

Any of you manage to catch The Maid? The one done by Kelvin Tong and i think Raintree pictures (almost all our films are done under Raintree pictures...). Anybody thought the film was disturbing? Ma was quite freaked out because of something that happen a couple of days ago...

Anybody had ghostly encounters before? Sometimes there are things you just can't explain but you're sure of yourself that it wasn't hallucination or you imagining things. Its ok if you don't see them around, but what if you can?

Two days ago, bro came home quite late (or early, depending on how you see it). Mum happened to be awake so she went to open the door for him. There was this girl that came back with him (at least according to ma). She started asking him why he brought a girl back at this time of the night. He said he came home alone.
Big question: Who was the girl she saw?

Thoughts

2005-10-16T12:16:00.000+08:00

This week is finally over... I've waited for this week to come by ever since the mid-term holidays end... Marks the closure of one chapter and the start of the next. Have been taking it slow for the past three days or so and really enjoying the pace of things. A little too leisurely (esp in lieu of the stack that's growing behind me this very moment.)

Think there's something coo-coo about me. Started to nit-pick with my loved ones recently... Makes me wonder why we always take the people closes to us for granted. U knw you shouldn't be doing this but somehow I can't resist it.. (that little devil getting the better of me again.) Best part of it, I don't regret pissing them off a little at a time (haven't allow it to blow up thus far).

Listening to quite a few love songs lately. Finally found this one "婚礼的祝福" that I've seen as an MTV many many years ago... Perhaps what caught my attention was the image they were painting, reminds me of a wedding i attended the other time (nobody was that bitter then, if they were I wasn't aware.) Sometimes... ppl just don't end up with the one that they would have wanted to.
Other songs I'm listening to includes Fish Leong's (still can't get over the fact she called herself Fish) "丝路", "玫瑰眼泪", "眼泪成诗", "计较", "旧爱还是最美", "未知数" etc.
Looks like an entire series of love songs. Ha.

2005-10-11T20:55:00.000+08:00

我多么羡慕你
有时候风太急
禁不住挂念起你
这一刻离我遥远飞行
有时候夜太静拦不住回忆的心
于是泪
每个夜里如繁星
我多么羡慕你
总可以转身飞远远的
我的爱是你沉重行李
绊住你追新梦的决心
我多么想念你
当时间都失去了意义
穿越思念后等成信箱
让你需要的时候可以投递
告诉我沿途中想与我分享的心情

Ever felt this immense sense of alienation in this society? Its not as if there isn't any care or concern around but you still feel lost somehow... shrouded in this thick mist.. clouding your vision, your mind, your soul.

my thots

2005-10-10T22:05:00.000+08:00

I want to muse here and I want to do it now.. But there's no time!!! WHY!!!! If this sounds like gibberish to you its probably because I'm doing this in a rush. 9.56pm... so much to do so little time.

need to go out with friends. Not being forced but i just want to do it. Essays, papers and all.. Stacking up one mth worth of readings but what the heck la. Soemtimes its just so difficult to find friends to go out with... everyone is bz n then u're all alone. Don't knw if you ppl ever feel this way -- lonely, tired, bored of work but simply having no time and no energy to do anything else except to totally numb yourself of any sentiments and continue to bury in that pile of shit. U sit there tired, hoping to get someone out just to sit there with you, keep you company and relax. Something so simple yet so hard to find.
I feel like a weakling. Everybody is stressed out but i'm the only one to fall so sick. Seems to be making the point that I'm not cut out for this, but i'm not going down without a fight! If i have to go down I'll go down fighting.
Now Ma is starting to suggest maybe I should just get out in 3 yrs.

Ok got to go project mates screaming abt the project due on thurs... back again when nightmare over.

Blitzkreig test

2005-10-10T21:51:00.000+08:00

Just had to add in this entry about what happened for my strategic thot test... I have delaying the test for 3 weeks because I keep falling ill whenever I had to do the makeup. Added a whole lot of trouble for my lecturer (an adjunct prof) who could only come to teach 4 hours each week. So this is an extract of what happen over a few hrs...

