The guide to house visiting chitter chatter

HOT TOPICS

1) Understanding the daily life of the person

- For the children... How is school? What course are you doing?
(Especially the little children, it is common that someone will exclaim, "so fast! you are in primary 3 already?")

- For the youths.... Are you Working or Studying? Working... where? How is the job?
(And if you are working, most answers will be, good.. then your parents can have it easier now)

- For the adults... Are you still working at the same place? Have you found a new job?
(Then both adults will continue in their gibber about how terrible work is, but much better than being bored at home)


2) Understanding the marital status of the person

- For those who already attached. When are you getting married?

- For those who are unattached. Do you have a bf / gf ? When are you getting married? (the ever useful question, ain't it?)


3) Understanding the food you are putting into your mouth

- Did you make this yourself? Ya, those sold outside are not as good... (blih blah, chatter chatter)

- How did you make this? What's the ingredients that you used? (starts to exchange recipes)

- How come your new year goodie tastes better than the one I made? (chomp chomp chomp... eats the goodies away)

not my cup of tea

never like cny... its always like 'pao ge tai' (as sh describes)... running from place to place. For those who have cars comfortably driving you around, you'll never know the tiredness of waiting and transferring from bus to bus, to bus to bus...

Well, never had it for 26 years of my life.

have got some relatives at my house but i'm hiding in my room, because everybody thinks i'm sleeping. and its kinda weird for me to go outside now.

Anyway, nose is running, got a little ashtmatic last night too. Thought I could rest a little more but couldn't.

Its just a good thing I'm not working yet, and don't have to get back to work after tuesday.

Always wish I could leave s'pore every cny. Never mind about the ang paos.... i'll rather work to earn the money. Although we know we probably only get to visit our relatives we dont' see much, once a year.. the boredom and tiredness does get a bit too much for just 2 to 3 days. But then... that's s'pore for you, just basically these few days of holidays left for your visiting. And just like our lifestyles, its "pia" all the way!

Next year, my bro probably won't be back, so I think I'll go seek refuge over there in aus =)

summer cleaning

why do we have to call it spring cleaning since there's no spring in s'pore? =P

And so.. I am thankful for cny because it spurs me on to clean my room thoroughly.. or rather as thorough as I can within the time limit. Last year i only managed my bookshelf. Seemed small but took me so long to get everything out, sorted and put back in. After a year.. its messy again but still not that bad. Therefore, this year's mission...

Clear the wadrobe! which is absolutely full of clutter.. and I mean, CLUTTER. My good effort of collecting all these over the 5 years since I moved here. You gotta see the number of plastic bags I've dumped out. Boxes after boxes of electronics stuff... spoilt ones (don't ask me why i kept them), loads of moisturisers, contact lens solutions and what-nots that have already expired, and simply things that I've always kept because of that mentality "maybe someday I will have a use for this"... but that someday just never came. And today.. is the day where all these are to go.

Barely even halfway through, so I gotta continue in a while and when I wake up. Too much to clean.. but I'm learning not to keep unecessary stuff anymore, except for things that have sentimental value.

Cleaning is tiring.. or maybe because its accumulated over the years. But then.. how do I ever find that energy and motivation to keep my things neat everyday?

Anyway the interview today... it went pretty ok. For the first time in my life, I went through an interview in Chinese. It was a challenge in the beginning but after warming up, it got better. There were 4 of them all firing questions at me, but they were still nice as a whole. Will I get the job? Not too sure.. couldn't read their minds, and what's more there were others also there for the interview. But I really hope I get it... actually because I don't wish to attend anymore interviews haha =P

Whatever it is, I have braced myself through it. Didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would be, but still those tough questions were asked. If you are reading this, cross your fingers for me =)

impossible possibilities

I applied with not much expectation, thinking that soon I might need to find other alternatives for a job, while I try to set up what I want to...

But this morning, I got a call. At first I thought it might be that previous company I went to for the interview, only that I was surprised that its another company that called me. This application I sent out last Sunday and it was sort of a repeat mail because my previous one didn't get acknowledged, and I had sent it out after the closing date. Its a complicated issue, but I'm glad I sent it out twice.

I don't really like interviews.. I lose confidence when I see the other interviewees. I do better during actual work than going through interviews =P.

Filled in the form.. scanning my certs. Gotta figure out what I'll be wearing too, before I go out for ktv later on.

Have to get through this one... its gonna be another sleepless night...

Mispronunciations

I know I'm weird.. that sometimes I really start to believe that I'm truly weird. So off I went to check some dictionary sites on a word that I always believed was pronounced wrongly by lots of Singaporeans.

And I'm glad the answer is that.. I'm not that weird actually.

If you are reading this blog entry, please visit this site (you can play the audio to hear how it should be pronounced)

http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/colleague.html

And pass it on to your friends. Hopefully soon, Singapore can get this simple pronunciation right.

my favourite bear =)

From http://www.royalwomen.com/NL/knuf/Pooky/pooky_garfield.htm

i'm fortunate

I know I am... because how many people in Singapore have had the chance to travel like I had where I made my first overseas trip at 3 years old, took my first flight at 4 and have been travelling practically every year since.

