You'll Never Walk Alone

Wonderful Tonight

2008-11-19T03:18:00.000-08:00

It's late in the evening
She's wondering what clothes to wear
She puts on her make up
And brushes her long blonde hair
And then she asks me
Do I look alright
And I say yes, you look wonderful tonight

We go to a party
And everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady
That's walking around with me
And then she asks me
Do you feel alright
And I say yes, I feel wonderful tonight

I feel wonderful
Because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize
How much I love you

It's time to go home now
And I've got an aching head
So I give her the car keys
She helps me to bed
And then I tell her
As I turn out the light
I say my darling, you were wonderful tonight
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight

Invinsible - Muse

2008-11-19T03:11:00.003-08:00

Follow through
Make your dreams come true
Don't give up the fight
You will be all right
Cause there's no one like you
In the universe

Don't be afraid
What your mind conceives
You should make a stand
Stand up for what you believe
And tonight we can truly say
Together we're invincible

And during the struggle
They will pull us down
But please, please let's use this chance to
Turn things around
And tonight we can truly say
Together we're invincible

Do it on your own
Makes no difference to me
What you leave behind
What you choose to be
and whatever they say
Your soul's unbreakable

And during the struggle
They will pull us down
But please, please let's use this chance to
Turn things around
And tonight we can truly say
Together we're invincible
Together we're invincible

And during the struggle
They will pull us down
Please, please let's use this chance to
Turn things around
And tonight we can truly say
Together we're invincible

Blast from the past

2008-10-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

Lost In You

2008-09-24T22:49:00.000-07:00

Lying wide awake under strange skies

Wanting to call you, but it is late at night

And you're far away, but you are always on my mind

I feel like I'm on fire, nothing I can do

I'm troubled with doubt, though it know its not true

And it's times like these when I am dying to speak to you

Dying to get through, I'm dying to speak to you

Dying to get through, I'm dying to speak to you.

Staring at the wall, I sink inside

I think about it all, I get caught up in my life

I can't think straight, because it's tearing up my mind

I feel like I'm on fire, nothing I can do

I'm troubled with doubt, though I know it is not true

And it's times like these when I am dying to speak to you

Dying to get through, dying to get through

The more that I think how I need you

The more that I think, the more it seems true

And now it means more that I ever meant it to

Ever meant it to

Lying wide awake under strange skies

Wanting to call you, but it is late at night

And you're far away, but you are always on my mind

You are always on my mind

You are always on my mind.

Lost In You - Ash

2008-06-25T01:43:00.000-07:00

So its been one and a half weeks into my formal employment as an Insurance Executive at XinJiaBo Airlines (pardon the translation, i dont wanna be traced. Google is powerful these days). This certainly marks the start of a (hopefully) rewarding career. I cant ask for more, for this appointment has provided me the ideal platform to realise my dreams.

I have always wanted to work in an office, dealing with issues that will have a substantial impact on the company.
I've always wanted my presence and input in a workplace to be of relevance and importance.
I've always wanted my talents to be harnessed and even exploited for the right cause.
I've always wanted to be part of a dynamic environment, working together with fellow colleagues to churn profits.
I've always wanted to eventually be a manager, providing directions and guidance to a group of fellow co-workers.
I've always wanted to be part of an established and huge firm, thereby providing some sort of assurance for a sustained career track. (at the very least, it makes ur CV look good)

First day at work, and I was introduced to my colleagues, who turn out to be a great bunch of people whom I subsequently had lunch with everyday. I was brought to my desk, which is huge and lodged in the middle of an even bigger cubicle...makes me feel damn important la. I was introduced to my assistants, who are like the nicest and most experienced staff around. I was introduced to the huge staff canteen where I can get really good food that's even cheaper than prices at arts canteen in nus.

So seriously, what more can I ask for?

Well of course, not everything is as rosy as it sounds. But for now, I shall just appreciate all good things that come.

On a side note, I must thank the gf for her support throughout this period. The past month was just wonderful. Words cant describe.
Once again I cant ask for more.
thank u!

Abang's minah

2008-05-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

End of the journey

2008-05-09T01:59:00.000-07:00

So this is it..my educational journey has ended.

While waiting for the invigilators to collect my final exam script from us, I sat at the table, and somehow, everything just came gushing back.
From the very first day my mum held my hands and walked me to Yamaha Nursery (I vaguely remember that)....to

-the throes of first day jitteries in Primary 1...
-the countless spelling, Ting Xie, mental sums, CA, Exams....
-Primary 3 streaming that more or less determines your future...
-COUNTLESS tuition, music lessons, art classes...
-Awarded "Most Courteous Boy" award for 3 years running and having to wear that fugly singa lion collar pin everyday (ok, back then i thought it was cool)...
-PSLE that brought so much joy to my parents coz I managed to squeeze my ass into Special Stream...
-Wide-eyed idiot in Sec 1 idolizing every damn senior who are actually idiots as well...
-Taking up Taekwondo as CCA that changed alot of my perspectives and honed all that leadership skills...
-Struggling with fucking Higher Chinese...
-Taking up weirdass courses in school like Mathematics Olympiad enrichment course, German Enrichment course, Chinese Caligraphy...
-Constantly getting nipples pinched in the morning assembly by a 55yr old form teacher for talking...
-Acing my O levels with 7 distinctions and made my parents damn proud that their son is actually not some dumb twit and can actually get a place in NJC...
-Dashing all their hopes by screwing A levels up and having to settle for a spot in FASS (which til this day, i have not regretted a single bit. The opportunities, friendship, perspectives, ideologies, skills gained is priceless. period.)...
-Taking up Choir in JC, realising my dreams of making music, collectively...
-Met the girl of my dreams.. finally understood what a crush means, while deluding myself all the while that I was actually falling in love. gah...
-Met a bunch of cocker classmates that I will always remember....for they shaped my life quite drastically...
-Realising that studying ain't a walk in the park...
-Stepping in NUS as a cynical bastard thinking I've seen the world because of 2 puny years in NS...
-Facing lots of new challenges (read: studies, girls & friendship)
-getting a place in KR...
-completing the 4 year cycle of essays-midterms-exams
-feeling more and more accomplished by writing 5000-7000 worded essays and actually getting As for them
-getting frantic in job searching and hunting
-Finally appreciating what political science means....and that its not just a major, its the perspectives, the thoughts, the ideologies, the skills, the people, the lecturers, and most importantly, the friends.

Of course, the invigilator has collected my script long before i racked up all that thoughts....but its nostalgic nonetheless. I guess everyone has to go through a phase like that in their lifes, and then having to decide what paths to take next. We are no longer part of the programme...the ill-fated programme that kicks in the moment we register for Primary 1...the programme that determines our very next step without us actually making any sort of significant decisions.

I guess right now, I can only savour the moment....this very precious post-education, pre-working period....where i can have the liberty to slack, eat, club, drink, merry-make all i want....

And i just did that actually...went for a nice swim.

Ok...i know this looks abit gay.....
but FUCK IT COZ I'VE GRADUATED BAYBEHH!!!

On exams, career, and beejay

2008-04-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

In the midst of exams, we tend to do utterly stupid things. We do jackshit on facebook, youtube, and msn....anything but studying.

And so the honours room has been filled with the familiar tunes of Benny Lava the last few days. Its haunting tunes and lyrics will stay in our heart and soul for days and weeks to come...possibly years. For the uninformed, please do check out this video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA1NoOOoaNw

Its the legendary Buffalax at work. His talents are amazing. period.
I've since been kind enough to do some research on my part, and here's the full set of lyrics:

Have you been high today?
I see the nuns are gay!
My brother yelled to me…I love you inside Ed!
My loony bun is fine Benny Lava!
Minor bun engine made Benny Lava!
I told a high school girl…I love you inside me!
I’d love to see you pee on us tonight!
You feel me up with doom.
Quit looking up at me!
You got a minute girl?
The puppy had a fee!
Don’t think I do love herWe’re looking in a pill!
All of them like the bun!
Now poop on them Oliver!
You know the hole to put it!
Your pundit got armor!
Who put the goat in there?
The yellow goat I ate!
(I like to swim in it)
(I like to swim in his)
(BEEJAYYYY)
A nerd to punk a nerd.
I’m bleeding Fucking A!
That stuff is pink colored!
Some day I sell DNA!
This boar ain’t very cool.
You need a Hindi yew!
Got into Seattle.
I’ll lay a friend of yours!
I fought a barber man!
We know what’s in butter rum!
A jet pack… operation…Send him the crazy Hindu!
Whatever! My Sadist!All baked and cooked alive!
I lick you… Belinda…The ninja made a movement.
Tell Donna… No collar…I’ll do what body loves!
I put papaya there.
You love me inside there!
Have you been high today?
I love you inside me!

