就让雨下吧
冲走心中的不愉快
最爱下雨天
能在家中静思
偏爱下雨天
沉默带来一种宁静的感觉
怀念下雨天
想到当年和你淋雨生病的一幕
期待下雨天
因为天晴之后会出现一道彩虹
Eat Out Review 1 - Bee Heong Palace Restaurant
16 years ago
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Roots Vol 1: Katong Boy In Exile
Having a recent bout of nostalgia, thinking about my roots and being able to connect to them.
Was walking around Katong today and had lunch there (more on that later). Both sides of my family history basically revolves around Katong as well. So the walk today triggered even more memories and nostalgic feeling.
During the walk, from Katong Shopping Centre (KSC) to Glory Catering, some observations and reflections:
1. KSC itself has changed over the years (of my life). Back in the 80s and 90s, when I was a young boy, it was a fascinating place where there was a video games arcade, bowling alley, computer games shops and yes, I even bought my first porn VCDs there. My mum even owned a hairdressing salon that she was even robbed before at gunpoint while heavily pregnant with me. Today, it is a misguided place with Internet LAN shops, (numerous maid agencies). Some of the old tenants are still surviving and thankfully those I still have a connection with.
2. The walk down from Katong Odeon. Katong Odeon used to be a small-time Cathay cinema that also held ge-tai style performances where Taiwanese singers like Zhang Di and Feng Fei Fei will perform, before the days of cine-plexes. Being in the entertainment industry, our family also had some business interests there. Today, there is a bank, a cafe and a restaurant on the ground floor, with the anchor tenant being the Cornerstone church.
3. Shophouses along East Coast Road (from Black Canyon to Aston's stretch). There used to be fruit stalls, mama shops, a OUB branch, Glory's old self: Shanghai Restaurant, which served one of the best Peranankan and Malay makan around. The corner kopi-tiam used to house my favourite hor fun. The resident hawker, a person my mum calls 'Barley-High' is still around, looking as energetic peddling char kway teow as he was 10 years ago with fishball bee tai mak (one of the best done dry in Singapore). The original Seh Seng towkwa pow used to be in this kopi-tiam, but have moved diagonally across the road.
4. I bought mee-siam at Glory and couldn't resist buying a few Nyona kueh-kuehs like Pulut Inti, Kuih Serimuka and Pulut Tekan. Went across said towkwa pow new location and had 2 of those yummy delights.
5. Whilst sitting at the coffeeshop enjoying my meal, couldn't help but noticed the chap chai png stall was manned by 2 Mainland Chinese (can just tell by the faces nowadays, without even listening to their accents). There were also several helpers who were visibly from the Mainland. Only the towkwa pow and chicken rice folks were local Singaporean. Then I thought about my walk down the shophouses, where all the laksa joints are. They are now manned by these migrant workers and so are some of the workers at Glory. Glory itself is a delightful mung of chaos, with the Baba owners conversing in Mandarin and Malay to their Mainlanders and Indonesian in great synchrocity.
Which comes to my point of how Katong has changed and evolved over the years.
There is room for both modernization and conservation in this area which I still call my home.
For example, Kim Choo bak chang used to sell only bak chang, having moved out of their little shophouse in Joo Chiat onto the main East Coast Road stretch. Now, they have a restaurant serving Peranakan food.
There was a little shop that sold Peranakan heritage ware, something which I have taken a point of interest lately, due to my quarter Peranakan-ness inspired by the Channel 8 TV series Little Nonya.
Old establishments have taken on new identities, while new establishments have tried a little bit to discover the old, making Katong such an interesting mish-mash of cultures.
I believe in the need to conserve cultural identity. I am not one to object immigration of migrant workers. We are a few generations of migrants all finding our homes in Singapore and therefore we should be more tolerant of new cultures.
However, we need to preserve the traditions and cultures of yore and not lose them to our younger generations. I find it disappointing that less and less of young Singaporeans losing touch with their dialects (not to mention Mandarin even), to a point they can't really relate to their ethnicity.
We are relying on migrant workers even to prepare traditional Singaporean food like popiah and mee siam. Yes, commercialisation is necessary to survive in F&B today, but please have some pride in your 家常菜.
So starting from my next cookout, I will start a new blog detailing recipes passed down from my family, meaning Teochew, Hokkien and Peranakan dishes my parents have taught me to cook so that even if it is lost with my generation, there might be others waiting to discover it in Cyberspace. This is a little bit part I can play to preserve our culture and not watch it die out. It is also a good way to celebrate good food!
Details to follow.
Have a great week and last month of the year ahead!
Was walking around Katong today and had lunch there (more on that later). Both sides of my family history basically revolves around Katong as well. So the walk today triggered even more memories and nostalgic feeling.
During the walk, from Katong Shopping Centre (KSC) to Glory Catering, some observations and reflections:
1. KSC itself has changed over the years (of my life). Back in the 80s and 90s, when I was a young boy, it was a fascinating place where there was a video games arcade, bowling alley, computer games shops and yes, I even bought my first porn VCDs there. My mum even owned a hairdressing salon that she was even robbed before at gunpoint while heavily pregnant with me. Today, it is a misguided place with Internet LAN shops, (numerous maid agencies). Some of the old tenants are still surviving and thankfully those I still have a connection with.