Those who know me, will know why I have this opportunity to travel so often.. and its not because my family is extremely well off.

Thought about blogging this when I was going through my old photos and thought I should do up a list of my travels since 1983, so that I will never forget where I have left my footprints, even 20 years from now. And here it is.... take a deep breath! =)

1983 Penang
1984 Hawaii
1985 Los Angeles
1986 Perth
1987 South Korea / Taipei
1990 Queensland
1991 Los Angeles / Las Vegas
1992 New Zealand
1993 Switzerland
1994 Jakarta / Yogjakarta
1995 London / New York / Florida / Ontario, Canada
1997 Los Angeles / Las Vegas
1998 Egypt
1999 Melbourne
2000 Spain / Hong Kong
2001 Bangkok / Taipei
2002 Shanghai / Hangzhou / Suzhou
2003 Bangkok / Taipei
2004 Melbourne / Bangkok
2005 Taipei / JB / KL
2006 Hong Kong
Erm.. yup, quite a number of repeated locations.. and I wished why we didn't choose other places to go when we had the opportunity to (especially LA where I had an overkill of disneyland far too many times =P)

We used to take lots of photos, bring back lots of flyers and brochures, postcards, stickers and what-nots... just so that we could do up our photo album. It was almost like a tradition that we had, so as to chronicle our travels. It was done by my dad when I was younger.. and I simply helped to cut out words and pictures for him to decorate the album. But over time, I took over (also because I thought I did a better job than him ahhaha).

After each holiday, we'll return, rush to develop our photos. I remember that I would always be excited about collecting them so that I could start working on the photo album. Armed with a pair of scissors, a little screwdriver (to pick out photos that have been pasted crooked or incorrectly), a thick empty album, the stack of brochures/postcards, and a pleasant memory... I would sit for hours just trying to sort out photos and do a sort of pictorial guide to whoever would view the album in future. The result would always be satisfying.. and even days after doing the album, I would still be eager to flip back and look at the work I had done. It also became the best thing to show to relatives and friends who visited our home =). Come to my place and I'll be glad to show it to you.

We have more than 10 super thick albums already.. but somehow, the tradition stopped when we started using digital cameras instead. They say technology makes people lazy.. and this is probably the best example of it. Or probably, I got older and didn't feel as though creating memories in this manner was necessary any longer. The albums stopped multiplying, but my harddisk keeps growing. Its not the same though... no nice words of the locations and sites we visited, no interesting and relevant explanations of the things we saw.. and worse, no more exact dates of when we visited a place.

If I ever have a child, I think.. I would start this tradition once again. Because nothing beats taking out albums of childhood memories, happy or unhappy ones, travelling around the world with your family.. chronicled in colour, in detail and with effort to preserve the moments.

Not hard to guess where this is right? ;)

是我們老了嗎?

Ever since I read a particular book... I have learnt to associate age with maturity and experience. I'm older but I've seen more and I know more than someone younger than me. Thats the perspective I have learnt to adopt now... to feel more wise and knowledgeable rather than older with each passing year.

But things have certainly changed to much over time. Especially the new generation that determines the trends of society and the media, just as we did in the past. While we look at the 80s, our childhood, and laugh at the high waist, straight cut and light blue jeans, or laugh at the 90s when people will just go crazy over buying hello kitty toys, from queueing up overnight, fighting over the toys and breaking windows & think back in disblief at how so many bubble tea stores could mushroom is just a few months (at times side by side).... wouldn't we in 10 or 20 years time, laugh at the way we are right now?

Society functions based on the generation that consumes the most and that has got to be the teens and youth. Where there is consumption, there is production.. nothing complicated about the good old economics theory of demand and supply.

Rock is now pop.. I agree with Nic. Its been pop ever since the fab 4, but its become even more pop and will continue to become even more so. There might not even be rock so to speak in the future? What make alternative rock then? I guess.. with each revolution and attempt to be more accepted and heard, there is a danger or something becoming the new mass and pop culture.

So is it good that our dear mayday is now more accepted, more known and more heard by the younger generations?

We would always like to blame packaging for the fact that there is now a new mass of fans who are more interested in commenting on how cute or good looking the band members are, or even fantasizing about them as a past-time. But then again.. packaging is all part of business survival. Every product needs to be packaged.. and if you're a businessman, you will understand the importance of asthetics for your products.

We hate such new groupie phenomenon but its inevitable when you are making music for a living and whats more, working for someone.

Well then.. we blame the band instead for not sticking to their indie roots. For selling out... but what if making music was really your greatest passion and satisfaction, something that no other job can give to you?

The artistes of the industry who have survived the years are those who have adapted along the way, accepted new trends, new perspectives and new styles. We may criticize them as much as we like, but aren't they the clever ones who have set very clear examples for us to understand that to do what you love, you need to learn to be flexible?

But yes.. I miss the old times when there were less fans, less suspicion, less flamboyance, less 'hao shuai ah!' & ' so cuuuuteeee' s, less queues, and less need for them to feel frantic even when eating .

It isn't all so bleak now.. just like I said, with age comes wisdom and knowledge... as well as a glowing confidence that I see in them, a deep brotherhood and a greater understanding of life and their passion.