Now, someone pass that dude a Grammy.

On a more serious note, studying in the hons room has never been more exciting.
This semester's studying season kicked off with an episode of cheese.
I shall not elaborate the significance of cheese, for it is exclusive to the pact made by the cheeseboys which include me, sean, kel fu and jit. However, on the insistence of some other curious members, we have since inducted them into the gang through a series of vigorous initiation process. Those who have been "baptised" recently includes Hock, Damien and Lincoln.
The bottomline is, Cheese has made a tremendous impact on our lives more than we can ever imagine. Its fresh and it crumbles in your mouth.
For a free sample, pls drop any of our members a line.

Just The Way You Are

2008-04-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.

I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.

-Billy Joel

2008-04-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

Got this off Hock's blog. Think i tried it before long time ago and it was pretty accurate.

Your view on yourself:

You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You prefer to get to know a person very well before deciding whether you will commit to the relationship.

The seriousness of your love:

Your have very sensible tactics when approaching the opposite sex. In many ways people find your straightforwardness attractive, so you will find yourself with plenty of dates.

Your views on education

You may not like to study but you have many practical ideas. You listen to your own instincts and tend to follow your heart, so you will probably end up with an unusual job.

The right job for you:

You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:

You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:

You are concerned about your image and the way others see you. This means that you try very hard to be accepted by other people. It's time for you to believe in who you are, not what you wear.

Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

http://www.quizbox.com/personality/test82.aspx

H.A.A.R.P

2008-04-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

Just watched the dvd of Muse's gig at Wembley. Its the FUCKING LIVE BEST ACT i've ever seen! And i'm so glad to have caught them live at fort canning. I dont know what how to explain, but i'm just very drawn into their brand of new prog music. It all started with my love affair with Radiohead 10 years ago after Ok Computer.

And then i discovered Muse 8 years ago after Origins of Symmetry.
its indescribable.
You've got to be plugged into their music for long periods of time, watch them live, and then you will understand why i'm so lost for words.
New Prog = Classical + Progressive Rock + Electronica + Space Rock

Its grandiose, mellow, hair-standing, heart-wrenching, catchy all at the same time.
Similar to Radiohead, but yet different on all levels.

Radiohead still never fails to make me go into long periods of nerve-wreaking, hair-standing ordeal, esp if I plug into Paranoid Android.

But the energy level of Muse in their live gigs is just amazing.

The last time I felt something like that was when i was watching Tiesto's Element of Life live gig dvd at Copenhagen. THAT is the epitomy of ultimate absolute trance in the 21st century. never seen anything more elaborate....i mean, fountains in the middle of the stage? ha.

comfort food

2008-03-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

When you are having a bout of chronic diarrhoea due to the influx of junk food in the past few days, there's nothing more comforting than:

a bowl plain porridge (and i dont mean congee, i mean "muae" the teochew style),

together with 3 bottles of pickled food. They are namely:

-Pickled Chai Xim (its basically slicked stalk of chai xim preserved in some tangy solution that preserves its crunch and crispness)

-Preserved vegetables in Olive oil (or otherwise known affectionately as "ohwoo-kanna-chai", directly translated into Black Olive Vegetables. Its a traditional teochew dish too. Where lots of small leafy vegetables are preserved in dark olive oil that makes it look like a dish of black shriveled vegetables. It sounds gross...but trust me, its like the best thing in the world)

-Fermented to fu (or otherwise known as "hu ju". Its where small little cubes of fermented are dipped and preserved in sesame oil and spices. Its VERY salty, and a small little pinch is enough to make u ascend to the heavens)

The above forms the recipe to the best medication to diarrhoea, fever, indigestion, nausea, blocked nose, and also when you are feeling sian or fucked up.

Comfort food indeed.

The thought of seoul garden later is repulsive. But no choice, its a PS dinner, gotta go show face and carry balls for the profs.

it hurts

2008-03-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

it hurts to be at the receiving end of a 3-0 trashing by your fiercest rival.
it hurts to have your best player sent off for stupidity (verbal abuse)
it hurts to see your team play without any conviction

and

it hurts to lose 5 bucks to Yishu.

International Law Woes

2008-03-03T20:37:00.000-08:00

Every tuesday 12 noon. The dreaded deadline.

Yes, we have to submit a 1-page reflection sheet every tuesday at 12 noon sharp.
Its a FUCKING PAIN IN THE ASS.

Ok, its not the length (1 page-500 words only wad). Its how nobody in the class knows what the Dutch prof wants. He dishes out Es and Fs like machiam free one. You spend the whole night ploughing through the law articles and readings (mind you, they are not easy. I almost had to dig my eyes to prevent myself slumbering into sleep because the nabei Resolution, Charter, Article, Council, Judiciary, Court, yadayadayayda is NOT easy to follow)

No disrespect to him, he's doing a fine job teaching in his first term at NUS, a nice chap he is. But dont like that leh....35% is alot leh. I dont seek for much, i just wanna get a minimum of C for all my mods (as long as i can grade with a 2nd lower, everything else doesnt matter anymore).

BUT AT LEAST LET ME GET MY C LA.

Alas, i'm done with the reflection. And i still have tons of deadlines to meet.

-My ISM (which i'm conveniently chugging one corner),

-My mammoth 7000 word ContemporaryIssuesofSouthEastAsia paper (when the module title is already a mouthful, its no wonder the word limit is so high),

-My Marketing project (which is another pain in the ass coz the group mates ALL refuse to forge and fake data....why take it so serious....for what you tell me. When i suggested that we should just forge the data for some interview that we have to conduct on external companies, THEY ALL look at me like i'm the devil's incarnate. oooooh, we cannot be bad boys and girls. its wrongggg. Fuck la. Fake the tutor will really check. So later I will have to go to Fish n Co to talk to them and pretend i'm really interested in how they market their products and provide service.)

But life isnt that mundane after all. I've signed up for Salsa classes with ning. Its starting next week. woohoo. Always wanted to learn salsa after a short Swing Dance stint i took in UNC stirred up those dancing genes in me. hurhur.

My birthday is coming up. Its another day. Doesnt really mean much to me. Just that I want a clean birthday for once. The last few years ended up naked and well marinated on the 6th floor toilet in KR. Maybe I is gonna hold a dinner thing somewhere. See how la. No money also.

And I played the whole term break away. Its the last break and I din wanna mug it away although i know its gonna haunt me in time to come. Watched lots of movies (both in the cinema and on my laptop). Drank lots of beers (Grapevine and Brewerkz). Hung out with honours people. Steamboat dinner with the PA bunch. Treated Ning to her birthday lunch. Attended a costume party at Eve's birthday@Obar (I went as Travolta in a horrendous brown polka dotted tight translucent shirt. Looks damn gay). Gossiped with FOUR PS GUYS (1 former arts club president, 1 slacker, 2 army regulars) in the arts canteen for THREE HOURS. It was supposed to be project meeting.

I shall attempt to start my ISM.

Anyway Mas kasturi sucks.
Home Affairs is worse.
Singaporeans even worse. Nobody seems to appreciate the gravity of the situation. ITS A MASTERMIND ON THE LOOSE. Be careful and stop assuming the police are oh-so-great.

fucking full

2008-02-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

Just got back from steamboat dinner with Yanwei, Yishu and Ben. I'm bursting from the food. eat and eat...wahlao.

