Here i am again

I hesitate a little to write this post because it's been so long. I find that it takes longer to express myself in writing compared to before. But the thought of returning to blog has been festering in my mind for some time and i think it's time to write again before i lose touch with that faculty forever.

Some updates since my last post one year ago (!)

1) Started a new business with my friends

This is by far the biggest change in my life. This takes up 70% of my life.

2) Gain an unprecedented amount of weight.

Well, not really unprecedented, because i did gain alot of weight in a single month in primary and secondary school. But not since i lost all that excess weight in 2000 had i been so heavy. This update is the most troubling of all the recent year changes because now i have to exert alot of time and effort to losing weight again. Bleaahh...

3) Become a flextarian and aiming to be a lacto ovo vegetarian

Flextarian is someone who is a vegetarian usually but eats meat occasionally for cultural, nutritional reasons. Well for me the reason is because i still have the occasional hankering for meat. And i can never be a true vegetarian because i can never never not eat dairy and eggs. Imagine not being able to eat cake and ice creams. Ever! I can't imagine that.

It all started a mere 3 weeks ago, when i realised how much meat i take. Even my friends had remarked on this. I wasn't like this when i was younger, because i am sure everyone would remember me as the "salad" or the "vegetable" person. But with the stress in the recent year, (cannot think of recent time when i actually have a day for myself) i had really let myself go back to my very bad habits. I haven't visited a gym in ages. 

So really, this new diet is for myself. I am glad that it helps the environment and that it complements my religious beliefs but the main reason why i want to be a lacto ovo vegetarian is because i want to be healthier again. But it does build new awareness to my life regarding sustainability, sanctity of life and Buddhism.

I don't really miss meat so much, just that limiting my diet do inconvenience my life abit. I will most definitely go for food trails and all, just that that will happen less regularly.

4) Driving

At once liberating, confining, convenient and not

Liberating/convenience: the number of things and places you can do in a single day with a car. Very good for someone like me who likes to grab a few things from somewhere and run. Can bring alot of things around in a car. Loves driving to a bookstore or library or supermarket.

Driving a car can be so surreal for me. I always thought it will be a skill impossible for me considering how clumsy and blur i am but unbelievably i passed, and the feeling of driving is so indescribable. The feeling of freedom, of how you can go where ever you want is very very intoxicating.

Confining: Running errands, expectations, parking, costs, driving fatigue, lack of exercise, and traffic sux so much in Singapore!(jams most of the time, and being caught speeding means heavy fines and points deducted)

I still love taking the buses, despite the fact that i might have to stand, because sometimes it really feels good to be driven around. and it's nice to see the scenery pass by and you can just daydream or think.

ok, spent too much time writing, time to do stuff!

New blogskin!

Lots of hiccups! Still under amendments!

It's been a long time since i last update!

Not very surprising if i consider my blogging history. :)

I am definitely going to change my blogskin. Am very tired of the overly saccharine current skin and want something purer and simpler. It will surely take some time, but the process of finding and editing the right blogskin is fun. :)

I am chionging driving lessons now in anticipation of my test on 21 April. Hoping i can pass! Driving will be very liberating i am sure although i still drive with fear.

Am also going for Art lessons with Lucy and i have to say, i really like painting. Not that great wielding the brushes but i will try!

Went to Batam with Lucy and Giant over the weekend and it was fun and rather interesting. Love the hotel we stayed in - Holiday Inn, really good food! (Burger and Thai food! Finger licking good!) Ate the obligatory seafood dinner at Golden prawn (Not bad, but somewhat disappointing. Tasted better in Singapore.) Went for a $8 reflexology, ate at A & W and shopped at the Nagara Hill. All in all, a really great holiday. It reminded me of the Cameron Highland trip. There were alot of wilderness in Batam. Saw a lone nursery there. Wonder what interesting plants Batam holds.

]

Had been chionging manga and books since i got back and i love love the library! I found really great mind altering books there. Borrowing is free so it allow me to get books i won't dare buy in bookstores. Will probably post some nuggets of wisdoms i found in the books soon for discussion.

Till then! Take Care Folks!

Been thinking....

of taking a diploma in art or design... part time i suppose.

Love the GCS forum people. Very friendly, generous and helpful. :D

Some miscellaneous updates

Erm, happy new year? Righto, had been too lazy to update my blog since Christmas. Have been busy lately spring cleaning. I like CNY, but sometimes the stress gets to me. Factors in very uncooperative family members and my temper runs quite high during this period. I believe my neighbours think of murder everytime we quarrel and that explains why they always give us wide breadths and slitty eyes when we cross paths. We are quite a loud and boisterous family. :)

Not alot to update, but i have been meeting old friends lately. Met the Monash people back for holidays, Bao, Min, Eunice who are really quirky and cute. hahah... Feels like they had matured alot somehow. Met Malvin through Yi Fang, who i had not contacted for a few years. As usual he is witty, really knowledgeble and incredibly helpful. I find it really sad that it is the nicest people who had to suffer the most setbacks and misfortunes. He took us to Daiso, GNC, Watson etc to look at skincare products and boy does he know alot!