Isn't there an add that says 'we hear what we want?'... similarly, we can choose to see what we want to see. Its nothing to do with age.. but alot to do with perspectives.

Cheesecake and Apple Crumble

Girls love sweet stuff, and I guess it makes our brains wake up as well =P

After jamming, and after the 3 of them left, hx and I headed to hans for a bite and a drink. We talked over the yummy cheesecake and apple crumble.. but somehow I wasn't too caught up in the taste. My mind was just scanning through for ideas on our business plan. I guess she was too, which explained why we never did finish the 2 desserts haha.

We suddenly had a lot of new ideas and everything seemed like such a pretty thought. Do this.. find this person to help, where to get the money, how to make ourselves different, the promotions we would do, and even who would handle what...

We were even brave enough to set a possible month to actually start it off. Months pass by real quickly and it will come before we know it.

We went in search for shophouses that would fit what we want. Looked around, called a few agents, then headed for another location but we were soon stopped in our steps by the rain. That was when I had to leave to come back.

I just remember her asking me this.. Do you think we can really pull this off? I really would like to believe that we can.. because its something I always wanted. I know, that we can simply because this has been a fire that was lit inside me for so long and never extinguished with time. I usually change my mind very quickly about things but when it comes to this... somehow, its different.

It won't be easy for sure. But the biggest issue I guess, is never money but personal determination.. to face any problems along the way, any people who may put us down (I know my father would.. ), and how things may not exactly go according to plan. But then again, isn't this the challenge that we want?

I like to build things from scratch and see them fall through... see the pleasure and joy I'm providing to people from the work that I do. Its what I discovered through coordinating shows. There are no shows without glitches.. just as there will be no business with no obstacles. We just need to be able to learn how to stay strong and think right.

I'm writing this blog... to remind myself of what we talked about today. Yes, I want to do this. And I will target myself to do up the proposal and budgeting throughout the week. If I don't, please scold me!! But need you guys to give me support k? ;) And yup, hx, you can still be the cashier heheh.

Seems like the cheesecake and apple crumble worked wonders on our brains and our hearts, more than our stomachs =)

Unfriendly Me

While I was waiting for yj and hx one day at an mrt.. I got hungry and decided to go round the corner looking for food when I was stopped in my steps by a guy about my age.. nicely dressed in a long sleeve shirt and pants. In his hand held a small clipboard with paper and I thought.. hmm surveyor. Here's how the conversation went...

Guy: "Hi, are you waiting for your friends? Can you spare some time to do a survey?"

(Looking at the A5 sized paper in his hand, I thought.. ok, short survey, why not just be helpful for a while)

Me: "Er.. ok..."

Guy: "Are you studying now or working?"

Me: "Um... I'm looking for a new job"

Guy: "Oh! What type of job are you looking for?"

(obviously I seemed to have hit some nail on the head somewhere...)

Me: "A job that is very different and you can't find in the newspapers"

Guy: "My job can't be found in the newspapers too! Maybe I can help you.. what sort of job?"

(he was certainly looking very keen)

Me: "No... *shaking my head and looking to see if yj or hx arrived yet to save me from this ordeal* I don't thikn you can help me"

Guy: "How do you know? If I can't help, maybe my company or any of my friends can help?" (sounding like some da ge da)

Me: "Err... heh *cold laughter* No la..."

Guy: "What was your previous job?"

Me: (damn.. hate people asking me this question) "Can I not tell you? Its personal..."

(He starts to look at me strangely and obviously pondering what I meant by this)

Guy: "We can surely help you to find any job, whether its a day or night job, straight or non-straight (you get the point!) job...."

Me: (feeling quite insulted and frowning) "No, no thanks"

Guy: "Ok.... so you feel that we really can't be of help to you?"

(I shook my head with affirmation)

Guy: "Ok, thank you...."

And he walked away, probably shocked that he walked up to someone so weird hahaha.

And the funny thing was, I never helped him complete his survey. And neither do I know what that survey was really about.

Just his luck to stand right in my path towards the bakery.. on a day when I didn't have lunch and it was already close to dinner time. Which meant that, I was really hungry. Well, he certainly stopped me from buying bread.. and I went back to the station control to wait for the girls =P

Being with myself

Being on my own, never fails to make me cranky.

Thats the time when i always leave the tv on no matter what, whether or not I'm watching it and the house will still feel so empty.

Thats the time when I start to think too much, do too little, worry too much about myself, about others, about anything possible in this whole wide world.

Its probably my biggest weakness.. and the big reason why I miss my ex colleagues whom I spent so much time together with at work, or not at work.

And I miss you too, even though I'm trying to act tough.

This world just suddenly feels so strange. Maybe its a psychological problem that hits people when you're jobless?

Went to the semb fest yesterday with hx, yj and deb. Was quite looking forward to it until we reached the place. It just felt so odd even standing at the entrance. For a while, I felt so lost, and as though I'm not myself. Going in didn't make much of a difference.

I just felt so weird all the way through that I realised I remembered my friend's band name wrongly (it wasn't the cd there) with the girl intently looking at us looking at the cds... haha and I don't know how I can point to the wrong person.. sheesh. Forgive me for giving you the wrong info.. I feel really bad!