2. The walk down from Katong Odeon. Katong Odeon used to be a small-time Cathay cinema that also held ge-tai style performances where Taiwanese singers like Zhang Di and Feng Fei Fei will perform, before the days of cine-plexes. Being in the entertainment industry, our family also had some business interests there. Today, there is a bank, a cafe and a restaurant on the ground floor, with the anchor tenant being the Cornerstone church.
3. Shophouses along East Coast Road (from Black Canyon to Aston's stretch). There used to be fruit stalls, mama shops, a OUB branch, Glory's old self: Shanghai Restaurant, which served one of the best Peranankan and Malay makan around. The corner kopi-tiam used to house my favourite hor fun. The resident hawker, a person my mum calls 'Barley-High' is still around, looking as energetic peddling char kway teow as he was 10 years ago with fishball bee tai mak (one of the best done dry in Singapore). The original Seh Seng towkwa pow used to be in this kopi-tiam, but have moved diagonally across the road.
4. I bought mee-siam at Glory and couldn't resist buying a few Nyona kueh-kuehs like Pulut Inti, Kuih Serimuka and Pulut Tekan. Went across said towkwa pow new location and had 2 of those yummy delights.
5. Whilst sitting at the coffeeshop enjoying my meal, couldn't help but noticed the chap chai png stall was manned by 2 Mainland Chinese (can just tell by the faces nowadays, without even listening to their accents). There were also several helpers who were visibly from the Mainland. Only the towkwa pow and chicken rice folks were local Singaporean. Then I thought about my walk down the shophouses, where all the laksa joints are. They are now manned by these migrant workers and so are some of the workers at Glory. Glory itself is a delightful mung of chaos, with the Baba owners conversing in Mandarin and Malay to their Mainlanders and Indonesian in great synchrocity.
Which comes to my point of how Katong has changed and evolved over the years.
There is room for both modernization and conservation in this area which I still call my home.
For example, Kim Choo bak chang used to sell only bak chang, having moved out of their little shophouse in Joo Chiat onto the main East Coast Road stretch. Now, they have a restaurant serving Peranakan food.
There was a little shop that sold Peranakan heritage ware, something which I have taken a point of interest lately, due to my quarter Peranakan-ness inspired by the Channel 8 TV series Little Nonya.
Old establishments have taken on new identities, while new establishments have tried a little bit to discover the old, making Katong such an interesting mish-mash of cultures.
I believe in the need to conserve cultural identity. I am not one to object immigration of migrant workers. We are a few generations of migrants all finding our homes in Singapore and therefore we should be more tolerant of new cultures.
However, we need to preserve the traditions and cultures of yore and not lose them to our younger generations. I find it disappointing that less and less of young Singaporeans losing touch with their dialects (not to mention Mandarin even), to a point they can't really relate to their ethnicity.
We are relying on migrant workers even to prepare traditional Singaporean food like popiah and mee siam. Yes, commercialisation is necessary to survive in F&B today, but please have some pride in your 家常菜.
So starting from my next cookout, I will start a new blog detailing recipes passed down from my family, meaning Teochew, Hokkien and Peranakan dishes my parents have taught me to cook so that even if it is lost with my generation, there might be others waiting to discover it in Cyberspace. This is a little bit part I can play to preserve our culture and not watch it die out. It is also a good way to celebrate good food!
Details to follow.
Have a great week and last month of the year ahead!
Monday, November 24, 2008
A fireplace this Christmas
Funny thing.. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas while back in sunny (and rainy) Singapore
Picture this: Fireplace with burning ember, Christmas jazz playing in the background, little stockings hanging around a mantlepiece, nicely wrapped presents lying besides that cute Christmas tree
Would be nice to cuddle up won't it?
Just a thought :)
Picture this: Fireplace with burning ember, Christmas jazz playing in the background, little stockings hanging around a mantlepiece, nicely wrapped presents lying besides that cute Christmas tree
Would be nice to cuddle up won't it?
Just a thought :)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Aroha
and so it happened
amidst the chaotic melodies
amidst the chaotic melodies
a blink of your eye
a blink to mine
a hongi draws us near
a hongi draws us near
2 distances we have in mind
a nudge on your nose
a nudge to mine
a hongi draws us the distance
2 lands we have to bind
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The Eternal Optimist
So the 28 day stay in Singapore comes to an end... not without its fair share of drama.
Let's work backwards...
I arrive at the airport in a frenzy... after driving 3 hours at 150 km/h from KL, with an hour stopover in JB just to satisfy my craving for butter crayfish... and man were those good stuff.. with golden balls of goodness... YUMMY
Nearly missed my flight again. Had to illegal park my car and rush in with my luggage.. miracle that me and my see-hum made in to Shanghai on schedule. B says I'm an Eternal Optimist and I like the sound of that haha.