Also met up with Yi Fang and joined by her cousin Janelle much later at Chinatown to sing KTV. It was a very enjoyable experience. The place doesn't look like much but the service was ok, the room (behind the drinks counter hmm... ) we were allocated was sweet and cosy and $10 for 5 hours for Ktving as well as free flow drinks and a bowl of sharks' fin (fake of course waddoya expect?) were pretty much fantastic! Best of all, they had quite a fair bit of English music! Even Missy Elliot and Newton Faulkner's original mtvs. MTVs! MTVs!! I nearly fell off the sofa when i chanced upon them. I never sang so much in my life before. After that i thought i nearly pass out from exhaustion. Oh yes! Before the Ktv experience we went up the Smith street hawker centre to lunch and wow i have to say the food is pretty damn fantastic. I ate the poh piah and chicken and char siew Che Cheong Fan (and stole some pork noodle from YF) and swooned. I ate better Che Cheong Fan at Alexander Village in Bukit Merah but this one was pretty good too. Too bad i never took pictures. I always always forget to take pictures when i eat. The anticipation of eating is so overwhelming i forget to do anything else!

Saw my ex colleagues for mala hotpot at Chinatown and i got to say this. DO NOT EAT CHONGQIN hotpot at SMITH STREET! I love Chinatown food, love all the eateries there to bits except THIS. Felt so pai sei because i was the one to recommend this but they took it well. I tried to remain inconspicuous during dinner but fortunately they assumed stoic expressions and tried not to wince when they swallow their food whole. Can see that they are repressing their natural instinct to gag. Chen Kun was very very quiet. He said he was enjoying the food but we all know that if he opens his mouth the food will just come right back up. Food isn't too good because it's not fresh. Everything looked quite slimy and the cooked food oily and grimy. Argh. But Genevieve livened up the dinner by talking alot. alot. (feel the need to emphasize that) hahah! She and her friend Jason were really garrulous. Then we went to walk around Chinatown while i practise my photography skills. Chen Yen is so sweet! She is so excited and happy to see everything. :D She added alot of pleasure to the outing. Took alot of pictures, most of them quite lousy. Will post it here when i have more time. Am hoping to go there again soon because Chinatown is simply gorgeous during this time. There it is. Pretty much of what i did. It was fun recollecting the memories of the rare outings with these friends.

Hmm... wanted to simply write two three lines of update and it became a essay.

I watched two fantastic shows today. Voices, a Japanese drama and Rideback, a well... Japanese anime. Can't wait! Can't wait for the next episodes! (anticipating something can really add fulfillment in our lives.)

Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! It's been a frenzy of gifts buying and wrapping but oh boy oh boy i love this festive season. Giving and receiving presents is always so heartwarming... >_<

With the new Sarah Mclachlan's Christmas cd, Janice's huge and juicy turkey and cool, light rain, christmas eve is quite perfect. :)

Simple dinner (due partly i only had like half an hour to cook before the rest collapse from hunger), only 3 porkchops because they are exclusively for my mom. She can't eat turkey this year, hope she recover from her cough soon.

Am loving the melancholic song Wintersong by Sarah Mclachlan.

Loves her voice, so warm and clear.

Life in focus

Watching/watched
Nothing really. Don't even watch any anime now or J drama because there is nothing interesting. Am repeatedly hounding the nearby Videoezy for House md s4/s5. I am quite an oddity, unlike many of my peers, i don't watch much tv. When i do, i watch shows they dun watch.

Reading/Read
The only good English book i can recall reading lately is Ariana Frankin's City of Shadow which tells of the Romanov and World War II. Good story and writing although there were some bits that was quite far-fetched.
I used to love David Hewson 's Nic Costa's mysteries but while the storyline is always intriguing and the characters delightfully quirky the prose had been increasingly choppy and it's highly distracting. That's why i can't finish his latest book Dante's number.
Also reading Christopher Fowler's The Water Room and i absolutely love the eccentric protagonists. They are old and cranky but yet possesses a certain droll humour distinctive of the Brits. I am so going to get the other books in the series.
I love British humour. It is way more subtle and intelligent than say the American in-your-face humour.

Games
I am going to get Persona 4 next week. Most of the gameshops doesn't have it yet and those that have are so far from my place. Persona 4 is unique in the sense that it actually has sim and rpg elements in a game plus a good plot. can't wait can't wait!
Finished playing Fable 2 and i must say that the game is disappointing. It does shine in some areas such as the social interactions and moral choices but it gets very repetitive. Add on a chunky menu section and shallow plot well... i got really bored. I find myself comparing it with Oblivion quite alot and find Fable 2 wanting. Oblivion might be repetitive too but there are so much more depth to it. (etc spell casting, combat and plot.)

Anticipating
Christmas! Ah... the stress of buying presents. I will promise myself to buy all the presents (after all i've got plenty of time now) by next Fri so i can enjoy Christmas in peace. Tomorrow i will put up the trees in my (ex) office and home. Had procrastinated far too long. Lots of christmas dinners and lunch and looking forward to dolling up for a change. I'm like young only once. :D Already thought of what updos i am going to wear but they will consist of bottles of hairsprays and lots of pins. Ah well... once a yr...

Planning
Buying presents mainly. And they are huge headaches because i really hope they'll love the presents i give them. So i will take alot of time and effort to choose them.
Oh and i want to buy nice dresses. Went to Haji and Far East on Saturday but i don't see anything i like. Only bought like 3 jackets (!) and a whole load of accessories. Well, worse come to worse i just borrow them from my sister. Surreptitiously of course. hehe...
I foresee i will be baking alot this season too. Hehe... goodness, seems like i got alot of things to do.