I only liked the first band we saw... truthfully. It was probably the one consolation for making that long trip there and back. I know you guys felt weird too, being in that environment... or maybe its just me? It felt like a different culture, with all the beer and drunkedness, the dancing, the vulgarities, the overexcessively loud sound system.

Is this what rock should mean? Or is this a culture that I'm simply not used to? Or does it only happen in eng rock?

Whatever it is, I'm still very much resolved that we should be a chinese band... and its what makes me comfortable as well. I didn't go back there today. Its a good thing we didn't pay for the tickets, but also sorry to hx for wasting your tickets =)

Springscream someday maybe? ;)

don't really know what to blog about

life's been just like this... -------------- (flat). Told you i needed to work =P. But then they haven't gotten back to me, which means I didn't get the job, ain't it obvious?

Well, contacted another person to inform me of any job vacancies at another place.
So many job vacancies online everyday... and I'm even getting job alerts via email stating that they suit me, but somehow, I don't think they do suit me. Or maybe its me being pick and stubborn as usual?

Or am I to wait for another job that I would love to have, but hope the person there will quit soon (and not still ponder for so long), so that I can take it on?

Then.. I even thought of going back there, to that place where the boss slammed tables, the manager screamed, rats ran everywhere in the office, and you could accumulate so much leave from doing OT but have no chance to make use of all that leave. And where alot of the things that I was doing, was quite beyond what I wanted to do...

I wanted to leave for the better, but where is that 'better' now? I'm still waiting for it to appear...
Maybe its just my pure laziness..
Or maybe its just me enjoying the fact that everyday I'm spending time playing the guitar, the keyboard, listening to music, playing around with gtp, watching lots of hk dramas, spending time with my sticky doggie, and simply preparing myself for the next jam session.

Its that contradiction that I would like to work because I need the money, yet I would like not to work because of the freedom its given me now.

Its a good thing my dad is in hk now.. he'll kill me if he knew i was just wasting time away at home not earning money to support myself.

My time limit now.. is when my bank account runs low. Its already low.. but will try to survive while I can. And when I get desperate, maybe I'll just give tuition full time.

Anyway, hx, yj and I went to a new jam studio yesterday opened by another chinese band. Really great to know that.. and they were really nice to us too.. probably due to the fact that there aren't many chinese bands in s'pore to begin with. its like that feeling of finding people of the same direction and interest as you. But its made me willing to go back there to jam often =)

walking by that stretch of road that day, i saw a few rental signs up.... *tempted*

confused

its always hard to let go of things that you have already gotten so used to over the years

i wish i didn't have to let go or even think of letting go, but would it be better that way?

now i'm confused if this is simply an addiction, a habit or something i really feel for.

I'm totally unsure of myself.

simple things always reflect bigger things. but how did it get so complicated?

I don't know. I only think that I know, but my mind now is all in a whirl.

walking parody

(this is gonna be a whiny entry... so don't read it if you have a weak heart =P)

I need a job... because I need to work. Just spent the whole of today just watching tv, from the moment i woke up to the time when i finally came back to my room to use the computer. That is, until now I'm in front of the computer just chatting on msn. How productive a life I must say..

In between, I played the guitar, I cooked, I disturbed Pep, I ate some chocolate.. and thats about it.

Now, in front of the computer, I'm fretting over the fact that I should work to make myself feel more useful. Really hate feeling useless to society. Feel more like a parasite right now.

Give me a job! But yet, I don't want just any job.. I'm really picky and stubborn (not sure if its good or bad). And while I'm wondering where to find a job that I'll possibly like, I'm not really taking much action myself. Even now, when I see something prospectively good, I'm delaying sending the email because I dislike writing cover letters... hate the idea of selling myself (same goes for interviews..)

And so.. my title for this blog. I am a walking parody. I want things, but I don't really want them. Which boils down to me.. actually just writing such whiny blog entries like this...

Ok, the end! For now.. heh heh

No we are not joining

Thats been my answer so many times since last week.

Maybe I'm an extremist, like how there can be feminists, maybe i'm a musicist (??). Yeah I know I said it before that music is a business and whats business when its not about money? Music is entertainment, even in classical times where musicians wrote for the court and the kings and queens.

But then, who can't help romanticizing the fact that there can be music simply for happiness, for fun, for pleasure, for leisure and simply for being just music?

I'm never much for tv competitions. And especially this one that doesn't really know what its doing, but wants to do it. I mean, check out the judges ya?

Nonetheless, I still give my fullest support to the real bands (as in instruments and vocals type of bands.. gotta be specific these days especially after the new definition of bands emerged! *eyes open big*) who joined. But maybe they ought to do originals than simply mayday or beyond (just like bands who take part in other band competitions should stop choosing sweet child o'mine =P). I'll love to see a real band win, otherwise what an awkward situation it would be that S'pore's "Tian Tuan" (cringe at the word they all love to use overly these days...) is a group.. hmmm...

I'm a cynic, I know it. Thats why I'll never join tv competitions even if its to prove people wrong (but wait, as if I have that standard enough to prove people wrong haha *mad*). I'll feel more accomplished if eventually we can pit ourselves against other strong bands (not groups).. I really hope we can some day.