And that was just to conclude 3 days of
1. unrestrained calorie-laden feasting on char kway teow, MAT (not halal in case you are wondering.. but 'everything also have' 么都有in Canto) kut teh and Madam Kwan's the ONE fried chicken :)
2. lost a couple of hundred ringgit in the Genting casino
3. checking out chantek 马来亚妹 at Mont K'iara after several disappointing letdowns at Sri Hetamas (don't go there again unless you like Black Holes) and Heritage Row
4. nearly getting arrested for being drug addicts
5. driving 2 hours to find Klang bak kut teh to end up having 叶子梅!
All in all.. steady lagi road trip again! Can't wait for us boys to go diving!
This trip back home started off with much anticipation... but 6 September came and went and the Lingering continues (at least for me). The whole self-improvement process in the past 3 months has not done much to suppress the emotional upheavals. Unfortunate things happen and I crave for the opportunity to Fix You. I cannot see but I feel.
Honorable mentions of the trip:
1. Watching somebody win $27K on a single hand of straight flush
2. Delightful seafood on Patong beach
3. BH and S's wedding and catching up with the Havokers
4. Diana Krall (although it could be so much better)
5. Catching the F1 fever
Let's work backwards...
I arrive at the airport in a frenzy... after driving 3 hours at 150 km/h from KL, with an hour stopover in JB just to satisfy my craving for butter crayfish... and man were those good stuff.. with golden balls of goodness... YUMMY
Nearly missed my flight again. Had to illegal park my car and rush in with my luggage.. miracle that me and my see-hum made in to Shanghai on schedule. B says I'm an Eternal Optimist and I like the sound of that haha.
And that was just to conclude 3 days of
1. unrestrained calorie-laden feasting on char kway teow, MAT (not halal in case you are wondering.. but 'everything also have' 么都有in Canto) kut teh and Madam Kwan's the ONE fried chicken :)
2. lost a couple of hundred ringgit in the Genting casino
3. checking out chantek 马来亚妹 at Mont K'iara after several disappointing letdowns at Sri Hetamas (don't go there again unless you like Black Holes) and Heritage Row
4. nearly getting arrested for being drug addicts
5. driving 2 hours to find Klang bak kut teh to end up having 叶子梅!
All in all.. steady lagi road trip again! Can't wait for us boys to go diving!
This trip back home started off with much anticipation... but 6 September came and went and the Lingering continues (at least for me). The whole self-improvement process in the past 3 months has not done much to suppress the emotional upheavals. Unfortunate things happen and I crave for the opportunity to Fix You. I cannot see but I feel.
Honorable mentions of the trip:
1. Watching somebody win $27K on a single hand of straight flush
2. Delightful seafood on Patong beach
3. BH and S's wedding and catching up with the Havokers
4. Diana Krall (although it could be so much better)
5. Catching the F1 fever
Sunday, September 21, 2008
K(eep) P(aying) E(RP)
20 Sep 2008
The full stretch of Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) finally opens to traffic.
Like my childhood obsession of getting first day covers, I had the privilege of making my maiden journey on opening day.
Starting from the ECP and negotiating all of the famous speed cameras in the tunnel at a mild 70-75 km/h, the drive was smooth and amazing to see yourself heading out to the north-east in a matter of minutes. When my car emerged from the tunnel, it was the familiar sight of the old Tampines Road that led up to the rubbish dump Lorong Halus. Connecting to TPE, it was a grand total of 20 minutes from the ECP back to home in Pasir Ris... amazing... usually I take 25-30 minutes getting to/from Rochor Road and that is at speeds of 100-120 km/h. One major gripe I have is really driving at 70km/h on a car-less road... it's mental!
The multi-millions spent digging the tunnel did save many precious minutes of my time. But with the 16 ERP gantries along the expressway, God knows how many precious dollars I will have to spend supporting its life. Rumour has it the CTE will be shut in stages to repair tunnel defects. ERP charging will take place when 'congestion' happens. So when all those south-bound traffic get diverted to the KPE... we will definitely Keep Paying ERP lor... not nice :(
Friday, September 12, 2008
Run
A song of great simplicity.. from a while back
Collective Soul - Run
Are these times contagious
I've never been this bored before
Is this the prize I've waited for
Now as the hours passing
There's nothing left here to mature
I long to find a messenger
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Yeah, I run [x2]
Is there a cure among us
From this processed sanity
I weaken with each voice that sings
In this world of purchase
I'm going to buy back memories
To awaken some old qualities
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Yeah, I run [x2]
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Yeah, I run [x4]
[background:]
Have I got a long way to run [x4]
Collective Soul - Run
Are these times contagious
I've never been this bored before
Is this the prize I've waited for
Now as the hours passing
There's nothing left here to mature
I long to find a messenger
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Yeah, I run [x2]
Is there a cure among us
From this processed sanity
I weaken with each voice that sings
In this world of purchase
I'm going to buy back memories
To awaken some old qualities
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Yeah, I run [x2]
Have I got a long way to run [x2]
Yeah, I run [x4]
[background:]
Have I got a long way to run [x4]
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Paradigm of Contextuality
Everything happens within a context - things becomes relevant and connected simply because they are in context.
How do we decide what is "right" or "wrong"?
We arrive at a conclusion by forming cognitive relationships and dissolving problems within a context.