Thinking
Been reading books (like dummy books hahah) on Buddhism and Philosophy. Had not read enough to comment on anything just as yet but they are very interesting. I always find it sad that some of my peers find Buddhism and Taoism "unfashionable", "for the old only" or "superstituous". Each religion has its own beliefs and that we should be free to believe what we want (as long as it teaches good). We should be tolerant and respectful to other religions especially if we do not know enough of it to comment on it. I am of the mind that all religions are the same (for the good of mankind) and that we are simply worshipping the same gods/god. Differences from various religions come about due to the variance of races, cultures and perceptions we have in the world. Just my humble opinion. It really bothers me when i see people fighting in the name of religions.

Ending Remarks
Am luxuriating in bumming bliss. No need to be accountable to anyone for now except myself. I am also trying to make up for the lost sleep over the busy period during exam and work and every day i wake up (late) marvelling to myself that i don't have any plans for that day! Isn't that great? Of course i feel somewhat guilty (kinda take the edge off the happiness) but i had been working and studying almost none stop since i was 21 and i really need a break.
After the holiday stress i am going to do overhaul of my home. Make everything spic and span and get ready for Chinese New Year instead of leaving everything last minute. (i used to have the excuse of work and study but now nada.) Am actually relishing it (Being a typical Virgo and a masochistic one lol) because my home had been collecting years of rubbish and dust. Can't wait to actually make it pretty. My ending remark is getting long, so till next time!

Pictures finally!

Haha, just the recollection of yesterday makes me chuckle to myself. What a tumultuous day indeed.

I started off the day by going to gym, staving off fingers-gnawing hunger and ran for 25 (yes yes i know is very little) minutes. I suppose that my stamina and speed has increased. I can now run faster and somewhat longer. But i am really really bored. Was thinking if i should drag Joseph to my gym since he needs to lose weight too. Why why why do 3/4 of my friends live so far away from me? The remaining friends refuses to acknowledge the word gym exists in their world or that they are skinny as a pencil. Ok, i shall now contradict myself by saying that i also like exercising alone. One of my revelations this year is that i simply cannot multi-task. Take studying for example. I can hardly concentrate when i study with someone else. I will talk alot. Studying sessions will become gossip or philosophizing fest. Does this mean that i have too many Y chromosomes? Shucks.

Exercising alone let me think. And my mind will wanders off to irrelevant tangents. Which i really excels in. Haha... I guess i should just download more music to the handphone, am getting quite numb to John Mayer. Another 10 mins on the stepper or something and i had to rush home so i can meet Yh at 2. Of course, the meeting at 2pm never materialized. I only realized at far east that i forgotten to bring phone. And being the klutz i am, i never took the trouble to remember her number. I tried calling home but my dearest (notice the mangling of the 2nd syllabus and the sound of gashing teeth) siblings were so deep in their sublime slumbers that they did not hear my countless calls using the taxi driver's hp. It was very nice of the man. He was quite reluctant to lend me the phone initially but i guess i managed to persuade him with my quivering lips and pleading eyes. (definitely not by my great beauty) After that he began to share my panic and we started to curse together the endless cars that waylay our frantic journey. i finally reached home after 18 levels of emotional hell and found 13 missed calls by a certain person. Instead of answering my call with a metaphoric sharpening of a saw to slit my tardy throat i got a "where are you? i was worried sick!" Forgetting the perspiration dotting my forehead, the pull-until-become-bird-nest-hair and somewhat disarrayed clothes, i was struck dumb by her kindness and goodwill. Anyone else i know will be screaming bloody murder at me but she was worried about me! Ok, at this point i will like to say she is single for the time being and i have no doubt that she will be taken very soon because she is not only kind, sweet and vivacious but she is really gorgeous as well. (Eligible males please send a msg to my phone. 1.78m above need applies.) I was really touched by her and Lucy's concern and reached Far east again sheepishly. Hiaz...

So we met Huiling and Lucy at 4 something and we went shopping for Joseph's present! (and cake) and of course we all bought something for ourselves there. Far East Plaza is THE shopping haven for girls/women. I love Haji Lane for its eclectic range of hard to find fashion and an edgy atmosphere but FEP has far more range and variety. I bought the glittery sandal i was eyeing that day at 30% off as it was the last pair (mixed feelings about this) and an adorable pink wooden deer necklace. (when am i going to grow up?!) Huiling bought a shimmering bronze dress for an important wedding function (the dress is gorgeous and fit her like a t. >_<); Lucy bought 2 pairs of shoes, also shimmery and metallic. (Very chic!) and finally YH bought a denim vest. (glad she found a pair that she likes since she didn't bought the one in Japan) For Joseph, we bought a black leather bag and a nice black forest cake and we headed to mind cafe at Purvis Street for the birthday celebration! We honestly had alot of fun. The place was quite noisy so we all talked at our loudest volume and the laughing and shouting made my throat quite hoarse. Lol. Really super funny! Some pictures (at last i know) to give ppl an idea.

Joseph still stuffing his face. Hahah! the cake must be damn good!