9.30am, Sunday
Me: I can't do the test on Monday as I have classes before lecture.

1.30pm, Sunday
Prof: How about anytime between 9 to noon?

11.30pm, Sunday
Me (over sms to Prof): Hi prof, 11 is fine. Where do i find you? Drop me a msg to confirm test time and location.

7.01am, Monday
Prof (over sms): Ok test at 11am, hist dept.

Feels almost like Blitzkreig all over again. How many hours notice did i get man?? Haha. ok la not as though i wanted it to drag but those were tense hours sia.. Woke up early just to see if he wanted me to do the test -_-".

Suay 到透顶

2005-10-06T20:35:00.000+08:00

I had never had to do this in my entire campus life. Backlogging so badly and still had to reschedule tests and praying for dateline extensions. 为什么会把自己弄到这么落魄？Never had such a bad attack until today... I would be down until I get way better ... Either that or I'll soon be checking myself into a hospital. All this is starting to make me feel so lousy, asking for rescheduling of meetings, going around asking people for their lecture and tutorial notes, irritating my lecturers with my constant emails for a plea to reschedule the darn test (thus further prolonging my agony). I'm bugging everyone so unneccessarily..
For those out there who have been inconvenienced, my sincere apologies.

Things not going well back home either... Mi bro seems to be unusually upset.. don't know why that is so.. can't seem to find out their cos he's not willing to talk. Mum fell down the stairs yesterday and I'm rather worried about her seriously injuring her back. 祸不单行。

SOHO or working in cubicles?

2005-10-04T21:07:00.000+08:00

Yet another day. Just to the doctor for a second time in a matter of two weeks. Run out of medication and my cough still haunts me. Its expensive to get sick in Singapore. A simple visit to the doctor normally takes about 10minutes (if you don't have to wait) and that's $28 a visit. Haiz... why didn't i study harder and make it to medicine school? LOL

Had people asking me for the second time in today what I wanna work as when I graduate. I've been thinking about it before but I'm still not too sure. What can you do with an Arts degree? Plenty and almost nothing at all simply because your skills are so general. Sometimes I think Arts graduates should develop more people skills on top of training their thinking; else its rather hard to sell yourself.

Then comes another point -- Home Office or working outside? Personally, I really like the idea of Home Office. The convenience with dealing with jobs in an environment of your choice. If going to work is like going to battle, what better place than to do it on terrain you are most familiar with?
The bid to develop SOHOs near the river did entice me towards the entire idea of home office. But does it mean I have to start up my own business? or can I work at the comfort of home while being an employee of a firm? What about the separation of home life from work life? There's a tendency for people to falter especially when playing a balancing act between this two. Kinda partly explains the reason why we have so many singles?
Drop a line if you are reading this about what your preference might be and just rant a bit more on it. ;-)

射雕英雄传

2005-10-02T00:23:00.000+08:00

Just done with watching 射雕英雄传, its my second time catching it on tv and have already read the book once. Its the very first Chinese swordfighting novel that caught my attention and had me hooked onto works of 金庸 ever since. Think I still prefer the Hong Kong version I caught on TV couple of years back, the dubbing wasn't done really well for this one. Still remembered the days when I was first hooked on this.. its almost like putting yourself on cocaine; can't help but keep reading and reading and daydreaming until my teacher started asking me if I'm having serious problems at home. HAHA! (That's when I decided I had to snap out of it before it ruins my life.)

Come to think of it Guo Jing really has a lot of luck, was just telling my friend he must have been the God of Fortune reincarnated. Luck never seems to run out for his entire life and he stumbles through it when others who are alot smarter are struggling. 傻人有傻富. Heehee.