Although one might expect decision making to follow a certain logical order, contextuality can be an acceptable explanation to irrational behaviour, simply because this behaviour is in context only to you and not to others. It is relative to you but might not be to others.
So experience can only give us affirmation to whether something is "right" or "wrong" but it is never the "correct" answer.
Very philosophical but true... So make decisions relative to oneself, and affirm it with your own set of beliefs.
Your only enemy is your conscience.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Wrap and roll
2 turnips
1 cabbage
12 french beans
1 tow kwa
1 stalk of leek
2 bottles of white wine
1 bottle of red white
28 years of life completed
87th day back in Shanghai
So how to address a slightly overdue house-warming?
Wrapped and rolled to delightful goodness.. I present the popiah :)
Thanks for the cakes and wines and laughs!
It was tiring but worth it...
Sunday, August 10, 2008
An Olympian feat
080808 08点08分
世界的注意力集中在中国,各国领袖聚集北京,全球顶尖运动员汇集鸟巢
The opening ceremony was a joy to watch. It embodied the strong desire of the Chinese people to showcase to the world, their 5,000 year history and culture, their musical and artistic achievements, their innovation and technological advancements.
As an ethnic Chinese working and living in China, I am proud to share in a celebration of China's coming on to the world scene, an Olympian feat that no other country should be able to replicate in the foreseeable future.
The plan was simple:
1. Build world-class and state-of-the-art venues (Bird's Nest and the Cube) and litter the capital city with innovative and architectural wonders (CCTV, National Theartre)
2. Razzle and dazzle the world in a 4 hour spectacular showcase of history, technology, arts, admist a political backstage of the world's leaders
3. Unleash a stable of atheletes fueled with nationalistic desire and passion for excellence, hungry for nothing but gold.
Harder than scaling the moon? Li Ning was a favourite sporting son of the post Cultural Revolution era. He had shifted his post-Olympian career in gymnastics to a successful entrepreneurship in sporting wear. Now, he will be forever etched in the memories of millions around the world as the man who lit the Olympic flame in almost melo-dramatic style.
Amongst all the spectacular acts of the opening ceremony, I was most impressed by the sheer audacity of the act. A flying man lighting a cauldron (shaped like a giant torch)? I would never have imagined it possible.
Well done, China! It is indeed a proud moment for all 龙的传人!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Failing better
A month upon arriving in Shanghai, time for some self reflection.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again.
Fail better.
Fail better.
This Samuel Beckett quote jumped right at me and led me to question the circumstances of my departure and quick return to a city that is defining the end of my 20s.
Some friends had recently asked me how I am finding it back in a city of bright lights and hedonistic distractions. My replies have been a mixture of nonchalance (when I can't be bothered to explain) and philosophical self assessment (when I DO ask myself the same question). The short-term conclusion is that I've tried. Failed to make things happen, so I try again.
2nd time round, I have less to prove to others and more to prove to myself. A payrise and promotion are 1 year professional targets that I have defined and determined to achieve. A healthier and meaningful life, that I owe myself. A relationship that will finally work? That's on an all-time wish list.
If I do a scorecard at the end of 1 month, items 1 and 2 are right on track. I have re-found my motivation in work, despite the early hiccups. Established a rapport with the boss, improved on some processes and embracing more responsibilities.
Working out 3 times a week, eating more sensibly (I do retain some indulgence once a week though). I feel leaner and healthier, even the knee and ankle pain is diminishing.
Item 3 as always, seems depth apparent.
After all, you can only fail better. C'est la vie.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
When a nomad finds a home
Cattle feed upon the green grass
Herds are raised
Sandy grains replace the lush
Beyond recovery
Raise the banner
The chieftain said
Time to move on
In search of greener pastures
The tents come down
Horses are saddled
Campfires instead of stoves
Before settlement
When a nomad finds a home
Forever it is not
While the green lasts
A place to call their own
Herds are raised
Sandy grains replace the lush
Beyond recovery
Raise the banner
The chieftain said
Time to move on
In search of greener pastures
The tents come down
Horses are saddled
Campfires instead of stoves
Before settlement
When a nomad finds a home
Forever it is not
While the green lasts
A place to call their own
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Fool's Gold
Cranberries - Linger
If you, if you could return
Don’t let it burn, don’t let it fade
I’m sure I’m not being rude
But it’s just your attitude
It’s tearing me apart
It’s ruining everything
And I swore, I swore I would be true
And honey so did you
Was it just a game to you
But I’m in so deep
You know I’m such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger
Oh, I thought the world of you
I thought nothing could go wrong
But I was wrong
I was wrong
If you, if you could get by
Trying not to lie
Things wouldn’t be so confused
And I wouldn’t feel so used
But you always really knew
I just wanna be with you
And I’m in so deep
You know I’m such a fool for you
If you, if you could return
Don’t let it burn, don’t let it fade
I’m sure I’m not being rude
But it’s just your attitude
It’s tearing me apart
It’s ruining everything
And I swore, I swore I would be true
And honey so did you
Was it just a game to you
But I’m in so deep
You know I’m such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger
Oh, I thought the world of you
I thought nothing could go wrong
But I was wrong
I was wrong
If you, if you could get by
Trying not to lie
Things wouldn’t be so confused
And I wouldn’t feel so used
But you always really knew
I just wanna be with you
And I’m in so deep
You know I’m such a fool for you
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Last Weekend in Singapore
Recap of the weekend
Friday (after 12pm..sorta switched off from work liao)
found time for a haircut, wash and blow during lunch, arrived back in time for meeting some more... like the new look heh
dinner with my team at 聚宝, value for money... $225 for 7 pax, 8 dishes... sedap!
finally my turn to 埋单 :)
thanks for the memories!