Really the funniest moment of the day. From this picture can you guess that she is acting out the word "protestor"? We all thought it might be "president" or something for all the hand waving she did. Hahaha... We all laugh until the place rumble.

Thurga (aka Vulture/and Bla**** non politically correct but what the heck, she calls me "doggie with sports shoes" and "dumpling" unreservedly) and Ernest (Horse hahah! and he makes the neigh~ sound very convincingly and non embarrassingly), you guys might not be there physically but your presence is definitely felt on Saturday. Our group is like a zoo. Other than the above, lucy is a tweety bird, yu han (boy) is a fish, Giant is otherwise known as a pony (christianed by horse) and Joseph is the odd one out. He is a bean. (Mr Bean. hahaha!)

I think i will add some last day pictures as well.

hahah! Most of the pictures are impromptu so this was taken when Adrian is lamenting about me going or something. He just cut his hair and it made him look even funnier. HAHAHA! He always look so funny. Can you believe he is my boss?! He explicitly (with threats of murder) asked me not to put his pictures but really... i can't help it!

My bosses (Adrian and Trivina, who is so incredibly nice to me. >_<) and Willie. Who cannot sleep unless he suan me or ask me some inane question to aggravate me. LOL... Bosses took us to Anchorpoint Cha chan tin to celebrate (ya, their word) my last day. hahah! Should have ordered more, but i wanted to save them money, ended up see my colleagues order so much!

Grabbed the gals to take a picture with them. My mouth was full. Stupid Willie!

Chen Yen on the left and Genieveve on the right. Only known G for like 1 month at the most and CY for 1 1/2 week? But can feel da connection. Lol...

Was urged by the buggers to finish my food because they ask me "not to waste food." Closed my eyes in mental concentration, my mouth is bulging with food again.

Jasper and me. The super joker of the company but also the sandwich provider. hahah!

Denny, another suanner. Sorry but i really have to put this picture! HAHHAH!! Denny with the wings i bought for Halloween.

That it! Tomorrow is another holiday! Must sleep more!!!!!!!

Insubstantial things

(Mon) The past one week passed by like a blur. There were notable events like the release of my exams (which made me ecstatically happy initially then blah the next) and that the school rejecting my appeal to take Psychology for summer on the basis that i applied too late. (And i had paid and all.) Ah well... at least i have 3 months to slack. I am still working sadly... Because i need to coach the sweet new gal taking over my position and my last day will hopefully be this Fri. I was perpetually tired last week. Must be the combination of work and exercise. I will feel energized and happy after gym then after an hour, like death itself. But i can totally understand why exercise is addictive. It really feels good after a run. Unfortunately, my appetite has increased drastically. Shucks.
Met the Monash girls Mamta, Cindy and Maha today for reunion lunch and it was very fun and nostalgic. It is also sad because Cindy will be leaving Singapore somewhat for good. Ah well, i will find someway to see her again. Beware Cindy! I might pop up in front of you one day!
After gym on Monday i saw Natalie from my sec school (whom i never saw for like 8 years?!) and boy did we talked! We stood beside the noisy road and talked for 2 whole hours. Talked? More like gossiped. hhahah! I learnt news of my old classmates that were in turn gratifying, interesting and shocking. Life is truly unpredictable. You never know what you gets really. (in the wise words of Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump.)
(Thurs) Went to the dermatologist yesterday. She was very very good. Particularly patient and understanding. I managed to zap away the small but irritating swollen blood vessel on my nose i had for years and enquire about the recent itchy scalp problem. (if anyone need her contact let me know.) Walked around Orchard for a few hours and i have to physically restrain myself from buying anything. I love far east plaza! The place is full of treasures! I saw a bag that is really chic but it costs $119. Also drooled over a glittery sandal that costs $80+. Argh... After spending so much for the treatment i know i better control my spending. Argh! Dragged myself to the gym in the evening and to counter my utter boredom i talked to the Indian guy on the treadmill who comes religiously to the gym everyday and had so far lost like 20kg! Really cool. Respect respect.
Tomorrow will be my last day! I will endeavour to take as many pictures as i can so that i can remember those zany guys.

inane chatter II, honestly i am just a empty headed bimbo, without the good looks (lol)

Saturday! I wasn't looking forward for this day, because i got so many things to do, which i did. I just want to slack, dammit! Woke up at a unearthly hour at 8, (for a weekend at least, become a habit already... so sad.) did household chores for a few agonizing hours while the rest of my family lolled in their beds. Clean and scrub my gardening area and pots while expressing apologies to my long suffering plants. Then Cook! Wow, have not cook for a long time other than making some odd sandwiches. (But that doesn't count.) I opened my refrigerator and found half of ingredients missing. Where are all my eggs?! But i made do and bit back screams of anguish. Half way through my dad called me to gloat that I am now the ONE doing the household chores while he is traipsing the Malaysian countrysides photographing birds. I contemplated the wisdom of flinging plates around the kitchen but decided it was too much mess. Thank goodness i don't need to cook for my siblings because they won't wake up till mid afternoon at least these lazy buggers.

Finally took a leisurely brunch while reading the newspapers and lowering what is left of my IQ by watching the latest episode of Gossip girls. The show sucks. But it made for compulsive watching because i want to watch how low the plot can sink. I am pretty sure the writers strike had been over for a few months. I want HOUSE md s4!! The craggy face, tortured visage, lanky build and acerbic wit, not to mention the intense eyes... i am salivating am i?