Maybe I should just get the entire novel and keep alongside with my 神雕侠侣. I need to find ways to protect that series I have before it starts crumbling. Its a first edition series and each book is about a few millimetres thick with thin yellowish pieces of paper serving as covers.
Kk.. gtg. Drop a line again another time.

Plugging the holes in my little sampan

2005-09-28T18:29:00.000+08:00

OOh hoo... 2 papers handed in lately.. or is it 3? I'm beginning to lose count... not that I really bother about it; with so much at hand you hardly have time to turn back. Keep looing forward. I've another three more papers due in the next few weeks. Need to do the necessary research and all and of course the most importantly read the question first. Haha.. Can you imagine, paper due so soon and i still have not taken a look at the list of questions there?? Hope I don't end up doing the papers only a few days before the due date (would be too stressed by then to do it properly...)

Missed a strategic theory test this week and got to make it up soon (secretly I'm hoping I could just get away with it... quite unlikely unless I want to forfeit my 15%) , and I'm also totally clueless as to what is going on with air power theories etc cos i missed the entire lecture as well. Cool!

Hoping to get away from all this and enjoy myself. Just forget it all, go for a holiday, or have some fun at a chalet with friends. It wouldn't be so bad if only I was given more time. Stop pressing everything on me! YUCKS. For the friends out there who are suffering the same fate... we'll make it. Its amazing how we manage to plug all the holes in the sampan semester after semester to make it from shore to shore. Hahaha.

Y can't i just hav more time??

2005-09-22T22:01:00.000+08:00

Hard pressed for time so just gonna try and make this short...

Went back to school today to try and finish the stuff that I had to do... They just seems to get more and more, administration, tests, papers, time off for the doctor... and of all the time the printer had to spoil now. Suddenly the wisdom of the words, "it never rains but pours" start to dawn on me. Darn crap.

Got a printer and managed to see a doctor today after running through the entire list of hoo-ha from 11 till now, I can only say I manage to at least settle the clutter that is blocking my path. Now to get down to reading for the paper for Modern Japan... Suppose to be writing an essay for the mid-term due next week.. but haven't got down to it yet. Better get started.

With all these in mind, I'm starting to lose interest in the meetup scheduled for tomorrow. Yaya, we agreed to meet more than a month ago but how was I to foresee all this?? Hope things turn out properly tml and not add another weight on the already crushing stress that is building up.

2005-09-19T23:31:00.000+08:00

Had a great time with friends today. Didn't expect lunch could be so long drawn from 1130 all the way till 4. HAHA. At least it was enjoyable. For those who were there hope you enjoy it too. Meet up some other time to do something similar or something different altogether :-)

Time flies man.. Monday is over already n I've not done any of my stuff yet... so kk I better get to work. To the Mister out there whose suffering from a headache & that nauseating feeling that u had just before lunch, its probably because of that breakfast "talk" --> nausea from ur indigestion.. Take cares :-)

Mid-term "break"

2005-09-16T22:47:00.000+08:00

Come On Man, CONCENTRATE!!!

Its the mid-term break already and I still feel like I don't really understand what is going on in school. N yaya, the lecturers are saying its a good thing if you feel that you don't really understand everything, means you're learning something.
Ya right! You put yourself in my shoes and you'll know how it feels to be blur. Looking back, I'm surprised I've come this far. Hopefully this continues to last me for the rest of my life... i hope that's not asking for too much?

Mid-sem, what do we have? Struggling with papers, examinations and of course catching up on the reading materials while trying to make some headway out of whatever is being dished out. I might have stumbled upon a mental bloc recently, can't seem to think properly.. or rather my brain refuses to do any active thinking. Engines not oiled? Need to find a way to get it moving or else I'll be up to my eyebrows in shit just like the previous sem.
Have already screwed up one test that's going to cost me 15% because I missed out half the question. Now how dumb can that be??