Kung-Fu Panda... wonderfully funny.. a little hope for the chubby underdogs of this world
Woo-shi finger hold... take that!
Thanks to the Steady Lagi faithful for taking time and watching the movie wif me! glad everyone (i hope) enjoyed it! Gonna miss you ppl too...
Saturday
slow rainy day.. got out of bed close to lunchtime
ventured out far west (Boon Lay!) to help a friend with her stuff to Shanghai
hope she solves her visa problems and can finally go!
went up to Markoose's place for my first date with Chloe Lim Kopi-Xi
She warmed up easily enuff, although the short attention span was kinda insulting..
hey gotta respect ur dates, especially the good ones!
BO and JT joined us and Chloe out at West Coast Park, where she proceeded to get herself real dirty and sweaty then dropped a whole coat of fur in my car... eeew
but was a good runout.. dogs are fun when they are not yours :P
went haggling for new running shoes at Queensway
bah... i felt the integrity of these merchants have really gone down the gutter
after many attempts at getting the right price and the right merchandise, decided to cut my losses and go for a cheap pair of Asics at $91 (yes, the cockster refused to give me even a dollar off).. bugger off
dinner with the gang at Alexandra Village... braised duck, BBQ stingray, Sambal Dua Tow, Sambal Kangkong and Hei Zhoh, washed down with soursoup drink... yum yum... gonna miss hawker food loh!
my Steady Lagi buds, they bothered to walk wif me to the revamped Anchorpoint to shop for toiletries and pharmaceuticals at Watsons.... this place shall forever be known as Outlet Point...
went home, decided i couldn't be bothered with Euro and just slept...
Sunday
Mee Pok brunch at Simpang... 2 more months before I indulge again man... :(
Aussino.. bought so much bedding stuff and of cos, overspent again.. but heck la.. settling in allowance lor
NTUC.. buy curry powder... hope Shanghai gonna welcome me with open arms
Dinner at Baba Inn with the family... good Peranakan food to send me off
Friday (after 12pm..sorta switched off from work liao)
found time for a haircut, wash and blow during lunch, arrived back in time for meeting some more... like the new look heh
dinner with my team at 聚宝, value for money... $225 for 7 pax, 8 dishes... sedap!
finally my turn to 埋单 :)
thanks for the memories!
Kung-Fu Panda... wonderfully funny.. a little hope for the chubby underdogs of this world
Woo-shi finger hold... take that!
Thanks to the Steady Lagi faithful for taking time and watching the movie wif me! glad everyone (i hope) enjoyed it! Gonna miss you ppl too...
Saturday
slow rainy day.. got out of bed close to lunchtime
ventured out far west (Boon Lay!) to help a friend with her stuff to Shanghai
hope she solves her visa problems and can finally go!
went up to Markoose's place for my first date with Chloe Lim Kopi-Xi
She warmed up easily enuff, although the short attention span was kinda insulting..
hey gotta respect ur dates, especially the good ones!
BO and JT joined us and Chloe out at West Coast Park, where she proceeded to get herself real dirty and sweaty then dropped a whole coat of fur in my car... eeew
but was a good runout.. dogs are fun when they are not yours :P
went haggling for new running shoes at Queensway
bah... i felt the integrity of these merchants have really gone down the gutter
after many attempts at getting the right price and the right merchandise, decided to cut my losses and go for a cheap pair of Asics at $91 (yes, the cockster refused to give me even a dollar off).. bugger off
dinner with the gang at Alexandra Village... braised duck, BBQ stingray, Sambal Dua Tow, Sambal Kangkong and Hei Zhoh, washed down with soursoup drink... yum yum... gonna miss hawker food loh!
my Steady Lagi buds, they bothered to walk wif me to the revamped Anchorpoint to shop for toiletries and pharmaceuticals at Watsons.... this place shall forever be known as Outlet Point...
went home, decided i couldn't be bothered with Euro and just slept...
Sunday
Mee Pok brunch at Simpang... 2 more months before I indulge again man... :(
Aussino.. bought so much bedding stuff and of cos, overspent again.. but heck la.. settling in allowance lor
NTUC.. buy curry powder... hope Shanghai gonna welcome me with open arms
Dinner at Baba Inn with the family... good Peranakan food to send me off
So.. all my bags are packed and I'm ready to go..
Are you ready to see me outside your door?
Adios amigoes
Sincerely...
Monday, June 2, 2008
I'll Be Your Baby TONIGHT
Presenting the Steady Lagi buskers.. last sighted at an underpass below you...
Monday, May 26, 2008
Faith can't hurt
Caught an episode of Grey's Anatomy over the weekend.