I am sure there is alot of photoshopping done here but... you get the picture. Looks doesn't count. haha!

Not like me to moon so much but well.. I have to act like a gal sometimes!

I rushed off excitedly to school. I like the psychology teacher because he is quite a kind sweet man. He will be quite a teacher if he talks faster and insert more interesting subjects to the lecture. So I was fighting to keep awake as i listen to him talk. Around me, everyone looked black face and stern. I tried to talk to a few people but they look very guarded. So i ended up being very sian in the class. Seriously seriously misses my last semester friends. Hiaz... Good thing is that I met my Law teacher in school and was so happy to see his face. He even shook my hand. hahah... Much as i like him, i hope i don't get to see him next semester.

I ran off (quite literally) to the library and borrowed 6 books including a very interesting one on Sigmund Freud's cases. Woohoo! I also went to look at Bras Plaza for art classes but only saw a pathetic one which only offer design classes. I am interested, but Lucy and i need fine arts classes. Why is it so difficult to find one?

20% Kinokuniya members discount! I beelined to Kinokuniya after the library and got 1 magazine and 2 comic books. I look like i am shifting homes/or libraries at that point. I noticed that there aren't good new books in the bookstores lately. What's up with that?

Finally i carried the books to Soup Spoon to grab dinner. I love love love their soup. Surprisingly there was alot of empty seats despite Bugis being super crowded. So i read and eat at the same time. I know it's odd to eat alone, especially in a restaurant, but when you are occupied with a book, people fade away.

After alighting at Newton mrt, i decided (foolishly) to walk home with my load of 9 books. It took me 1 hour and 45 minutes and at one point i was really tempted to throw my books onto the road and let the cars run over them. I must have looked really limp and grouchy because a dog i passed by actually eyed me quite moanfully. A dog commiserating with me? Man... I reach a new low. Thank goodness i only met jogging caucasions (one with lots of holes in his shirt. lol) and cycling foreign workers as my body's reserve of water is depleted.

But i love walking. (read: only in the evening/night) I love the alternating sweet and woody smell of trees and flowers and of imminent rain; wind ruffling my hair and clothes; random thoughts fleeting through my mind. These are really sweet and simple pleasures i adore. And while i cursed my books and my throbbing feet, i think when time allows, i will do it again today, and tomorrow and the next.

End of long essay... now sleep for awhile before i start on another long day...zzz...

more inane chatter

It is another rainy day, another day of humdrum. So i thought as i went to work in the morning. And was greeted by Jasper's patented nutty honey mustard sandwich. Yummy! Despite his protests, I suspect it's his wife who made it. Taste too good to be made by this clownish and macho bugger. Everyone in the office had half a slice while he made a full sandwich for himself. Okkkk...
I also talked at length with a primary school classmate whom i found in facebook. 16 years! The last time i saw him was 16 years ago and we can talk so naturally on msn now. And about controversial topics like homosexuality (no we aren't) and "Tiger" shows in Bangkok somemore. Hahah! It was funny. I had to cover up quickly when my bosses walk pass. I am really not a model employee today.
The highlight of the day is when my bosses tell me that they have settled on someone they can replace me with!! WOOHOO! She will be coming next Monday and i only need to coach her for a week before i can gooo!! WOOHOO! Yes, despite my inner jubilations i felt tugs of sadness. I had been working in Rhema for more than a year and i love the people here. Definitely including my bosses. Everyone there are fair, kind, understanding and very funny people. And we share this unlikely chemistry with each other. Not chemistry actually, i reckon it is the "bully Sijin" spirit that they really have. hhaha... I can be totally myself there. As in the irrelevant and madcap person that i restrain myself from being because they are highly tolerant to my nonsense. haha! Maybe the people there are more nonsensical than me that's why. Now that i wrote this i am wondering why i am even leaving... No... i got too much things to do, most of all my family responsibilities. Oh man... i think i will really miss them...
I love taking the bus home, especially after a rain, especially when i am beside the window. It always put me in an introspective mood. And today is no different.
Realized i have been blogging quite alot lately. Which is unusual judging from the frequencies of my past entries. Well... writing is very cathartic. It does evoke alot of feelings and memories as i write but when i finish my last word there is a great sense of release and relief. I love writing and my secondary school teacher, Mr Quek, was instrumental to that. He even told the class that he will bring my journal (we used to write journals and the teachers will mark them.) home so he can read it at his own leisure. Hiaz... i love secondary school. While primary school remain the time i had unaffected unadulterated fun, secondary school was the time i was great in what i love to do. Which was art and literature. On the hindsight of the academic disaster that was junior college, i should have taken what i love instead of the conventional and the practical route. At that moment of time, i didn't dare to step out of the ordinary and now i have to suffer the rest of the way... Oh boy.. i suddenly really intensely miss my secondary school teachers... Mr. Sim, Mr. Teoh, Ms. Kathy Yeo (she is the greatest of all art teachers), Mr Quek, Ms. Chua... You might not realized the effect that your guidance give to your myriad students, but for us, it will stay with us for the rest of our lives...
I have always been horrendous at following up with people, with friends. I hope this holiday i can meet up with my old and new friends as well as my past teachers.