More interestingly, we realised that we all know intrinsic details about other people's life. That was damn funny. The age of information free flow. I'm lovin' it. I'm sure Yishu and Ben does.

Put 4 guys together and you can never escape certain topics. Its inevitable. I'm wondering how conversations will be like 10 years down the road.

musings

2008-02-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

While i'm supposed to type my stupid International Law reflection sheet to be handed up in less than 12 hours...I've decided to be lured by my insatiable desire to indulge in online decadence. In other words, eat snake. That includes

-blogsurfing (hell, we never get sick of such voyeuristic nature),

-soccer news (they are mainly depressing though, considering the slump that pool is in right now. Its so fucking embarressing I dont even want to walk near someone wearing a pool jersey in school.)

-facebook (it has become a daily staple. the constant need to feel connected to the world of online personas, for fear of getting lodged out of this face paced world of pretence)

-gmail (with every refresh, i hope for some reply from the jobs i applied, and i cringe at every mail sent out by profs who have nothing better to do)

-Isohunt and Mininova (i dont think i should elaborate on this, this space may be tracked for all we know)

-Channelnewsasia, CNN, BBC (to feel politically informed like i should as a PS undergrad. See..the word is SHOULD. I couldnt actually give 2 hoots that kosovo is finally a free and independent state, but my module deem that i should actually pretend to be politically engaged and informed. Well...at least it beats reading the straights times)

-youtube and crunchyroll (these are FUCKING dangerous websites. They can break your future. AND I'M NOT KIDDING. Coz lack of discipline and control, plus accidental discoveries can lead to HOURS of devotion to a small grainy screen, while casting all worries about assignments and readings under the bed. I was the unwilling victim of this technology when i watched stephen chows movies for the whole afternoon and night when i have 3 deadlines due)

-and lastly, Blogger.com. (this is pretty self-explantery)

I'm Back!!

2008-02-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

Dont know why I decided to revive this space. I guess everytime I wrote something these days, its always due to some sort of emotional unbalance.

Oh well, maybe I'm overwhelmed by the whole CNY period where all work came to a perfect standstill and life took a spin on the gambling table, complete with snacks and beers.

Or maybe I really had it with the "so where's your gf? Never bring ah?" questions thrown at me year after year.

Or maybe its the last time I can tell anyone who asked me what i'm doing with a nonchalent "still studying lor". It's really a damn perfect excuse of not having to explain what i'm really doing. I mean, if you want, i can sit you down and bore you with international relations, comparative politics and international law.

But of course, that never happens. And come next CNY, i'll have to explain why i chose a certain profession, what I'm exactly doing in that job and of course the perenial "so where's your gf?"

Had the PS bunch over my place on Sunday. Gambled our day away with texas, mahjong and a failed attempt at Da Xiao (coz we dont know how to distribute the chips. Thats what you get when you put 15 arts students together). I was very happy most people could make it, coz I did quite a fair share of preparatory work in organizing such gatherings (if only I can channel all these energies to my studies, i would be graduating with a first class). But at the end of the day, what mattered most was the fun, joy and laughter. Ask anyone who turned up at the shisha outing, they will agree with that. haha.

speaking of shisha, I bet I wont for my life forget Hock's offer of "Ian McCartney" as "the Beatles guy lor" and "Fred Simpsons" as "the son in the simpsons family". wtf seriously. hahahaha.

Went back to hall lately for some Alumni gathering. Goooood memories i must say. The trusty A blk rooftop bench never felt more familiar, especially with an array of alcoholic bottles displayed on the table. Zh, Al, jingxian, Aaron, Char, and Lionel sng.....it was nice. Missed those days where we would just drink our lives away til 5-6 am without giving a flying fuck about lessons the next day.

So what was I busy with in the last few months?
-Studies (its actually taking up the least of my time. Final semester really makes for unmotivated learning. Everyday in school is more of an attempt to feel less guilty should i skip classes. This is not to say I aint enjoying school. The decision to do my honours was probably the best thing that i did for a long time. Never enjoyed school so much. Its the people, the classes, the nourishment, the opportunity to delay entrance into the vicious rat race outside that made it so worthwhile. At the same time, I've made some friends that I believe will stay with me for a long time. i hope.)

-Job Hunting (dont wanna elaborate too much on that, coz its really a chore. Applied to the ministries, consulting firms, insurance, banks, MNCs and so on and so forth. Just keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for those calls.

Ok now i know why I dont update that often.....coz typing all these is boring. heh.

Swept Away

2007-12-09T04:16:00.000-08:00

Well you send my life a whirling
Darling when you're twirling
On the floor
Who cares about tomorrow?
What more is tomorrow?
Than another day.

When you swept me away
Yeah you swept me away
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

I see the end of the rainbow
But what more is a rainbow
Than colors out of reach
If you come down to my window
And I climb out my window
Then we'll get out of reach

Then you swept me away
Yeah you swept me away

You said with such honest feeling
But what'd you really mean
When you said that I'm your man
Well how my darling can it be
When you have never seen me
And you never will again

That you swept me away
Yeah you swept me away

Well life is ever changing
but I will always find a constant
and comfort in your love
With your heart my soul is bound
And as we dance I know
that heaven will be found

Well you send my life a whirling
Darling when you're twirling
On the floor
And who cares about tomorrow?
Girl, what more is tomorrow?
Than another day.

When you swept me away
Yeah you swept me away
Yeah you swept me away

Across the Universe

2007-11-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva

ecp

2007-09-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

the pick-up
the missed turn
the long drive
the breeze
the stroll
the water
the smell
the sounds
the drink
the talk

the company

nostalgia

2007-06-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

My family seem to be caught up in the En-bloc sale frenzy recently.

My dad being the chairman of our apartment block's committee had to hold several meetings lately.
We have finally found a developer who's willing to buy the plot of land and has agreed on a huge payout for all 21 residents. Given that our apartment is freehold (means it's not 99 year lease by the gahmen), we are naturally expecting a higher price, BUT the gahmen still got to step in and declare a height limit for that area (the lame excuse being the close proximity to Paya Lebar Air Base and that planes taking off may be stupid enough to crash into buildings near by).
Hence developers werent exactly keen on our plot of land for many years (if there's a height limit, they can't build high rise condos to make profit out of). It's only due to the completion of Kovan MRT and the recent En-bloc frenzy plus the upsurge in property prices and economic mini-boom that developers are coming back to knock on our doors.

For starters, the apartment block that i live in is like the oldest thing around my area. It has been around for like 30-40 years i think.
It is and it looks old....nonetheless exemplified by the huge ass chinese words "He Ping Da Sha" (which translates to Peace Mansion, and which often draws bouts of laughter from anyone who hears about it...especially those who have caught chow yun fatt's He Ping Fan Tian) plastered at the side of the building.

Yes, the building definitely looks vintage, coz every unit has those alumninum multi-coloured awning attached as a suedo roof attachment. And there's also something rustic about the whole place. Funny as I may sound, but its pretty serene given its location next to a busy junction, what with cars travelling and honking every now and then.

My point is, I've grown attached to this place. Its where I sorta grew up. It has been a good 15 years since we've moved there from the old HDB across the estate. Lots and lots of memories. From being chased by the neighbours big black dog (I stupidly ran around the tree like a stupid headless chicken with the nabei dog in hot pursuit. OK...I was in primary 2) to getting bbq sessions, riding bikes around the estate, playing basketball, soccer with the sec school buddies at the CC just behind my house, going for swimming lessons, suntanning at the now defunct pool just behind my house also.

And of course, who can forget my beloved hougang street 21. I lived my whole life there. I knew every single shop, talked to all the wet market shopowners when my mum brought me shopping at the age of 5, ate almost everything that can be found at street 21. (ok, for those who has no idea, hougang street 21 now called Kovan, where Heartland Mall is). Grocerry shopping, haircut, Mavis tuition, Yamaha music lessons, NTUC, Oriental Emporium, hawker centre, countless kopitiams, Popular bookshop, Cake shop, Macdonalds, Chang Clinic, Beef noodles, and the list goes on.