Essence of a conversation between Bailey and the Chief caught my attention
Miranda Bailey: Don’t get me wrong, I have faith, I do. Faith isn’t medicine, faith can’t heal you.
Richard Webber: That may be so. But then again, it can’t hurt.
I believe in the more passive nature of faith. That keeping it and believing in it gives you strength to deal with your problems. I.e. faith itself serves no purpose, but knowing how to apply it makes us certain of what we do..
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
My other take of it is summed up by the Chief.. faith sure doesn't hurt you.
So have faith, my friends, but continue working hard to get what you want :)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Tiger Woods
This will perforate somebody's liver on Friday
Hole | Par | Drink | Location |
1 | 5 | Guiness Stout | Timbre @ Arts House |
2* | 2 | Tequila Pop | |
3 | 3 | Bourbon Coke | |
4* | 3 | Whisky Green tea | |
5* | 3 | Vodka Cranberry | |
6* | 4 | Glass of red wine | |
7* | 2 | Flaming Sambuca | |
8 | 3 | 2 X Gin Tonic | |
9* | 5 / 6* | Hoegaarden | |
30 / 20* |
Additional Playoff: 3 Tequila neat shots, 1st to finish wins!
Cheers!
The Blog Of Being Sick
I'm sick of being sick!
I was talking just a couple weeks ago about the quality of sleep.
It's no fun sleeping for 12-15 hours a day and waking up every so often to go to the bathroom cos you've drank a jerry can full of water or the runs have hit you again.
Arrgh.
I wanna get back to work too. Finish unfinished business.
It's Tuesday night, clear skies (albeit hot) and I'm not playing footy.
Life sucks.
Maybe drinking and smoking less might help.
Nah.. there's Pub Golf on Friday. I should ask for a handicap :P
I was talking just a couple weeks ago about the quality of sleep.
It's no fun sleeping for 12-15 hours a day and waking up every so often to go to the bathroom cos you've drank a jerry can full of water or the runs have hit you again.
Arrgh.
I wanna get back to work too. Finish unfinished business.
It's Tuesday night, clear skies (albeit hot) and I'm not playing footy.
Life sucks.
Maybe drinking and smoking less might help.
Nah.. there's Pub Golf on Friday. I should ask for a handicap :P
Saturday, May 3, 2008
I'm a heart man
It sure feels like a bungee jump.
I remember my first.
You feel this deep reluctance to take the leap.
You get encouraged, co-erced and then finally pushed over the edge.
And when you're free-falling, you didn't want it to stop.
You let gravity take over.
The G force becomes your master.
As the speed increases, so does your heart rate.
The rhythmic pounding is the slave to the master.
When your brain finally catches up, you feel the uneasiness of being tugged back.
You hang and then you rebound.
The first tug is like a regurgitation, like a jolt to your senses.
During hangtime, the frames relay themselves.
You recall the last few seconds that seemed like an eternity.
Subsequent tugs adds spin to the equation, like a cockscrew unwinding inside.
You feel helplessly lost in your bearings.
Yet trying valiantly to recover the exhilaration of the moment before.
And then all is still.
But the heart continues pounding, yearning for more.
"I'm not optimistic, I'm not hopeful. I am sure. I am steady. And I know. I am a heart man. I take 'em apart. I put 'em together. I hold them in my hands. I am a heart man."
I remember my first.
You feel this deep reluctance to take the leap.
You get encouraged, co-erced and then finally pushed over the edge.
And when you're free-falling, you didn't want it to stop.
You let gravity take over.
The G force becomes your master.
As the speed increases, so does your heart rate.
The rhythmic pounding is the slave to the master.
When your brain finally catches up, you feel the uneasiness of being tugged back.
You hang and then you rebound.
The first tug is like a regurgitation, like a jolt to your senses.
During hangtime, the frames relay themselves.
You recall the last few seconds that seemed like an eternity.
Subsequent tugs adds spin to the equation, like a cockscrew unwinding inside.
You feel helplessly lost in your bearings.
Yet trying valiantly to recover the exhilaration of the moment before.
And then all is still.
But the heart continues pounding, yearning for more.
"I'm not optimistic, I'm not hopeful. I am sure. I am steady. And I know. I am a heart man. I take 'em apart. I put 'em together. I hold them in my hands. I am a heart man."
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Let the whole world smile with you
But when you're cryin'....
you bring on the rain
So stop your frownin'....
be happy again
Cause when you're smilin'....
keep on smilin'
The whole world smiles with you
Louis Armstrong
I've been sharing my joy and laughter with those around me my whole life
I like to entertain the crowd, be the wise-ass joker that brings on the laughter, not minding if I'm the joke itself.
With young children, hearing them crack up from playing peek-a-boo or seeing that little smile back on their tiny faces after a bout of wailing.
With elderly folk, turning on their wrinkled faces and their dentured grins that beam like the setting sun.
Being optimistic has been my way out of a roller-coaster life. It has not been entirely rosy, but I guess I get by and am glad to have what I have today.
Yes, turning tears into smiles, cajoling a disgruntled infant, an angry youth, a worried mother, that's my forte.