Busy weekend

Weekend

Verbal Diarrhoea- so dun read if you want to read something of substance.

What a busy busy weekend. I went to Yi Fang's home to play with her baby, and took some very blurred pictures because Si yan wants to try taking pictures. Haha! Good effort though. Managed to go Haji Lane to spend alot of money on clothes and shoes. Went to the Kuan Yin temple to pray because my eye had been consistently twitching these days, might be the lack of quality sleep but i never know. Met Caili awhile to look at some projects she had done. Rushed down to Bishan Herb garden to learn more about herb gardening. Finally having dinner with my parents after so long (months!) and buying 2 books so that i got something interesting to read. Sadly, i didn't manage to go to the gym again this weekend. Will chiong again during the weekday. After all, my membership only applies for weekdays and going in the weekend means i have to pay $5 for day pass. Seriously not worth it.

The best part of the weekend came yesterday as i am waiting for my father at the bus stop alone. It was coming dusk and the air was filled the scent of impending rain. It was quite cool and gentle breezes was brushing lightly against my skin. I was bored and decided to plug in my earphones to listen to John Mayer. I have only got John Mayer on my phone because i was lazy to download more music ever since i bought the phone. The music from W980 is sublime... Now i understand why some people buy the best and the most expensive sound systems. Gosh, I really love acoustic and i love John Mayer's voice. His voice is so husky and intoxicating. Especially when he sings "Falling" and "In your atmosphere." My hair literally stands on its ends.

As i was waiting, i saw the weirdest thing. A 40ish woman brisk walked pass me wearing black and white tailored work jacket on top and red sport SHORTS and SHOES below. She was also carrying stacks of documents on her hands and an umbrella hanging from her arm. The contrast is just jarring... I just look incredulously at her back as she walked quickly away. I guess i had that usual expression on my face la, you know lah friends, the mouth ajar and THAT frown. And i even placed a finger on my chin like "what the hell?" Then i turned around and saw someone in a car just infront of me laughing hilariously at ME. Bugger. No, is not my father.

Life in focus II

What I'm watching now

Michiko to Hatchin, Kuroshitsuji, Kurozuka, Mouryou no Hako, Gossip Girl. Mostly supernatural animes except for the last which is purely for sniggering purposes. Used to be actually interesting in the first season but deteriorate into something cliche and incoherant in the second.
When can i get my House md season 4?

Watched recently

Thanks to Caroline, Taken (a fantastic Liam Neeson, though the story is quite predictable and heavily sterilised), and Byosoku 5 centimeter (i vomitted blood throughout the show. Dun understand why the male protaganist so wishy washy and passive. He loves her so much, yet never do anything, just type unsent messages. Too stylised for my taste, gorgeous animation though.)

Reading now
Nothing interesting for the first time. I am waiting for Kinokuniya to get back to me on Phil Rickman's latest book. (which is released already but not here in Singapore... HIAZ...) I hate to say this Yun Jin but though Borders do have more books the customer service sux big time. The only time i can call in the system is down and the sales assistant never attempted to help look for my book. Kino will never let the customers down this way. We do have system slowdowns and failures but we always try our best.) Anyway, for the uninitiated, it is a fantastic UK series on a mystery solving pastor. I have reread each of his books at least twice. I need to visit the libraries pronto.

Games playing
Fable 2 (which is getting boring now); The Sims 2; The Lost Crown-Ghost hunting adventure (quite ok, the Saxon premises is quite intriguing but characters are uninspired and game isn't scary)

Anticipating
My tomato to ripen; Christmas; stopping work; online purchases to come; learning Japanese, Art and violin; going Malaysia and Bangkok in December; going to the gym (no really, it makes me happy after the self-induced torture.); taking Psychology; bookstores and libraries marathon; painting and drawing again

Planning
Going Malaysia and Bkk; to clean up home and room; getting fit; exploring Chinatown, Little India and Haji Lane & going to farms and MacRitchie Reservoir (who can i drag there? Rub hands.. heheh...)

Hating
Recent never ending breakouts; working; being broke.

Ending remarks
Really really missing Japan. Also been in a blue flunk lately. Haiz...

Where did my Fri and Sat go?

I resolve to work really hard next week. Have been the most lousiest employee for some time and the bosses have been really really nice about it. Haiz, i will seriously miss the people there if not the soul draining monotonous work.
It is the real start of my "holiday". Not say "holiday" now because i just learnt that i can take psychology this semester. That's great, because while i can lighten the load for my next semester, the workings of the human mind also intrigue me. Lucy, Yu han and i are always contemplating the utter unpredictability and intricacies of our psyche. We are the philosopher bunch and can talk about anything under the sun and beyond it in fact. Even cancelling the Halloween party so that we can talk. Take me for example, i am fantastically idiosyncratic. I tend to procrastinate more when i am stressed. The more work i need to do, the more i will divert my attention to less important things. Or that while i am very much an open book i will sometimes act in contradiction to my emotions so that i can hide behind the facade of impassiveness and detachness. This latter characteristic is something that we all 3 agree that we will do to protect ourselves from disappointment and uncertainty.