The irony about this entire mid-term "break" its a smart move not to call it a holiday.. cos its not for many of us , lecturers are an exception to the norm. I guess the only reason we got back our break was because they were supporting our bid for it so they could use the holiday to get out of the country or do anything they want before heading back to their desk. The term "break" is neutral, its an aberration from the norm, so ya there u have it, your aberration. They call it a five days break, did anyone ever tell them that Sunday and saturdays should not be counted as working days? So sunday to thursday is a five day break... obviously trying to pull wool over our eyes (as if anyone would buy it..)

The new ipod nano!

2005-09-09T15:02:00.000+08:00

Finally! The new ipod nano is released. Just saw the news on the local 联合早报, they're launching together with Creative and Sony's new Mp3 players... The war of the digital players is far from over, seems to be getting hotter with each passing minute.

In case you people are wondering why I'm still raving about another Mp3 player when I just got mine like a couple of months back, its because I'm still looking out for these cool gadgets. Haha. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna let my Zen Nano go soon. Its going to be with me for a while (it better last!) until the day it conks out. But honestly, for those out there who are thinking of getting a player and have the cash to burn, do consider the ipod nano. It somewhat reminds me of ipod shuffle (not sure about exact dimensions yet but know its really light), but this time with a colour screen.

Classes with Dr Lim on Strategic Thought is starting to pack a punch. Had a really vigourous discussion yesterday and we're almost going to start a war inside. Seems to me we have still got a long way to go before we're anything near the target. Haiz.. might have to go and read 孙子兵法, Clausewitz's On War & Jomini's The Art of War. Not to mention more theorists coming in when air power, sea power and nuclear power kicks in. Tough, mainly because I'm still not accustomed to them and have never read their books before; but rather interesting to see it at play during campaigns.

Hope everybody is doing fine out there, drop me a line.

Finding Forrester

2005-09-04T16:43:00.000+08:00

Just caught a film on Channel 5 during my lunch break and ended up extending my entire break to a couple of hours... But it was a good film, so no regrets. Its called Finding Forrester. The storyline talks about the friendship between Jamal Wallace (an prodigy writer) and William Forrester (a reclusive author)http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0181536/. Elements of racial discrimination are also given a cursory looked at.

Rather touching film, would encourage those who have not caught it to take a look.

Annoyed

2005-08-18T17:35:00.000+08:00

School term just started a week ago and we are well into our second week right now.. Things are starting to get busy and I'm seriously hoping this sem would be better than the last. Took a political science module this semster, believe the exposure would be good for me; helps me understand better the surroundings in which we live in and possibly the mindset of our previous leaders that eventually contribute to the kind of policies and outlook that we see around us today.
Sounds like not a bad option right? So I took it.

Then OMG... So much work, and they are going so fast (actually i don't think it was deliberate but they can't possibly go chronologically into what happen.. It would have turned into a history course. So they just gave you the main skeleton and right into the analysis.)!! The lectures have been interesting so far and not too difficult, what i found cumbersome was the speed at which i was going through my lecture readings. ARGH!!!! SO SLOW!!! Not to mention, in order to understand it adequately, you would have to stop, think before moving on (the information digestive process). Just great, extra work on top of the history readings.

As if to top it off, my coursemate SMSed me to say, "You're so going to enjoy the HY3214 stack.. The word 'huge' itself is an understatement." Just wonderful...
Speaking of which, thanks Toryuan for picking up the stack for me. I'll run by tomorrow to grab it and try to rush through the lectures that have passed. Thanks once again.

Come on Brain, you can do it! Eat! Eat and please don't throw up else i'll have to start all over again.

Then there's the CORS system... Tutorial allocation for round 1A starts from 9am to 5pm. I wonder why none of the administrators saw the potential of that blowing in their faces. If your system is unable to handle a few thousand entries it would have been logical to extend the 1st round of tutorial allocation to 2 days instead of that few miserable hours; especially since you are aware that the entire school is going to try and log in at the same time.
People could sit in front of the computer and try to access for 5 or 6 hours to no avail. No wonder the system screwed up.
Bottom line: Common sense ain't that common anymore.