With you, the hurt and the tears will take time to erode away.
I have only a genuine persuasion that I hope can conjur an endless lifetime of smiles and laughter to reclaim that empty space in your heart.
you bring on the rain
So stop your frownin'....
be happy again
Cause when you're smilin'....
keep on smilin'
The whole world smiles with you
Louis Armstrong
I've been sharing my joy and laughter with those around me my whole life
I like to entertain the crowd, be the wise-ass joker that brings on the laughter, not minding if I'm the joke itself.
With young children, hearing them crack up from playing peek-a-boo or seeing that little smile back on their tiny faces after a bout of wailing.
With elderly folk, turning on their wrinkled faces and their dentured grins that beam like the setting sun.
Being optimistic has been my way out of a roller-coaster life. It has not been entirely rosy, but I guess I get by and am glad to have what I have today.
Yes, turning tears into smiles, cajoling a disgruntled infant, an angry youth, a worried mother, that's my forte.
With you, the hurt and the tears will take time to erode away.
I have only a genuine persuasion that I hope can conjur an endless lifetime of smiles and laughter to reclaim that empty space in your heart.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
When Will I See Your Face Again?
Fantastic song by Jamie Scott & The Town
Here I am, everyday, since you said, you'd come again
But it's not fair, 'cause you're not here
I wait in vain but nothing has changed
I'm a flower soaking in the rain
If I could wish one thing, I'd hear you call my name
So when will I see your face again
When will you touch my life again
When will I breathe you in again
I think I love you
Will I see your face again
Little things, like the way
She looked at me a certain kind of way
Tell me girl, where are you now
Because I don't know how much longer I can wait
I'm a dreamer waiting for the sun
When you call my name I know my life's begun
Tell me girl
When will I see your face again
When will you touch my life again
When will I breathe you in again
I think i love you
Will I see your face again
You know that all my life I've been waiting
Waiting for someone, someone like you to love me
You can't come by like an angel into my life
And then fly away
Fly away
When will I see your face again
I've only seen you once my love
When will you touch my life again
I want to see you twice my love
When will I breathe you in again
I think I love you
When will I see your face again my friend
I think I love you
Love love love you
Here I am, everyday, since you said, you'd come again
But it's not fair, 'cause you're not here
I wait in vain but nothing has changed
I'm a flower soaking in the rain
If I could wish one thing, I'd hear you call my name
So when will I see your face again
When will you touch my life again
When will I breathe you in again
I think I love you
Will I see your face again
Little things, like the way
She looked at me a certain kind of way
Tell me girl, where are you now
Because I don't know how much longer I can wait
I'm a dreamer waiting for the sun
When you call my name I know my life's begun
Tell me girl
When will I see your face again
When will you touch my life again
When will I breathe you in again
I think i love you
Will I see your face again
You know that all my life I've been waiting
Waiting for someone, someone like you to love me
You can't come by like an angel into my life
And then fly away
Fly away
When will I see your face again
I've only seen you once my love
When will you touch my life again
I want to see you twice my love
When will I breathe you in again
I think I love you
When will I see your face again my friend
I think I love you
Love love love you
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Idle
Weekend duties are over
I am left to my own devices for Sunday
Programme for the day:
1. Woke up at 10.30 local time (11.30 SG time.. tan dio 1 hr)
2. Ran (fast jogs with fast walks) 3km in the gym
3. Snack on quarter block of Cadbury's Roasted Almond while watching MTV
4. Hakka food in Cholon (Chinatown)... yummy yong tau foo
5. Movie at Huong Vuong Plaza
6. Still planning what to eat for dinner... fried rice seems appetising
7. Finish Grey's Anatomy Season 3 (can't wait to start on Season 4!)
8. Tyne-Wear Derby Day!
(Highlight of the day)
I am left to my own devices for Sunday
Programme for the day:
1. Woke up at 10.30 local time (11.30 SG time.. tan dio 1 hr)
2. Ran (fast jogs with fast walks) 3km in the gym
3. Snack on quarter block of Cadbury's Roasted Almond while watching MTV
4. Hakka food in Cholon (Chinatown)... yummy yong tau foo
5. Movie at Huong Vuong Plaza
6. Still planning what to eat for dinner... fried rice seems appetising
7. Finish Grey's Anatomy Season 3 (can't wait to start on Season 4!)
8. Tyne-Wear Derby Day!
(Highlight of the day)
Tyne-Wear in black & white.. a lot of stripes
Can't wait for this week to end so I can have my well-deserved, near full week of rest next week and for an apparent reason, looking forward to going home too!
Enjoy the week folks.. I'll use it to anticipate the next :)
Friday, April 18, 2008
Sleep: Quantity vs Quality
How is it you get to sleep 9 hours and wake up feeling the most tired man on this earth?
And yet when you catch a cat nap, you wake up feeling so energised and ready to go?
Case in proof...
1. New mattress arrives Tues, I slept 4 hours on Wed morning, 3.5 hours on Thurs morn (i stupidly got the flight time wrong!), woke up fresh cos it's a 1K+ Simmon's mattress vs. my holey ten-year old 4 Star
2. Caught a cat nap just when plane was taking off.. felt like i've been asleep for a day
3. Slept 9 hours (to catch up on the missing hours of the past few) and woke up this morning feeling like Gulliver in Lilliput this morning
YAWN!