Chit chat hmm... I just realised that i am happier and comfortable with people who i can talk things with. People who actually have opinions, experience and perception about human issues. That is why i get along with people older than me better, Lucy and Yu han not including. I used to be very serious, focused and pensive when i was in secondary school, early part of JC and early part of monash college (i 'm sure Ilica and gang can attest) but as i grow older and know people who are younger, much younger, i guess i started to become more frivolous and immature. I do love that part of me, where i can banter, laugh freely, be spontaneous and nutty. (It came with a cost, because as i reflect now, i grow less driven and focused academically when i become like that. Guess that i am just someone who cannot multi task. Is either one way or the other.) But i still prefer talking, because this is when my real self comes in. When i marvel and deliberate at the things going around me, to discuss about things but to try not to judge because we are human and above all, fallable. I took feature writing last sem because of this and was devastated as the lecturer in Singapore is not charismatic and experienced enough to make the students discuss about human interest stories. Hiaz... well, i hope psychology is different. Hope that it will really give me something to think about.

Since when did this post become so serious and self indulgent? Wanted to write about the Caroline's slumber party and it evolved to this. Lol.. Ah well, i write about it tomorrow and all. It got some very unflattering pictures of me but i am going to post it up or Caiyun and gang will start snoring.

Post exam

I wake up after a measly 6 hours sleep with a racking cough. Thanks to you Adrian, i foresee i have to spend a big part of my holiday coughing my lungs out. Next time we really should enter your office with face masks and suits so we dun get infected by your miscellaneous illnesses. zzz.

Yesterday was my last day of exams and haiz, HIAZZ... I can only cross my fingers (and toes) and wish for the best. The paper wasn't tough, but all the things that i studied just happen to leak out of my brains before the exam. Ok, i am not going to think about it, pondering about things done only makes me crazy.

Was bombarded by calls and msgs by my parents after the exam. Then Caroline for tonight's slumber party. (I AM FINE WITH ANYTHING!! LOL!) It will be really good to see the girls again after so long... I have sorely neglected you guys. Dun worry, this holiday you will see so much of me that you might puke. (not surprising with the breakout i am having.)

I went to work after the horrible exam very sadly. Thinking of how slowly time will move there. I was really exhausted and didn't have the mood to think anymore. It is incredible how Nicole and Janice can work full time and study simultanously. I guess for me...one part is that i am really bored with the job scope and that i'm so tired of working. so so so tired... Have been working almost non stop since i was 19. I just want to do my own stuff for awhile. But I love the people there. We are absolutely the most spontaneous and wackiest ppl there. And i never laugh so much anywhere else before. These people are nuts.

After work, with really small squinty eyes since my eyes are really tired i finally get to see a friend that i have not seen for MONTHS. Yi fang, will make up to you i promise. :) She brought Yan yan along and i am absolutely charmed. She is so adorable and sweet! The nicest thing about her is that she is so happy and bubbly, bouncing here and there, letting me carry her, hold her hands. Another great thing is that Yi fang gave me a belated birthday present (s) and i am really touched by the effort she took to choose and buy it for me. I love them girl. Thank you. ^_^

Managed to coerce them to Borders ahahah! Feel somewhat guilty because Yi Fang doesn't read, but she happily read to Yan Yan while i did a quick run around the place and was really sian to see no interesting books to buy. After buying two miserable magazines so that i got something to read at least, we went up Wheelocks Place to talk about very interesting things. LOL...

Ok, my eyes are shutting again, wonder if i got time to sleep before i get ready for work. This is a very disjointed effort of writing, will refine it again if i got the time... now...zzzz.....

Day 1 (Part 2 ) in Japan

So we reached Dai-Ichi Tokyo Hotel! Sad to say, we didn't really take any pictures of the hotel. Why? I dunno! Not the exterior anyway. you can take alook at their website at http://www.daiichihotels.com/hotel/tokyo/ When we reached the hotel we were exhausted. But also quite pumped up to explore the area. Dai-ichi is located at Shimbashi, which is like 10 mins walk to Ginza and it's really very quiet actually. We thought it might be really buzzling with people. In fact, we thought that Tokyo seems quite quiet when we went there, despite it was in the midst of the golden week. Ok, some pictures of the hotel room we took when we reach the room. Wah, so psyche when we enter the room. It looks really girly and pretty. Most of the hotel is done up with pink strips wallpaper.

It actually give a key to open our room door! Isn't it unique?

View from the window. It overlooks the railway but the sound was pretty muffled so is ok.

Super gorgeous Victorian style toilet. The range of toiletries they supplied was incredible. All Shisedo stuff. And they keep on refilling everytime they do house cleaning. Which is like everyday. I bought back all the stuff, will post a pic of them when i got time.

Japanese legendary toilet bowl. With many functions on the left. Personally i never used it. First, no time, secondly, abit leery where the water comes from. One great touch of their toilet bowl is that it is warm when you sit on it! Great in cold weather.

We went out to find dinner. As you can see, we were damn shiok to reach there.

We finally choose a small Japanese restaurant. Have to order and pay immediately by pressing what you want on this machine. then pass the slip to the obasan at the counter.

Curry katsu don tasted damn yummy! But i suspected the sauce contains beef. But i try to finish all the food i can since I've already ordered it. Lucy and my rationale is that though we shouldn't eat beef, we shouldn't waste it if we unknowingly ordered it since the cow sacrificed its life for us already. This costs less than S$10 bucks. Free self service barley water!

That concludes the first day in Japan!