Dreams

2005-08-17T12:35:00.000+08:00

This dream recurred a second time in these few months and I'm still wondering where this place could be... The setting is different this time round and I deliberately forced myself to stay in bed in order to "finish" the dream. So here goes..

I found myself in the middle of a castle (not much different from the usual ones you would expect from fantasy stories about druids and medieval Europe. And no I had not been reading any fantasy stories or watching anything around this theme for sometime already.) I didn't feel threatened but like the other time I was here, I knew I am in danger.. Either from something or someone; which I was about to find out soon enough. I had a group of followers around me and it seemed that they have been deployed to get me out of the castle safely. It wasn't the typical knights in armor thing, rather this was a gang of hodge-podge workers from the castle; ordinary folk who have not seen battle and were eager to escape.

We were chased around the castle by an unknown force (probably black magic of some sort) and were forced to retreat into a small room where one of the apprentice magician was able to keep us safe for the moment. A spell was cast and much of the castle was frozen in ice in a desperate attempt to stop the gargoyles' progress (these were made alive by the enemy forces) thus delaying the attack.

Cornered we could only take our chances by risking another confrontation with the gargoyles in order to get to the underground chambers which led out into the streets. We kept our hands to ourselves for fear that our body heat would melt the thin ice prison that kept the monsters at bay. Armed with only a shot gun, i ventured out with the group into the icy frost that shrouded the atmosphere, typical during this time of the year.
The escape had been successful.

We retreated into a deserted warehouse with the enemy in hot pursuit. Their mages have discovered our getaway and infantry forces were sent in both to occupy the castle and another to annihilate us. We were trapped. The only hope was that our main forces could arrive in time to save our skins by a surprise attack from the rear.

We held the fort for as long as we could before reinforcements arrived. By the time they did, less than half of the original group was left alive. Bodies were strewn over the place, some with their entrails hanging out of their stomaches, a sign of brutal disembowelment by the enemy footsoldiers who had managed to sneak in at the last minute just as our defences were breaking down.

Their sudden retreat came as a surprise and it took a while before i realize that our own reinforcements had arrived...

What happened after that was a blur.. I guess i was gaining consciousness once again. The castle looked awfully familiar and the last time i saw it in my dream i remembered the presence of a torture chamber.. Wondering when's the next time i'm gonna be there and if there's actually such a place in this world that we live in today.
P.S: On a trip to Switzerland I saw something familiar about one of the structures on the river... A little like a scene from a dream of mine which i had before i visited the place...

2005-08-10T13:02:00.000+08:00

Empty rounds were fired from the machine guns and also the cannons of the mobile column

2005-08-10T13:01:00.000+08:00

How often do u get tanks rolling ard in ur neighbourhood during peacetimes?

2005-08-10T12:59:00.000+08:00

Mid-level fireworks of up to 50m were released. Sand was also brought in to for the event (notice the amt of sand that we were standing on..)

2005-08-10T12:57:00.000+08:00

Fireworks in Tampines

2005-08-06T00:53:00.000+08:00

So bored... Hoping i could zap someone over to my room right now and stone. School starts in a few days and the stuff is already pouring over from the IVLE already... So many things to zap, so much to read.. assigment datelines and all. Only slightly looking forward to the start of the school term when i could see my friends again in school and make those occasional trips down to Holland Village.

Come to think of it... Holland Village seems pretty out place in the location its set in.. At the heart of the HDB builtup with all the exotic food stuff. It feels like someone cut out a chunk from the city or some heartlands and placed in right smack in the center of inactivity.... Weird place.. but rather glad that its so near campus. Can always travel there to chill if i wanted to. (That is if the Buona Vista mrt doesn't prove a stronger attraction...)

2005-08-04T12:47:00.000+08:00

Longing

Come to me in my dreams, and then
By day I shall be well again!
For then the night will more than pay
The hopeless longing of the day.