Monday, April 14, 2008
What's UP?
ACT 1
SCENE 1
SCENE 1What's up?
Erm.. moving soon
Erm.. moving soon
Huh? To where leh?
Shanghai loh...
Huh? Again? You not sian ah?
(under my breath)
Basket.. you mean you damn happy rotting in your cubicle?
Er no lah.. good time to go.. Olympic year mah!
ACT 2 SCENE 2
Eh what's up
man? Heard you are unhappy and leaving the Company?
Erm no lah.. they moving me to Shanghai soon
Huh? Issit? Thought everyone said you are unhappy
Hmm.. my spin doctoring seemed to work
Not really lah, just don't really like Vietnam as much
Oh... ok... ah you must bring me round Shanghai ah?
(excitedly...not) YEAH! for sure! let me know when you plan to visit!
FINAL ACT FINAL SCENE
(digging your scene)
someone from Shanghai
Hey what's up man? When are you coming over?
Wow news travels fast... somewhen June or July loh
icic.. how long for?
the standard 2 years loh
wah.. where u gonna stay?
dunno man.. you gonna find me a cheap and nice place? :)
hahahas
This is a work of fiction and any resemblance between the characters and persons living or dead is purely coincidental
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Steady Lagi!
It's amazing how strong this colloquial expression, unknown to the Jedi Council up until 2 months ago, can epitomise the strength of the Force and the Council itself.
Amalgamate the expression with the simple action of raising your right hand, pointing skywards in a 45 degree angle while the left hand is placed strategically on the hips, legs width apart.
Taddah.. you have the symbolic greeting of the modern-day Jedi knight.
Amalgamate the expression with the simple action of raising your right hand, pointing skywards in a 45 degree angle while the left hand is placed strategically on the hips, legs width apart.
Taddah.. you have the symbolic greeting of the modern-day Jedi knight.
See positive demostration by Jedi Knight OSL (Picture Left)
The Council has worked its way into being since that fateful KL trip and the simplicity of it all has been the very foundation of its existence. Man Cards, motivational posters, home-cooked dinners, WAGs, golf and badminton, KL trip, Sungei Buloh exploration....
Whether it is a physical or psychological activity, we've been around for each other. It's amazing you find your best buddies through the most amazing of ways.
Steady Lagi and Rock On!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Give me Paddles
Savage Garden
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned it's back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relieve and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore
Let me be the one you call
If you jump
I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face they day
Let me be the one you call
If you jump
I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Because there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breath again
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Noone to break my fall so please... somebody bring me those damn paddles!
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned it's back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relieve and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore
Let me be the one you call
If you jump
I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face they day
Let me be the one you call
If you jump
I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Because there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breath again
When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please
To tame your wild wild heart
Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone
Noone to break my fall so please... somebody bring me those damn paddles!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Delicious Mauritius
delicious mauritius:
pineapple juice, coconut milk, banana, aloe
my favourite smoothie from element fresh... oh gawd how I miss tat.. plus a place that could make a decent sandwich
The New Year has brought in many perspectives:
pineapple juice - tropical, laid back but an oxy-moronic clash of flavours and textures...sweet, sour, acidic and cool, as if testing the limits of your taste buds
travelled further west of india for the first time in 3 years
5 countries in a month is quite a record for both work and play.
working out a fair bit, ran more in a month than i did the whole of last year.
coconut milk - reminds you of mum's cooking, a touch of comfort, homeliness and indulgence.
plenty of shopping, carefree spending, retail therapy.
massages, spas
drinks, cigars(and cigarettes) and clubs
at home watching Grey's Anatomy, cooking a simple meal in my apartment
banana - honesty and deliverance beneath that yellow skin. sappy, sticks to the tongue and doesn't go away
how speaking out against injustice does not equate to universal suffrage
how speaking out against injustice does not equate to universal suffrage
that dancing around half-truths and hiding behind untruths can be a manic affair
how that banana skin can slip you in a vital moment
And finally,
aloe - can't imagine that a thorny, unsightly plant can be such a medicinal delight and source of nutrients
seek the unlikeliest sources to heal our wounds
songs and pictures that make you feel warmer and better
My first month of 2008 is a Delicious Mauritius smoothie. I'm savouring the sweetness, acidity, creaminess, sappiness and its therapeutic juice all at once.
I am hungry for more.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
RESOLUTE
res·o·lute /ˈrɛzəˌlut/
Spelled Pronunciation[rez-uh-loot]
Pronunciation Key –adjective
1. firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion.
2. characterized by firmness and determination, as the temper, spirit, actions, etc.
I have decided to become more resolute for 2008 rather than making nonsense resolutions that I cannot keep.
That meaning:
1. succumb less to temptations
2. be more decisive and firm at work
3. control my temper at home
4. be more determined at finishing tasks, especially with the exercising
5. lead a purpose-driven life, closer to Him
Hey isn't that a list of resolutions in itself?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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