The prospect's pretty exciting though...if everything falls into place (meaning if the developer stick to their word on the offer, and that the few irritating residents decide to give up the idea of hijacking the sale of the whole block) we could pocket a lump sum soon. I HOPE to benefit from that lump sum.....although i know the bulk of it will go to financing a new accomodation. Probably a condo or 5 room flat. My mum's in favour of the former, and my dad (always the kiamsiap one) is in favour of the latter.
Whatever the case is, it doesnt really affect me, coz ideally I'd like to move out in 5-7 years (ASSUMING i can get married by then, and be financially stable to apply for a new HDB), so the decision should be made in accordance to how my parents would like to live their retirement years.

I'd be sad if we move away from hougang area though. Like i said above, its where I grew up....so i've been emotionally attached to this area. And ideally, I'd like to move to somewhere within the district. Hah...I'm like some fucking uncle, cannot bear to leave the kampong.

Til then, hope nothing gets in the way of the en-bloc...least of all is da gahmen.

2007-06-21T00:12:00.000-07:00

OK..I'm back earlier than expected. Thought it would be yet another month of inactivity before i log in to this space again.

Watched a few really good films recently, all thanks to Videoezy.

-Russian Dolls, and Spanish Apartment
(courtesy of Alene's recommendation). These 2 films are HIGHLY recommended for anyone who appreciates good french comedy. Apart from that, its a must watch for anyone going to europe for exchange or anywhere for exchange for that matter. Its such a brilliant depiction of life as a student studying abroad...the foreign sights, cultures, language...the whole living with people of various nationality, the emotional baggages..the problem with parents...the freedom...the feeling of being lost. Applies to me personally coz spanish apartment explored the issue of breaking up while on exchange. haha. ruffled a few emotional feathers i must say.

-Cider House Rules
(remembered how Carol keeps urging me to watch it while we were up at boone). Such a good film. The overriding theme of compassion runs throughout the film. The line between right and wrong becomes blurred. Morals vs a larger good? Thematic elements that are subtly infused in the film includes issues with abortions, adoptions, racism, incest, enslavement, empowerment, fidelity, morality, forgiveness, and of course hope. Tear jerking at times, but coz we watched it in macs on a laptop..haha..abit paiseh to shed tears. (people will think, what the fuck is wrong with this guy)

-Infamous and Capote
2 very similar yet different protrayal of Truman Capote's life. What i really like about Infamous, apart from the brilliant acting by both the protagonist and daniel craig, is the setting of the film. Early 60s. superb! Everything from the music to the dressing to the cars and even the hairstyles. You can certainly feel the rustic poshness in the air.

-slapstick comedy Tenacious D, which I spent watching with my bro on the weekend. Nothing much to comment bout, just that Jack Black's just one of a kind. The most hilarious part of the film for me is the Ben Stiller Cameo. kicks ass.

-Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of our Fathers
Clint Eastwood made history with this 2 films. Powerful, great direction. While Flags of our fathers is pure hollywood material (esp with all the patriotism and heroism infused), Iwo Jima can indeed pass off as a foreign film (i mean, for starters, the entire film is in Japanese and is made entirely from the japanese point of view about the war, or so we are inclined to assume. And since we as viewers can be so well manipulated to think so, its definitely a testament to Clint Eastwood's directing skills).

-Seven Samurai
Yes, i am probably the last person to catch this epic. Always wanted to borrow in central library, but i'm always too caught up with every other thing. Finally decide to rent it...and set aside 3 hours of my weekend to watch it. Breathless. Thats all i can say. An epic without a doubt. Was kinda surprised to see the lead actor Takeshi....coz he was also the lead of yet another kurosawa's masterpiece, Ikiru, which we had to critique for our Philosophy and Film class. Such a good actor. Probably dead by now though.

OK....back to work. I just typed all that in a bid to keep myself awake after a full lunch.

HOLA

2007-06-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

BACK after like decades of inactivity. Had various people who are actually concerned and bored enough to keep asking me to blog.
And I appreciate that.
At least there is hope for this space.
I didnt want to blog, coz i thought there's really nothing really eventful going on in my sad little life.

It was until a faithful friday at Acid Bar where over some REALLY good music and beers, Yishu mentioned about how wonderful it would be if we have some diary that we can note every passing moment of our lives before they just fly past us without us even noticing. And so, in my drunken stupor, I just blurted out.."got wad..I got a blog". And Yishu just brought everything crashing down to plain old earth by replying "got blog for fuck....fake you got update".

AND that was the straw that broke the camel's back. haha. Well, of course it helped that you actually suggested that i start updating as well, even though its more a response to my incessant request for a constant update on your side.

ANYWAY, the past couple of weeks was not exactly that uneventful. On the contrary, it was pretty memorable. Despite holding a bureaucratic (read: mundane) internship at a stat board, I learnt quite alot of things, nonetheless through indirect means like eavesdropping on my bosses when they bitch amongst themselves about corporate bullshit and how they tried every means and ways to dodge those shit thrown at them.

Certainly opened my eyes to how business is conducted out in the real world. For the uninformed, I'm involved in a huge project to plan and execute a huge musical this august. Learnt about how to liase with professional actors, tech crew, directors, and procure quotations, deals and all that crap. Even if it means doing data entry for the best part of the week, its just incredible knowing how much effort is being put into simple things like "vip invitation list". Spent one whole week sourcing out the names and addresses of all the ministers, mps, foreign dignitaries, sponsers, council members, board members (a 1000 in all) so that we can send them invitations for the concert.

Alright work aside, I really made some wonderful friends through this short period of time. Seriously, nothing beats hanging out with a bunch of like-minded guys who are capable of talking just about everything under the sky (we are arts student for a reason) over a few beers with splendid music at a bar on a friday night. I mean, for fuck's sake, the ability to spend the whole night talking about politics, society, life, religion, career, music, and of course, girls without reservations just kicks ass.

Had a couple of UNC students over my place last weekend. It just brought back all kinds of memories. It was funny bringing them around Kovan, heartland mall...and they were just telling me that's like the best thing they've ever done in Singapore despite being here for 2 weeks and visiting almost every single tourist attraction thats available. They appreciate the "local" feel of the whole place...from ABC shops, to malay barbers, bubble tea shops, hawker centres, durian stores and the Community Centre. Brought them out for durians, and Angelo liked it, but John had to struggle with even the tiniest seed. My parents were wonderful though...can never ask for more...as they went all their way out to make my friends feel as comfortable as possible during their stay at my place.

I brought them out to MOS on wed, and they were AMAZED by the clubbing scene in Singapore, coz in chapel hill back in UNC, clubbing is restricted to 2 tiny clubs (the size of Rouge). Clubbing is never big in chapel hill....americans dig house parties though. And i'm sure I've said enough about house parties in my previous entries. haha.

OK...this beginning to sound like some primary school kid's diary where they basically regurgitate everything that they do from morning to night. Shall divert a little...

Met up with Char this evening, and we had a good long chat...about relationships, hall life, perceptions, life choices and the works. Oh, and i missed all her antics (like forcing me to take pictures of her posing with a mannequin coz the latter is fucking ugly and she wants to prove that she's better looking...seriously...wtf) and basically photowhoring everywhere we go.

OH, this is pretty sporadic and random, but AL kindly reminded me how suay i get when it comes to June every year. 2 years ago in June, I lost my watch, then my wallet in the span of 3 days. Last year i buanged my dad's car. This year, I buanged my dad's car AGAIN. It wasnt reallly a buang per se, but I kinda bumped into the car infront coz he somehow decided to stop all of a sudden. (I swear if its coz of some stupid dead bird on the ground, i will so demand that he pay for MY damages instead of me paying for his) Alas...the one at the back's always at fault...according to the golden rule of accidents 1101e. And so the guy made me pay him 100 bucks for "buffering and polishing" the minor scratches i applied on his back bumper. Fair enough..i was being careless anyway...drove too close and braked too late. BUT why...why must it be in JUNE again. Hope that is the last of my unlucky events.

And hope that provided enough food for a bored reader.

p/s i will be back soon.

i hope.