But Yes, I admit, I have been snooping around wondering whats happening and who has joined. Looking at this forum, that forum, looking at blogs (I can be quite kaypoh...).

Well, what can I say? I just hope all these groups and bands can be themselves rather than try to mimic or mould themselves after existing artistes... especialy md =P

I must be crazy

I think I'm addicted to last minute decisions, addicted to that adrenalin rush of not knowing what will happen next.

Yesterday, we thought of going to KL today (especially after we cancelled jamming for sat.. I felt like I gotta go watch md somehow... yeah.. *mad*). Well, actually it was me who later got SH excited and Shir excited as well. We started searching for flights and coaches and hostels and about how to get tickets to the concert. We were seriously considering the fact that we would go for FH KL!

It was that thought of going down to the bus company at 730am to try to buy bus tickets that would depart at 830am and try to buy the return tickets as well. It was the thought that we were going into Malaysia without any ringgit, without any hostel or hotel booked and without any tickets to the concert.

The plan, was to buy the tickets, reach KL, change some ringgit, buy the concert tickets, hunt for a place to stay then go straight down for the concert.

It seemed like such a wonderful thought and we were so hyped up and feeling high about it, SH even called shir to ask if she was going as well. And poor shir infected by us began to wonder how she could make it down as well after going down to her school in the morning hehe. Sorry... =X

The concert didn't seem that important, it wasn't that which was making us feeling so high about the whole trip, but the fact that we were going to try to go down to KL with nothing except the bags on our back. Just that thought alone, felt so exciting.

But the one thing that kept me back was my mum. How would I tell her. Of course... in the end, after asking countless times, she still wouldn't let me go. Maybe it was good that she refused.. putting down the irrational side of me that is so addicted to adrenalin rushes such as these.

Its not really put a halt to my thoughts of going, but when I wake up tomorrow, I will forget about it. So near, yet so far...

Nonetheless, this whole saga of events made me realise one thing... that I truly am crazy, meaning that I'll never ever be satisfied with a regular job. I need to run about, meet all sorts of people, see lots of things happening, face on the spot challenges, get thrown with all sorts of rubbish... its the type of job that I need, even though such jobs never ever draw that much money.

I'll never be satisfied with a stable lifestyle... as much as I would like to convince myself to be.

For now, *waves goodbye to FH KL*

14 Jan 2006

The day of the final home concert in KL... but I've decided that its simply not rational to spend that money going. The view wouldn't be like what it was here and the money spent, can be put to better use as well... like an amp heheh (yj's guitar has super powers to keep me playing it.. not bad, and like what hx said, everybody loves it except her =P)

coincidently or not, we've arranged to jam on that same day. Lets hope we get more inspired, knowing they are playing a concert at that same time =).

All the best to them, and all the best to us as well.

Quite a number of people including my mum & bro have asked, why not we join that very hyped up band competition. The answer is simple, its not really a band competition, its a competition for anything that is not a solo act.

I know there are some bands out there who want to go for it, to show locals that there truly are chinese bands here (contrary to the possible worry by the organisers that there won't be enough, and therefore the inclusion of so many other categories). I hope these bands do well, simply for the fact that they want to prove others wrong. But somehow, deep inside, don't we all already know what the company is looking for? Music or Looks?

Well, we might just go peek at the auditions to see who actually takes part. Curiosity kills the cat, but we just wouldn't join it just for the sake of stardom.

gloomy rain

can't remember when was the last time it rained so much and it felt so cold here...

feeling cold inside too.

when you fear loneliness, you become more lonely.
when you want more, you end up not getting anything.

went for the interview today but was feeling gloomy and head was throbbing even before i stepped in, and somehow i wasn't feeling as perked up as I was, the day I came back from hk. my voice didn't sound very alive and enthusiastic, i couldn't smile much.

don't even really know if i want the job, but i just feel that i need a job and anything related will do just fine.

not feeling any excitment in me. but i'm just glad that i've got yj's guitar to accompany me through this gloomy weather.

你看我好﹐我看你好

We always have to look beyond a shiny exterior...

So much I cannot say, so much that people don't know. Why can't I say? I don't know why either...

Why do I just go through day by day, wondering when the next storm will hit me? Why am I taking it solely onto myself?

Its a blessing to give rather than to receive. But what is this blessing? Isn't a blessing a form of receiving something as well? Receiving need not be in the same form as what is given out, I never expected the same proportion of what I give out, to be returned to me. I know it can never be possible, but humans are all greedy aren't they? To be able to only give and not expect anything in return, would be far beyond my humanly abilities. I am doing my best all the time to give you everything you want, above what I want. But at times, there are just the little things that I want as well....

I have a mouth to tell and fingers to type, but yet I can't tell. Things I have to live day by day in silence, like nothing is wrong all the time. Its probably even wrong that I'm typing this entry.

I guess I'm stupid. Maybe it will feel better just knowing that I'm stupid.

weird

that's how I've always viewed myself and the way I know alot of people view me.

But, i like being weird, because it makes me different. I'm sure its already weird to people, that I enjoy being weird.