Come, as thou cam'st a thousand times,
A messenger from radiant climes,
And smile on thy new world, and be
As kind to others as to me!

Or, as thou never cam'st in sooth,
Come now, and let me dream it truth;
And part my hair, and kiss my brow,
And say: My love! why sufferest thou?

Come to me in my dreams, and then
By day I shall be well again!
For then the night will more than pay
The hopeless longing of the day.

~ Matthew Arnold

2005-08-02T01:54:00.000+08:00

Stop fanning! Its getting too strong.

2005-08-02T01:53:00.000+08:00

Reading the latest fashion mag from Japan!

Chalet fun

2005-08-02T01:40:00.000+08:00

Booked a chalet recently at downtown east and had loads of fun hanging out with friends and family. Thanks everyone for making it possible and taking time out of your busy schedules to join in.

Honestly, I've never been a very patient person when it comes to organizing things. Mainly because i like to finish fast on whatever I have started upon before i move on to another project or thing. When planning parties you can never expect to do that, firstly, people don't reply fast enough (either because they wanna adopt a wait-and-see mentality to they know who would be appearing and who won't; or its simply too early to gauge). Thus, it ends up dragging. Doesn't really irritate the hell out of me, but simply makes me lose interest in the entire matter.

The impatience also adds to another problem; the ease of losing the passion towards the event once you need to get the things in order for the party. The hassle of transportation, arranging the food, preparation of these things can certainly discourage you from doing anything like it.

BUT, all in all, it was worth it! Especially when things turn out fine and everybody appreciated the effort and had fun hanging out together. Thanks people for every little tinny thing that you've done to make it memorable. You have certainly made my day.

A not so peaceful lunch...

2005-07-25T17:08:00.000+08:00

Met up with a bunch of friends for Pastamania today. One of them (Fren A) was carrying a big bag of items and decided to deposit it at Toys R Us before proceeding for lunch without the load. The staff took the bags but when Fren A walked out of the store without collecting the bags the dispute began... I was a distance away and the only words I could make out were "How can you that kind of language?" (Remark from another friend who was nearby).

It was only later did i find out that the staff had said something along the lines of, "Don't come and bullshit with me."

The incident left me shocked for a minute or two after that. No doubt my friends were at fault too for taking advantage of the locker system that Toys R Us provides for its customers but the staff shouldn't have said those words either... A proper explanation would have done better... but i doubt my friends would have stopped to listen.

The customer is always right but 他们也是为了一口饭，为什么让他人那么难为？

Tian Long Ba Bu

2005-07-24T13:40:00.000+08:00

Been following the "Tian Long Ba Bu" (Chronicles of the heavenly dragon) series quite closely lately. Rather enjoy the stories written by Jin Yong. Great writer, always manages to capture his audiences' attention in the first few pages and have you hanging on for more. Occasionally the story ends badly and leaves you disappointed "Xue Shan Fei Hu" is one case in point.

Hey KC, what's the BT you were talking about? If i had more time would read the book instead... BTW, ur SIM card is still with me, have been using it to make a few overseas call to friends in Europe. Thanks. Will return to you when i'm done with it.

Of Chili Bombs & Midnight suppers..

2005-07-17T02:35:00.000+08:00

Just sent a long time friend off to the airport for her flight back to Australia. Came back for two weeks and now she's off again. Looking forward to seeing her back in S'pore again. Looking back at these two weeks and the time we spent together was certainly very memorable.
Me bugging her about mp3s, talking, breakfasts, pool games and not to mention the early morning supper that we had under my block yesterday.

Was surprised that she popped over to my block last night to have supper with me and a few friends came along (Eugene & Philip). After a few cans of beer, ppl were getting high and a little tipsy... then that's when the accident happened. Check out the picture.

I was like.. "OH MAN, SHIT! U really threw that packet of sauce at me!!!" According to a fren, it looks like i shit into my pants or something.. Marvellous.