2007-05-22T20:53:00.000-07:00

Caught a couple of french films lately. Priceless and Les deux anglaises et le continent. Priceless is absolutely hilarious...I urge everyone to go catch it while its still showing.
Audrey Tautou is hot as usual and she never fails to deliver since the days of Amelie and A very long engagement.

Les Deux is just warped. But there's an uncanny similarity between that and Summer Palace. The familiar overiding themes of lost love, cheating, sex, depression, physical separation, love that transcends time and space, attractive female leads, brooding male leads.

Makes me wonder why men and women just cant share similar sentiments about love and sex. What a wonderful world it would be.
Then again, as i was telling alene, women are natural birth controllers. If they behave and think like men and approach sex with similar desire and flipancy, then the world would have been over populated millions of years ago. We wouldnt be here.

Anyway, skiving at work once again. Blogging, Msning and the works. I have been assigned more jobs though.
Just that I seem to finish them too fast...end up not having anything to do all over again. Guess the projects are not in yet.
I suppose I will be very busy in the next month..when the musical and ndp is nearing.

Meeting up with quite alot of friends lately.
Had a wonderful sessino with Manu and Kamil the 2 cocks. It has been 4 years, yet we are still cracking the same jokes, laughing at the same people.
Met ning last night...such a high flier at DBS. A dream job that most people would crave for. way to go babe.

Keeping all fingers and toes crossed for the finals tonight.
Milan really looked formidabble its scary.
But then again, so did they in 2005 at Istanbul. So we never know.
All I know is pool will never disappoint their fans.

You'll never walk alone.

2007-05-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

When I actually do pop by this page and blog means either
1) I'm very bored, or
2)I'm incredibly bored or
3) something interesting happened and by virtue of its ability to alleviate my boredom, I shall accord some credit to it by filling up this space.

Some may ask, why then did I exclude the whole hooha about liverpool reaching the finals of the champions league.
Well, with regards to the "criteria to blog" above, and in view of liverpool's easy stroll to the finals, I feel that its not exactly something out of the ordinary or that it strikes of real interest. Rather, reaching the finals of the champs league is more like a run of the mill thing.
After all, its just our 7th final as opposed to chelsea's erm barren attempts? Haha.
OH well, at this juncture I can so imagine those Man U fans crying out "You are so fucking zuai, talk so much cock.. Just take a look at who's the premiership champions".
Well, kudos to them for emerging victorious this season, and as much as I respect their achievement, but by sheer fact that I'm no longer in hall risking the wrath of Zhihao's and Al's sabotage, I can say what I want to. Hurhur.
So its the 23rd May, Liverpool Vs AC Milan at Athens.
The biggest football prize after the World Cup (arguably so, I guess).
Once again, let it be the replay of Istanbul'05, but just spare us the suspense.

Anyway for those who have no idea what i'm rambling about, its ok. I
dont expect you to.
Like I said, when I blog, its all crap manufactured by an agent called boredom.
So here I am, 5 days into my internship.
And life has been slow, and I mean SLOW.
For the last 5 days, i had to keep awake at my desk by indulging in hours of msn, blogsurfing, emailing, making numerous trips to the toilet amongst other time-consuming activities.
For those who have no idea, I am doing my internship at PA (yes, its the people's association. DON'T laugh. somehow everyone gives me the "wtf!?" or the "HAHAHAHA" reaction when i told them i'm gonna intern at PA. Please, not everyone gets a shot at bloomberg/HSBC/goldman/morgan stanley/stand chart/your father's company.)
I think my jobscope's interesting though - event/talent management, networking, planning. But ok la, I'd rather sit and do things like blogging (which i'm guilty of right now) and soccernetting than paper shredding / coffee buying.
I've got so bored I started to read philosophical and political readings online.
Things by hungtinton, nietzsche. Yes. I'm a nerd. Was just telling Alene how loserish we all are. Exams finish still talk about all these.

Oh well, anyway thanks to my extensive training in ARMY, i've perfected the art of acting busy.
Even when i walk to the toilet also must pretend to walk fast, fake i have alot of work to do.
And I think there's something about the air in my office.
It reeks of estrogen.
Yes, of the 30 people in this office, there are only like 5 guys.
Before you buggers out there scream "Shiok wat! girls galore", let me state that the aunties here outnumber any decent 20-odd/30-odd OL or MILFs.
To start with, there arent any OLs or MILFs around, contrary to my fantasies.
For those who have no idea what these abbrev refer to, dont bother, you probably wont want to know.
So I try to maintain a distance from the aunties, giving them a wry smile at the very least, else they start the "Eh ah boy ah, ni zai da xue du she mo? chi bao le ma? ".

Given my meagre pay (I'm getting paid half of what temp staffers get. A measly 3 fucking 50 an hour), its been tough having to sustain the lifestyle that I yearned for after a month of imprisonment in nus due to exam preparation. Because of the stupid exams, I've hardly been out.
All the suppressed desires to drink, to club, to eat, to swim, to shop..all unleashed upon my final paper, only to be curbed 3 days later when i started work.
We all know I need alcohol to keep my liver functioning.
Hence i've resorted to taking beers, and baileys at home after work.
At the very least, its therepeutic (argh, how the fuck is that word spelt. Somehow it just seems wrong.) But i'm heading to st james tonight! and tom night we're gonna get AL sloshed.
Its his birthday anyway, and its time for my revenge (after that sonofabitch poured jim bean and tequila down my throat with THAT funnel and then 'washing' then down with beer ONCE AGAIN).

Ok this post is getting long and out of point.
I still have alot of cock to say.
About how moving out of KR for the final time is kinda emotional..having invested 3 years of my life, love, time, talent in that place.
About how exams have been a bitch this sem.
About how i'm getting older and the world just becomes more dreary.
About how I'm gonna catch phantom tomorrow.
About many things.
But for the sake of your reading capacity, since most of you would want to move on to another blog by now, I shall stop here

and start acting busy again.

Buy Ariel!

2007-04-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Revenge is sweet

2007-04-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

On a fine Sat night, when Liverpool beat Wigan 2-0 (and also convincingly beat MIDDLESBORO 2-0 a couple of days ago), Man utd realised they could only draw 1-1 with middlesboro, thanks to a goal from Mark Viduka. It was such a reasonable scoreline, considering the fact that boro should have gotten a clearcut penalty.

So while I was busy studying in the study room, 2 sore man utd fans who cant stomach a scoreline like that decided to vent their frustrations on me, nonetheless with the help of a cock by the name of Eric Yeo Seng Chee who doesnt even know what is football. Oh, before i forgot those 2 fans are none other than my beloved neighbours, Chen Zhihao and Alphonsus Liang.

The above-mentioned decided to sneak into my room and have some fun on my comp. Changing my entire profile in friendster and facebook to some hardcore gay-lovin enthusiast, complete with a wonderful gay photo. And they finished their job by changing my msn nick to "I love to suck Drogba's cock". That was before scattering my mat and slippers with powder. Oh and then they poured vinegar into my water bottle.

And since they found it so funny, I decided to have some fun too:

Made a poster like that and stuck it outside Zhihao's and Al's door. Such blissful joy!

Oh and did I mention I sprayed shitloads of powder at their shoes and slippers before emptying that bottle of vinegar all over them and applying cream all over their doors.

Revenge is sweet.

2007-04-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU KR ACA!

This collage speaks a thousand words.
3 years of fun, memories, dreams, aspirations, friendships.
I wouldn't change that for anything.

2007-04-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

When you have too much work to do, and when you still cant believe how lousy roma is to lose 1-7 to Man u, you resort to doing stupid things online:

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.
First, it makes Dasein aware of itself as the kind of being for whom its own Being is an issue (pls don't ask me what this means, its a philosophical book...a.k.a. mindfuck book)

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What’s there?
- My Chivas Regal bottle. (its my water bottle, I'm not so crazy to drink at 3.30pm)

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
- man u's 7-1 defeat of roma ala winning eleven style. (or some might say kelong style)

4. Without looking, guess what time it is:
- 330pm

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
- 330pm (the clock is just the bottom right hand corner of the screen leh...how not to look)

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
- the rain outside

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
- 10 minutes ago. Went to the toilet to lao sai

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
- a blank screen in blogger.com

9. What are you wearing?
- A blk angels black singlet plus my beloved Abercrombie boxers

10. Did you dream last night?
- yes. I dreamt i was back in my pri school hall awaiting some stupid prize presentation. Then I dreamt of migration, dunno to where. And i was damn gan chiong, coz i forgot to pack my clothes into my bag.