I love egyptology, I quit my honors (when only 20% of the cohort were offered it)... took up a job with a shitty pay even though I have 2 degrees, a levels and a diploma, I'm not looking for a graduates' pay job now even when I'm jobless, I don't like japanese music or dramas.. korean neither (simply because its IN to like it), I refused to buy an ipod when everyone is buying it.. although my bro just gave me one for xmas but I changed the earphones so it wouldn't be so prominent as an ipod, I hated baby-g when it was the rave during my secondary school days, I don't really like shopping and I hate the idea of manicures and pedicures (I prefer to spend money eating..) because I can't stand long nails, I spot dogs and cats faster than I spot cute guys,

And we have this really weird forum as well, where
1) you are a 'member' yet you are not tied to the forum. 'member' is just a term, not a title.
2) you do not require to pay anything or are expected to earn any points to gain anything (yes, everything is free)
3) we just want to do things because we feel we have the ability to help benefit everyone
4) no need for any of mayday's signature or acknowledgement
5) everyone can come and go as they want, take and give as they deem fit
So much so, that we truly pride in being independent and deviant.

I'm really fine with people finding me weird. I've never really strived to be anybody's role model or example in anything. I'm a bad example to lots of S'porean parents and the local 'garmen' I'm sure. But nothing beats Prof C who took drugs and organised riots haha, and now tells us to take one year off just to play music.

As deviant as I'll like to be, I'm trying to strike a balance between a dream and a ricebowl.

But still, weird is me, me is weird.
I like to see myself in a universe that is wide and diverse. We don't exist alone and neither are we simply living in a well.. protected from rain and shine. Everything that we do affects another being around us. Where there is cause, there is effect and where there are actions, there are consequences. People might feel that I always think too much, but I prefer to over-think than to under-think because thats what brains are for, aren't they? ;)

To think, is to be alive. To want to be different, is to live life.

31st Dec 2005 - 5th Jan 2006 (Part 4)

Sorry this turned out to be more than a Trilogy haha... well, 4 parts ain't that bad a thing either right? This will definitely be the last part, so long as I don't get exhausted doing it and require another part later on =P.

Now... what's HK without the food right? We didn't photograph most of what we ate or saw because we were too busy eating of course, but we'll share some of the good stuff here =)

The number one thing that you gotta do... is yam cha. Simply the best, especially the Zhu Chang Fen, the porridge, the har gow, the everything heheee

<--- Xu Liu Shan... good stuff, especially if you love mango ;). I'm sure many people love mango. The dessert shops are spread out everywhere that its not hard to find. Definitely Mango Heaven.

The very yummy and really very yummy 雙皮燉奶. Sounds weird.. steamed milk, but it really tastes good --->

<--- Roasted pigeon hahahah. Ok, bad joke... but it was a really cute pigeon sleeping on the stairs of a park we passed by. They've got really fat pigeons over there, being chased all around by kids.

Some food from the 'roadsides', since there aren't anymore true roadside stalls now in HK. Yu Dan (Fishballs) and Siew Mai... still munching on the fishballs now hehee because what you see, is what we brought back to S'pore =P --->

買東西吃東西, 有東西吃, 當然也有東西買啦!
Flooded with lots of heeren and far east like shops everywhere... we came across this very amazing (to me its amazing =P) shop that sells only doraemon products. I even bought doraemon picks hehehe (but from a different store).. just at a time when SH said, we will never be able to find doraemon picks. The miracles of HK!

If you don't like doraemon, you can skip right to the last section hehe.

Here you are, the doraemon special feature!! I'll let the images speak for themselves...

As they say, we always save the best for last...
Remember our little friend pookie from Part 2? Yup, he's the main character of our biggest adventure in HK. We'll like to call it,
The MisAdventures of Pookie

It all started with us going up to the peak to see the sunset. As it was still early, we went to grab a cup of coffee... and nothing strange yet about having coffee (to an excellent view)...

Thats when we decided that the bear we brought along to HK, should have his own photo taken against the very nice nightsky of HK (really bad idea... really...). Don't try this at home, at the peak, at the top floor of the effiel towel, at 101 or at the petronas tower...

Well, anyway, we attempted and got this photo... a blur one.

Why? because at the next instant, a strong gust of wind came along. What effect does strong wind have on a very light weight object like pookie? No prizes for guessing....

Pookie fell off the ledge, backwards =_=

And he didn't just fall, he bouched off the first layer of grass, down to a further patch of grass, out of reach, but still in sight (that was definitely the worse feeling ever...).

We brainstormed for ways to rescue him up.. gathered brooms from the bushes around the area, even a dustpan..but none were long enough. We even found a rope tied nearby and contemplated climbing down, but that was just a passing thought (for that instant at least...)! Instead.. we decided to head into the supermarket in the building nearby in search of some tape or anything that could 'scoop' him up.

Not able to find any scotchtape... we gave up brainstorming after a while and decided we should leave the peak in search of other possible 'rescue tools' and come back the next day.

More ideas came to our minds... even climbing down (yes the same crazy idea again!), just that this time, we thought we should use moutaineering ropes and hooks. We found a mountaineering store with the help of the free internet at Zhong Huan's MTR station, but decided against buying anything when we realised everything was so expensive.