Japan day 1

Ah, the joy and misery of procrastination. You know you need to do a whole lot of homework and stuff yet you just feel compelled to do meaningless and yet oddly satisfying things like writing on blogs, learning photoshop, watching japanese anime and drama, doing a marathon reading of 4 books in 2 days. Sigh... it's just those period in your life you have so much to really work on, yet you can't bring yourself to do.

Well, back to the main purpose of the post. Japan day 1. It's been exactly 2 week since the day we arrived in Japan and it feels like a dream now. It felt like a dream then, it feels more like it now.

Our flight was at 8.30am and i reached Changi Airport at 7.15am with my parents and sis. I was feeling v weepy (am embarrassed to say). Close friends will know that i never been overseas with my friends before and i am feeling excited and worried at the same time. I could already feel the homesickness setting in and i haven't even left the country! I so love my family. My mom gave me a hongpao on the road to the airport and i started crying for real because my mom had been very protective of me; she used all sorts of ways to prevent me from going overseas for so long and yet now she is relenting so graciously, even offering to help me buy my insurance the day before. My father and sister, while being stoic presences in the car, had supported me and help me so much during the preparation. My dad was so sweet as to help me buy lots of medicine for the trip and worried over my welfare in Japan. I was surprised my sister volunteered to send me off. (i know how protective she is over her sleep) and the nicest thing was that she offered to let me borrow her precious clothes to wear in Japan. (I choose a scarf and a checkered shirt) I was missing them everyday when i was in Japan.

Upon reaching the airport to meet Agnes and Lucy (who were there early), we set off to weigh and check in our luggages. My 22" luggage weigh only 9kg, proud to say. My family skipped off to Imperior Treasure for breakfast where my mom complained the lack of variety of food they serve for breakfast and then it's time to set off!

My cool sis and camera (s) obsessive dad at the Changi airport restaurant

Me and my funny mom

My mom and us!

It was an exhausting 6+ hours flight. I was initially excited to see the clouds and the sky but boy was it boring. The food comprising of fish and vege was nice to look at but somewhat saltish. Oh, the good thing was that we have a personal tv, so i ended up watching some miscellaneous movies. Lucy was avidly watching Ps-I love you. It looks pretty good except i can't watch any sad shows as i will tear up and boy i had enough of that for 1 day.

Finally we arrived at the Narita airport! Oddly enough, it feels like an extension of Changi. Doesn't feel like we're in Japan. We got hit by a burst of cold air when we stepped into the airport and pretty much pave the way for the weather the whole time we were in Japan. Oh, we saw a really cute AIRPORT TECHNICIAN when we arrived! Lucy remarked he looked even better than Kimura Takuya! I was like WOAH! Japanese guys are really pretty hot. They have predominantly sharp features, pretty tall and lean and stylish to boot, not that it's surprising since this is Japan we're talking about. Lots of eye candies walking about.

I didn't much take any pics of the airport since we are exhausted but it was quite efficient. Everything was done quickly and they even have someone to carry our luggage from the luggage collection point. We got somewhat lost finding where we can buy our Suica + N'ex card and i was trying to get a rental phone so i can call home. I gave up when i learnt they only take credit card. After we board the N'ex running, since we were trying to board the earliest train to Tokyo station we spend another hour navigating to our hotel. One thing for sure, Tokyo really dun have enough escalator and lifts in their train stations! We have to lug our heavy luggages from Tokyo to Shimbashi through neverending flights of stairs. It was challenging man. Especially for Giant, since she have to carry and extra big and heavy suitcase.

Finally, we reached Dai-ich Hotel Tokyo. And i think the hotel really rue the day they accepted our reservations since we are a mass of trouble for them. *Giggle* But their service is truly top rate, they stay helpful and tolerant until our last day. Argh! Oddly enough, none of us took pictures of the hotel. The exterior i mean. But it was pleasantly cosy and classy. And the room was very comfortable.

To be continued!

I want more time!

To make bento and cook
To go shopping
To read more
To lose weight
To sleep
To be more self absorbed
To watch more anime and J-Drama

My life in focus

What i am watching now

A lot of Japanese animes and dramas
Himitsu, Itazura na Kiss, Kimi Hannin Janai yo ne e, Nabari no Ou, Kurenai, Crystal Blaze

Reading now

Just the Straits Time for now. Oh, and the Japanese magazines like Soup and Seventeen.

Anticipating now

Caroline's housewarming, Eunice's bdae bash, new haircut, finishing all assignments, getting a new flip phone, unpacking all the things bought recently from Japan

Planning now

How to lose the excess weight gained recently, a new chicer haircut and how to finish all my damn assignments

Dressing now

Very Japanese inspired layering and feminine look

Happy about now

Having gone to Japan with Lucy and Giant, seeing my family again after 1 week and luxuriating on my own bed, back in the familiarity and comfort of Singapore

Hate now

Having to bia all my assignments, going back to the monotony of my life, the heat in Singapore (35 degree!)

Thinking now

Why is Japan so much more efficient, cleaner and vibrant than Singapore? How i can understand why people says that Singapore's service sucks now that i had been to Japan. How nice and helpful the Japanese can be. How the Japanese can look so stylish and put together? (as Lucy puts it-the particular class they have that no other country can emulate) When i can go Japan again~