11. When did you last laugh?
- A few moments ago. At Eric. it doesnt really matter for what la.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
- 2 gigantic Radiohead posters.. One Liverpool scarve. One Beatles Yellow Submarine poster and my towel rack.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
- yeah. Everything in my philo readings looks weird. "death is the possibility of the impossibility of existence"

14. What do you think of this quiz?
- ITS GREAT coz only smart people do it.

15. What is the last film you saw?
- Eternal Sunshine of a spotless mind

16.If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
- world peace.

17. Tell me something about you that I don’t know?
- I will lao sai everytime i eat McSpicy

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
- let it snow at the equator.

19. Do you like to dance?
- Yes. But like and can is different

20. George's Bush?
- thats wrong

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
- Danielle

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
- Daniel Jr.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
- Are you kidding

24. What do you want to say to God when you reach the pearly gates?
- Yo Yo wassup......sia la...how come you look like me ah?

Its that time of the year once again.

2007-03-15T02:35:00.000-07:00

These days, on the faithful night when it struck 12 and turned 15 march, I tend to feel a sense of impending doom, or fear, trepidation. It has almost become a ritual. For the past 3 years. Thank you A Block for all the memories.
Last night, when pple like rayner, aaron L, Jack started to hover outside my door...I knew I cant escape, not that i wasnt expecting it. But it was sweet, the cake, the people that turned up at the roof top, the drinks, the eggs, soysauce, salt, deep heat, food dye(THANK GOD THERE WASNT ANY OYSTER SAUCE THIS YEAR), the funnel, and of course the fucking hangover. I shall let the pictures speak for themselves.

2007-03-15T02:26:00.000-07:00

2007-03-15T02:25:00.000-07:00

2007-03-15T02:23:00.000-07:00

2007-03-15T02:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks guys.

Guys point of view

2007-02-28T06:40:00.001-08:00

got this off somebody else's blog.

You might agree with it, but when it
actually
happens 99% of girls dont realize
it 'til it is too late and that guy
who did it is so frustrated that he
has moved on to someone who will take
notice.

From a guys point of view:

We don't care if you talk to other
guys.

We don't care if you're friends with
other guys.

But when you're sitting next to us,
and some random guy walks into the
room and you jump up and tackle him,
without even introducing us, yeah, it
pisses us off.

It doesn't help if you sit there and
talk to him for ten minutes without
even acknowledging the fact that we're
still there.

We don't care if a guy calls you, but
at 2 in the morning we do get a little
concerned.

Nothing is that important at 2 a.m.
that it can't wait
till the morning.

Also, when we tell you you're pretty/
beautiful/ gorgeous/
cute/ stunning, we freaking mean it.

Don't tell us we're wrong.

We'll stop trying to convince you.

The sexiest thing about a girl is
confidence.
Yeah, you can quote me.

Don't be mad when we hold the door
open. Take Advantage of the mood im in.

LET US PAY FOR YOU!

DON'T "FEEL BAD"

We enjoy doing it.

It's expected.

Smile and

say "thank you."

Kiss us when no

one's watching.

If you kiss us when you know
somebody's looking, we'll be more
impressed.

You don't have to get dressed up for
us.

If we're going out with you in the
first place, you don't have to feel
the need to
wear the shortest skirt you have or
put on every kind of makeup you own.

We like you for WHO you are and not
WHAT you are.

honestly, i think a girl looks more
beautiful when she's just in her pj's.
or my tshirt and boxers, not all
dolled up

Don't take everything we say seriously.

Sarcasm is a beautiful thing. See the
beauty in it.

Don't get angry easily.

Stop using magazines/media as your
bible.

Don't talk about how hott Morris
Chesnutt, Brad Pitt, or Jesse
McCartney is in front of us.

It's boring, and we don't care. You
have girlfriends for that.

Whatever happened to the
word "handsome"/"beautiful"

I'd be utterly stunned by a girl who
greeted me
with "Hey handsome!" instead of "Hey
baby/ stud/ cutie/ sexy" or whatever
else you can think of.

on the other hand im not sayin i
woulndnt like it ether ; )

Girls, I cannot stress this enough: IF
YOU AREN'T BEING TREATED RIGHT BY A
GUY, DON'T WAIT FOR HIM TO CHANGE.
DITCH HIS SORRY, DISGRACE-TO-THE-MALE-
POPULATION ASS, AND FIND SOMEONE WHO
WILL TREAT YOU WITH UTTER
RESPECT

Someone who will honor your morals.

Someone who will make you smile when
you're at your
lowest.

Someone who will care for you even
when you make mistakes.

Someone who will love you, no matter
how bad you make them feel.

Someone who will stop what theyre
doing just to look you in the
eyes....and say "i love you" ..

........AND ACTUALLY MEAN IT!

*****Give the nice guys a
chance*****

***************************************
*********** Guys repost this if you
agree

Girls repost this if you think it's
cute

Every Guy who isn't a jerk will agree
with this, so we hope that all the
girls that read this will repost

Rooftop Drinking Session Pics

2007-02-09T21:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, we finally got an A blk rooftop drinking session that has ceased to exist after i left for the states. Where was the spirit(s) man?? Shame on u guys. May this be the start of many more to come. It was a fucking sausage fest until laochio rina came to join us, coz half the girls went to St. James. So happening right, young pple these days...tsktsk. SO we bought beers, and bottles start appearing on the table. Bombay Sapphire, 2 chivas, baileys, tequila. Way to go.

It started off as a tame and sombre affair. UNTIL...
we played the "i never" game. mayhem begins...

2007-02-09T21:39:00.000-08:00

Drink you bitch
Al: Dont ass rape me!!
Eric: Thats what you get for making me drink.
lao chio

2007-02-09T21:38:00.000-08:00

2007-02-09T21:36:00.000-08:00

Some gay lovin moments
jolly wolly
Thinking of malaysia
Everybody pees on rayner for reasons unclear

2007-02-09T21:32:00.000-08:00

The remaining year 3s
The year 2s
When we is drunketh, we does stupidth things
WASSUP with the victory signs man. I bet none of us does all that when we are sober.

2007-02-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

we caught the 5th floor girls who came back from St. James (happening leh)
The cutest thing in A blk or KR for that matter.
The PS bunch
Guess what i found in the 6th floor pantry the next morning when i woke up?
ERIC YEO SENG CHEE

Production Pictures

2007-02-09T21:25:00.000-08:00

Zhihao looking considerably cool and sauve
nuff said.
The NJ bunch.
A blur pic of all the backstage pple from A blk

2007-02-09T21:18:00.000-08:00

6 floor guys. (cue is to look cool and good, eric spoilt the picture by acting cute)
A very spontaneous picture. No need for cajoling, or requests or blatant pushing.
A very unspontaneous pic, had to rouse the whole blk to force them to stand together.
The only political science pple in A blk minus alpok

2007-02-09T21:10:00.000-08:00

these 3 charbohs dont like my camera. They are not even looking at it.
the most important picture of A blk
some random picture of joseph trying to cheehong and act cute
5th floor girls.

2007-02-09T21:05:00.000-08:00

6 floor guys with our JCRC man of the night, tiulor
2nd floor, 4th floor plus roy
D blk (the only blk worth sneaking a pic since they are supposedly famous for having the most number of hot chicks)
Our blk girls all dolled up. Somehow seeteng and xiuzhen looked drastically different in skin shades.

i need directions

2007-02-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

Not sure why i lost the passion for blogging. Not that i used to blog alot la...but its definitely much more often when i was in the states. Perhaps back then i was having fun. Travelling around the states without having to think about any problems and issues, without having to worry about grades since everything is pass/fail, and basically living each day to the fullest.