As we were going back to our hostel, we passed by a hardware store and just thought we should try out luck there. Not only did we find scotchtape, we found a very curious and interesting tool. Don't really know what it should be called, but its like a fork that can clamp objects up (something like what people use to pick up rubbish).. you'll see it in the next photo hehe.

Anyway, to cut things short, we woke up at 6am the next day and was up at the peak by around 7plus. There were people jogging, dogs being taken on walks and a sweeper looking at 2 very weird people (thinking that they are trying to commit suicide). Or maybe he was just wondering why we were hogging all the brooms....

After the very curious sweeper left, SH came up with the idea to try to join the clamp like tool, to the end of a broom and attach lots of scotchtape to the end of the fork.. so that he could 'stick' pookie to it. Erm.. I don't think I'm making much sense (feeling hungry while typing this heheh).. but maybe these photos will help you understand better!

I really never thought he would stick well, but it really did happen. Out he came from the grass, after a night of being in the dark and cold of the peak.

Of course, we decided, we ought to leave that useful tool behind, for the next person who comes along and drops something precious to them. Or maybe we are the only silly people who will drop something like a bear down the slopes of the peak and find stupid ways to retrieve it =P

Pookie is now safe and sound at home. He has also since, learnt how to parachute (should he fall off a cliff again), as you will see below.

That was a little too much of the peak in one trip to HK.. but its a misadventure that will definitely stick in my mind for a long time to come.

Finally done with my very very very long blog entry of HK. Hope it was entertaining =P
Xie Xie Da Jia *bow*

31st Dec 2005 - 5th Jan 2006 (Part 3)

More interesting street sights. As you can see by now, we don't really like to take regular photos of ourselves standing in front of buildings or nice backgrounds... we just like photographing weird stuff ;) Yeah.. something like this next photo hahah..

Our new collection of shoes

<------ When a shop closes down, lots of advertisements just flood the front of the gates. Its a dog eat dog world.. you just gotta keep sticking your ad in front of someone else's heheh. Makes pretty nice decoration actually... But I really wonder, do such advertisements work?

No smoking, no spitting, no littering, no trespassing and now... NO FARTING (in the streets of Central aka Zhong Huan). Not a bad one hahah --->







<-- chanced upon a music store... went in to have a look and saw the most Gretsch guitars I've seen, plus this, the famous silver guitar used by Monster... Guess how much?? More than $4000 SGD (wooo, no wonder they are poor)










Ah baby pram on the runway!!
*ahem* sorry.. just being crazy... this was actually a DHL advertisement at Zhong Huan (Central) MTR station. Really nice idea -->




People protesting in the streets. Yes, we are so suaku because such things don't happen here locally.. so we just had to go take a look. Interestingly, just a little further down in the same street was a bigger crowd of men busy taking photos of skimpily dressed girls advertising canon cameras. Well, even protests gotta compete with commercial advertisers...

ICAC. Those who watch HongKong dramas should be familiar with this abbreviation haha. Caught our eye immediately, in the cityscape of HK's financial district, Zhong Huan. How apt.... such a useful reminder to all working in that area that someone is watching what you are doing.

<--- Saw this sign board outside a not very good looking building... reminded me of the movie "Liu Mang Yi Sheng" (Gangster Doctor??) Who would dare to go to such an x-ray service.. =P

Us at the peak tram station, having fun with the very shiny pillars. While other people take photos of themselves against the tram, we just take it mirrored through reflective surfaces. Not bad... we look thinner than usual hahah --->

<--- Reminded me of one of my favourite movies... Chungking Express. Chanced upon this place. Its got hostels and shops inside... quite alot like HK's little India heehe.

I think those not familiar with mayday's songs will find this name familiar. Zhi Ming is doing well with his mahjong shop.. wonder what Chun Jiao is doing? hmm.... --->

Yes, more photos and exciting adventures to blog about... my neverending blog haha. Part 4 coming up tomorrow =)

31st Dec 2005 - 5th Jan 2006 (Part 2)

Some on-the-flight photos... heheh. Introducing, our little friend Pookie..

Lonesome bear... Fastened up and ready to fly!

1st Jan, 1030am. We are really in Hong Kong. I couldn't believe it.. after so long, we really made it there, for a holiday and a good break just on our own, the 2 of us. It was something we wanted for a long time since our trip to Bangkok long ago. But the weird thing was, being in HK, it really didn't feel like we were in a foreign place, except that the people spoke in a different language and the food was different.

And so begins our hongkong adventure.... of food, walking, shopping, seeing, taking weird photos (as you will see) and even a rescue mission..

The MTR was our very useful form of transportation..

<------- Pookie in MongKok (where our hostel is located). Simply love the red mosaic tiles heheh

This is something even everyone in Singapore should learn... give way to people who are alighting from the train! Don't rush in like you are in a hurry to be reincarnated -->

Oh yeah, gotta introduce the very nice and simple hostel we picked. The auntie and uncle were really nice (showed us a photo of their daughter and son-in-law) through whom we corresponded to book the hostel and when we were trying to find our way there. Never got to meet the nice looking couple though but the old couple were nice to us all the way =).