Now that i'm back for a month. Back to my family, friends, hall, familiar school life, etc....however, i dunno, i just seemed to have lost the drive to do anything substantial. It seems like I have no idea what i'm doing anymore. Everyday is a bloody routine. Lectures, tutorials, back to hall for dinner, watch a bit of TV, attempt to do work/readings, chat on msn, blog surf, do more work, and sleep.

And the cycle repeats.

It seemed initially like a drastic change in lifestyle for me. But in retrospect, things are just the same as it used to be. I got past 2 years in NUS adopting such a lifetstyle. The weekly choir meetings, aca practices, occasional supper, occasional jogs...these are what i used to be engaged in. Well, I guess the difference lies in the fact that I'm engaging in all the above in solidarity these days. Its all about being alone. I feel alone everywhere I go, everything i do. I might be having lessons with friends, dinners with hall mates, choir/aca practices with friends, weekend outings with buddies, friends, family. YET, i still feeel like I'm all alone somehow.

Being alone allows for alot of reflections, and privacy (and of course, alot of time to study), it nonetheless throws my future into a mass of colourless abyss. What lies ahead? What are the challenges? Who are my friends? What are my opportunities? How do I go about achieving my dreams of being a top notch executive in an MNC or indispensible civil servant in the public sector? Are there even any opportunities left in the department of love and relationships?

You cant blame me for thinking along those lines when fellow friends of the same age are already being offered jobs in top banks/MNCs, and having thoughts of settling down with a gf/bf of 4-5 years on a long term basis. 2 years from now and i swear I'll be invited to lots of weddings and throw in another 2 years, i'll be invited to house warmings and new born parties and promotion celebrations. Will I be part of that or will I be attending these functions Alone?

People say "dont think so much. Just study, get your honours and things will come your way. Career opportunites do not just drop from the sky. We got to work for them, and seek them out...blablabla." And of course there's the "dont be too desperate and actively try to seek out a potential mate for relationship. Opportunities will come along your way when you least expect it." I guess its easy to say all that when you have gone through them through some stages of your life. But I'm sure while you are at it, you are just like me or any tom dick or harry who invariblay needs directions to soothe the soul. Human beings are different from other species in that we do not live to procreate, eat and die (although thats what most pple end up doing actually), but rather we live coz we want to. Everyone wants to live to their desired lifestyle. And for that to happen, we need directions.

They will come soon. Or they are already there.

Back in hall

2007-01-17T20:07:00.000-08:00

Back from the states.
Back from a dream.
Back to reality.
Back to KR.

The past few weeks whizzed past so fast i couldnt catch a breath. All that travelling, flying, settling down, meeting up with friends, EATING, moving back to hall, fighting with cors to get my bloody modules, buying those godforsaken coursepacks and textbooks, and of course those customary start of sem clubbing sessions seem to take a toll on this old beat up body of mine.

Add on to the fact that I'm actually piled on like 5 kgs, it makes walking/moving around more tiresome.

Oh, I was at Muse's gig @ Fort Canning a couple of nights ago. It was finest gig i've attended man. Talented, tight, explosive and basically awesome from the word go. The repertoire was fantastic...hit after hit, even before we can catch our breath. I couldnt believe it when my friend told me they are gonna perform in Singapore. I mean I have been listening to their stuff for quite a while, and it didnt strike me that they are so "commercial" to even have a huge following in Singapore. So 110 bucks....oh well...I'd say its worth every penny of it. Only drawback is the product of the massive moshing that we got into - completely soiled shoes and jeans.

Have been drinking quite abit these days. Met up with zhiyong, al, shiokie and jiaming a few times. Pubbing/winebarring/zouking/kopitiaming....whatever u can think of la. 5 beer guzzling ah peks, where else can we go to man. MAn, i miss the cheap beers in the states. 12 bottles for 5 fucking bucks. But ok la. the cheap beers really suck. All that miller light, bud light, busch, PBR, coors....thank god for Tiger.

Anyway, I'm doing Democracy: theory n practice, Singapore Foreign Policy, General Biology, Philosophy n film, and Sport n History. Anyone taking any of these mods and wanna study tog, let me know. This sem must pia already or my bloody honours will be out of sight.

Shall start camping in the lib.
cheers.

Washington D.C

2006-12-26T08:06:00.000-08:00

inside the Union train station

2006-12-26T08:04:00.003-08:00

elaborate fountain

2006-12-26T08:04:00.002-08:00

Beeeg bell outside union station

2006-12-26T08:04:00.001-08:00

ooooo yeah.

2006-12-26T08:04:00.000-08:00

Group shot outside the capitol hill

2006-12-26T08:00:00.002-08:00

The Real Terrorist! wth

2006-12-26T08:00:00.001-08:00

protest outside the whitehouse.

2006-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

random building

2006-12-26T07:59:00.000-08:00

2006-12-26T07:58:00.003-08:00

2006-12-26T07:58:00.002-08:00

thats me acting cool

2006-12-26T07:58:00.001-08:00

view outside our hotel

2006-12-26T07:58:00.000-08:00

Perfect complimentary breakfast

2006-12-26T07:53:00.001-08:00

the 6 of us in DC

2006-12-26T07:53:00.000-08:00

Our nice hotel!

In Boston Now

2006-12-25T22:26:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I'm using the internet in our hotel in Boston on our last night.
Such a beautiful city.
Feels like some european city, no doubts why this area is called New England.
Feels kinda sad that our whirlwind tour of the NorthEast will be coming to an end soon, after NYC that is.

Was looking forward to a white christmas here in boston. But the weather just gneh gneh dont want to snow la. Damn disappointing. Heard that its not gonna snow in NYC as well. Whatever la, i shall just go back home orchard see the fake snow on the decorations.

In a way, I really wanna go back home. Miss everyone at home, miss my friends. But somehow something's just making me feel very weary about going home. Its called facing reality.

Reality that manifests in many ways....it could be the fact that lectures in NUS start TWO fuckin days after i land; or it could be the fact that it will be so damn hot everywhere i go and the word "sweat" starts to find its way back into my personal dictionary; or it could be the massive unpacking ahead; or the very fact that things are not the same between us anymore.

oh well.

kao shi

2006-12-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

Ok...you NUS suckers out there can gloat and laugh coz you finished your exams by the time you read this...yet mine's starting TOMORROW. wtf.
But ok la, since everything is S/U, shouldnt be a problem. I just hope the rest of my classmates are not smart, so I wont end up getting a U.

Kinda sad that i'll be leaving this beautiful school in a week. Will be missing all the friends I made. Thereafter I'll travel around the Northeast of US, namely Washington DC, then enroute to Boston where we'll celebrate christmas, and lastly, culminating in NewYorkCity, where Times Square awaits us for the countdown. For those who are interested to know, I'll arrive in singapore on the 5th of jan, 1159pm. No need to do much la, just throw a mini "welcome home" party at the airport can liao.

Oh, I'm so looking forward to the bunch of UNC students heading to NUS next sem. 8 of them in total. We're all gonna hang out and stuff. I've already met a few of them. Quite interesting folks. If my parents allow, i'll host them to homestay...preferably during CNY.

man, thanks to meiyan, i've been visiting the following blog almost everyday and sending it to all my sg friends studying abroad.

http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/

the resulting responses all very standard one:

"WAH LAO....fuck la...why must you do this to me???"

haha.

Giang got so emotional he even wanted to cry. wtf.

OK...back to studying.

Charleston!

2006-12-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas cheer in the hotel
Do i look like a salesman, a teacher, a pastor or a serial rapist?
our messy room
Dragged ourselves out of bed at 6am to catch the sunrise at the beach.

2006-12-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

Random cute lil boy at the beach
shells washed off shore
Me and Gurpreet
I like this shot

2006-12-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

Crazy Carol
I'm taking in the morning sun
Me Jon and Gurpreet trying to act cute. I'm the slow one. In all 4 pictures taken for this shot, I'm always the one still on the ground whereas the 2 of them are up in the air already.
So cute

2006-12-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

Rainbow row
historical house

2006-12-04T19:15:00.000-08:00

Fake I'm making a phone call
Damn cute dog.