I really recommend this hostel. Its about 50SGD per night for a twin room (we ended up getting a room for 3 people coz the twin rooms were occupied), at no higher cost.

<----- This is the main door to the rooms of the hostel (just some of the rooms). Unit 1017 and our room number 6 right the end.

The open area leading to the main door. Other residences, hostels, a dance studio and even a jamming studio! (could hear people jamming above from our room) --->

<--- Our nice cosy room, small but clean. What's more, the double decker bed helped act as our clothes rack haha.. and the extra blanket and pillow were pretty useful as well =)

The little TV set from which we watched Dong Feng from.. and a particular commercial that we will forever remember...

The 'nice' view from our window. Not some world class view but it gives you a feel of the way they live. I found it quite cool ;). I mean, hey, no top notch hotel can give you some an experience~! ----->

<----- The curtain pole (shows you how make shift it is) fell once and SH had to fix it. But still, I can't emphasize how nice, simple and clean this hostel truly is.

And yes, back to our adventures... this time at the avenue of stars

Being suaku, we decided to go there to have some fun, and here you go, some very exciting pictures!

<--- Hungry or simply too eager to karaoke? heeheehee

Somebody just had to do this shot... to commemorate his award winning ad hahaha =P. --->

<--- So where are the stars? Here's one we are all familiar with.. But here's the story..

As we were walking along, we saw this star covered by some plastic bags as the owners of the bags were busy taking photos of themselves against the very nice backdrop of the skyscrapers. We began to wonder who this poor star was, to have to be covered by loads of plastic bags.... I think they noticed we were looking, and as they lifted up the bags, we got the surprise of a lifetime. On it read.... Bruce Lee. =_= (you can simply guess our reactions.... hahah)

And lastly, this photo.. doesn't it remind you of the Beatles album cover? For a while.. I thought it was supposed to be some wreath in memory of some star... until i saw the "Merry Christmas"!

Part 3 to come very very soon!

31st Dec 2005 - 5th Jan 2006 (Part 1)

(Warning: This is going to be a really really long blog entry, so brace yourselves!)

This seemed like a marathon, a walking marathon. The ultimate test for my legs and feet and soles especially. But at this point of time, having finally ended the marathon, I feel refreshed an energized.

It all started from the day of the countdown.

31st Dec 2005. Finally, this day arrived and I awoke to the alarm at 6.15am. Printed out what I was asked to do, gulped down one cup of noodles and rushed out to get a cab. Got one almost immediately and headed down to serangoon to pick Su up before we continued all the way down to the west side.

As time passed that day, I was literally counting down myself. From 17 hours.. to 12 hours.. to finally those last 5 hours plus of show proper.

At about 4pm, it started to rain real bad. Soundchecks stopped, everyone ran for shelter and we began to wonder if we had to bring the show indoors instead (I for one, was hoping we could call off the whole thing hahah.. fat hope though). But by around 5plus, the skies cleared and we knew the show had to go on... so we began our mad rush to get everything up and going again.. drying off equipment with hairdryers and towels.. crossing our fingers no one will get electrocuted later on =P.

715pm.. we were ready to go. I took my position in that very tight space, hoping that nothing would go wrong, and that I can leave soon to go home (for my flight to hk!) It was really fun that day.. squashed in that small platform with so many people, with El dozing off and with people screaming and shouting in the earpiece (I could really go deaf). But it happens and no one ever said that this job isn't stressful. Anything that happens live, is always stressful.

It wasn't the place I wanted to be at, but I still enjoyed myself. Watching the streamers fly, the pyro going off, the balloons in the air, and people all hyped up.. counting down to the last 10 seconds of 2005.

1230am. It finally ended!! I scooted off immediately. Wanted to give everyone a hug but only CL was there... so I grabbed my bag and ran out to catch a cab. Couldn't really care if I was being uncivilized but I just rushed for whatever cab I saw that morning.. because I knew I had to make it back home fast.

At about 115am, I reached home, showered and decided to take a nap at about 230am. So did SH (who came to my house so we could take the cab to airport together)... and it was a bad choice. And so.. we both fell asleep, set 2 alarms to wake up at 4am.

The next thing I knew was SH shaking me out of my sleep and telling me it was 530am. 530am!! flight... 650am.. we had to check in 40mins before.. which meant that we got to reach the airport by 610am. Boy was I panicking.. but I think it made me like a commando.

All I could do was tell SH, go! brush your teeth! use this toilet, and I'll use the other! (while he was in his state of shock). Within 10mins, we washed up, grabbed out remaining stuff, pulled our bags out and rushed down to get a cab. By 545am, we were on the taxi heading towards the airport. Told the driver to hurry but he seemed to be going rather slow on purpose, very confidently saying, don't worry we can make it, that he had driven someone who only had one hour left before depature. I was still panicking (we cannot miss the flight to hk!! we can't) and I was just totally cold to what he was saying, as my mind played silly images of us stranded at the airport unable to board the plane.

6am we got to the entrance and I rushed in with our passports as SH paid the driver and got the bags out of the cab. We finally checked in and headed straight through the immigration, for the plane.

We were now bound for HongKong, at last! =)