2006-12-04T19:08:00.000-08:00

Carol trying to look pretty
first Church built in 1682
Some colonial building
Carriage ride

2006-12-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

2006-12-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Looks like a giant ong lye

Nice fountain
Americans can really spell hor

Ford Sumter

2006-12-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

This is a very significant fort off the coast of Charleston because its where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired at the Confederate Soldiers
Ravaged brick structure
Blackened rock fort
What used to be the fort got devastated.

Fort Sumter

2006-12-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

Conferderate flag, National flag, State flag
cannons

Signs at the port

Magnolia Plantation!

2006-12-04T18:08:00.000-08:00

This magnificient garden is a famous historical site which has created in the early 1600s by English Settlers. And it is pretty untainted.Picture of the gate
Statue of David
Bamboos!
Some weird looking giant trees with breathing roots.

2006-12-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

this one looks like those flower biscuits you see on old school birthday cakes in the 80s.
This is some japanese flower.
this looks like orchids..but its not. Dunno call what la.
This one looks like some lotus flower in the buddha's hand.

2006-12-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

Dont duck with me!
So serene. So peaceful.
My Cam is good ah
Another lake.

Back from Vegas

2006-11-29T18:00:00.000-08:00

After a whirlwind trip from east to west of the states, I'm back. More broke than ever. Lost like insane amount of money at the casinos and blew a big load (of money, mind you) at the strip clubs on drinks and lap dances. But it was fun, fun and more fun. Damn shiok to meet up with the crazy gang, where i can finally speak/swear/joke singlish and be understood, and also having to meet Giang the vietnamese for the first time in like 5 years.
Warning: pictures galore ahead. And i mean GALORE. Take off from NC.
Our hotel - the Flamingo!
the neighbouring Caesar Palace - damn posh.
our room. After first night, completely messed up.

2006-11-29T17:58:00.000-08:00

monorail station
Eiffel tower
Bk and Wk both looking fat
Arc de triomphe!

2006-11-29T17:43:00.000-08:00

We were all wasted, dead drunk after downing 2 bottles at a strip club
bookiat concussed
Giang needs help
Bk trying to puke

2006-11-29T17:40:00.000-08:00

Outside the mirage
Gondolas and fat gondola man
check out the brands outside Wynn...gosh.
Casino Royale indeed

2006-11-29T17:36:00.000-08:00

Siyi must always look like some pai kia
Giang says this is narnia
Oh shit
fake waterfall

2006-11-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

Damn shiok the buffet....shiok until....
Giang started to think he's a flower
Siyi went mad
Weekiang followed suit

2006-11-29T17:22:00.000-08:00

Boonkiat buay tahan already
He joins in the monkeying business
giang is delirious
Its weekiang's turn

2006-11-29T17:20:00.000-08:00

Monte Carlo is very posh
Inside the hotel
I think this is a Disneyland replica
Some egyptian king or warrior i think

2006-11-29T17:08:00.000-08:00

replica of the statue of liberty
NewYork NewYork
the streets
Some lion

2006-11-29T17:06:00.000-08:00

Eiffel!
Damn nice la
Stupid cocks
even stupider cocks

2006-11-29T17:04:00.000-08:00

thinking of....
Some tower
Me and Giang
The Venetian hotel

2006-11-29T17:01:00.000-08:00

Replica of venice
got gondola somemore
some tower, street lights and the moon
This is taken INSIDE the hotel. Cool eh

2006-11-29T16:59:00.000-08:00

Looks like real hor?
Dining at Pho, some vietnamese restaurant to appease giang
Damn cute right?
See no touch

2006-11-29T16:57:00.000-08:00

Treasure Island is yet another themed hotel
The huge volcano "erupts" every half an hour
Sculptures outside Caesars Palace
mmmmmm......i like.

2006-11-29T16:55:00.000-08:00

The famous Circus Circus
tikum tikum
Unadultered fun

2006-11-29T16:52:00.000-08:00

bloody posh lobby
wah...i win so many toys...shiok.
Thats a real shadow of a nude(or so i assume) girl dancing behind the sheets.
on the flight home. Desert and more desert

Musings

2006-11-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

In the states,

-When you cross the road, look left, right then left AGAIN. I almost got killed while crossing the road coz pple drive on different side of the road.

-When someone says "how are you?"...just say "good" then proceed to walk away while asking back "how are you?". DON'T bother explaining how you really are, or they will give you the "fuck, i'm just asking a rhetorical question. Stop wasting my time, i need to go" look. Especially when its a cashier asking you that and you know there's a queue behind you.

-When someone(usually the african americans) does the "high 5, clenched fist, handshake snap fingers" thing to you, do it properly or you will proceed to embarress them and yourself at the same time and make things so damn awkward. If in doubt, just do a handshake and then proceed with the "chest to chest" greeting.

-When you get drunk or intoxicated on alcohol, dont ever say that you are high...coz "high" means that you are doing pot/weed and pple will start asking you where you get you supply from.

-Dont be surprised when every single person you meet at house parties appear drunk to you. most of the time, they are not. They are just like that even in broad day light.

-When a hot chick (or any friend for that matter) bids farewell to you by saying "hey..it was nice meeting you...Oh..we should really hang out sometime", DON'T start getting your hopes high or anything...coz "we should really hang out" is their way of saying "bye, see you again if we are lucky".

-Don't be surprised when you attend a tutorial (they call it recitation), and students all vie to make comments/answer questions by flailing their hands impatiently, nevermind the response is stupid or doesnt make sense. They just like to talk ALOT.

-Pple in classes all use pencils and sharpener, no one uses mechanical pencils.

-When you flip out your camera phone, pple will go "WOW", coz all their cell phones here are prehistoric.

-You understand why Americans are stubborn and need to be reminded when you see road signs that say "Right lane must turn right"

-You see coffee everywhere but not tea.

-Americans are really fervent when it comes to school spirit (guess maybe it's particular to my school since it has a tradition of doing well in sports) compared to NUS (where no self-respecting singaporean student will walk around campus wearing an NUS tshirt, except PRCs and Indians)

-Its an American pastime to laugh at the Presidents' speeches. My neighbours and I had a great time laughing at Bush's speech. Just type George Bush in youtube. (OK, maybe its just Bush)

-If you are Asian, pple will ask you "where are you from". And if you say "Singapore", they will go "ooo..wonderful." But if you are born and bred here and hold an american citizenship and say "I'm from New Jersey", they will go "No, i mean where are you REALLY from"

-When you dine at a restaurant, expect to have the bill placed on your table even before you finish your meal. That doesnt mean they are signalling to you that its time to leave, but more like good service. Americans who come to singapore tend to think that the waiters are rude coz you need to call for the bill, instead of having it being presented to you.

- There are no switches in their electrical sockets. Just 2 holes in the wall and you literally plug and play.

-When you make a phone call to enquire about services, expect to hear an Indian across the line. Almost everything here is outsourced to India. From airline to banking to handphone to IT services.

-Don't ask around for a toilet. Say Bathroom or Restroom.

-Beer is cheaper than a bottle of mineral water.

-I'm the only person wearing a trucker cap in school. Its like the most outdated fashion that all the mats in singapore still strongly adhere to. Right now, the rage is oversized baseball caps worn sideways with the front flap unbent, and with the logo/sticker still on. Its predominantly a black sense of dressing.

-Some African Americans in school really dress like rappers in MTV....complete with MASSIVE blingblings, caps, jerseys, baggy jeans, huge Tshirts. At first i thought they just finished some performance or what...but after awhile, you realise its part of the fashion.

lastly,

i cant find a decent bottle of shower foam/body wash after walking around the whole neighbourhood + various convenience stores around school. Everyone swears by bars of soap. Strange.

But i'm lovin it.

Vegas for thanksgiving!

2006-11-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

Wooohoo....

In a week's time, i'll be in vegas...the city of sin...yeah baby.
In exchange for staying with a friend to celebrate thanksgiving in a traditional fashion, i'll be meeting my JC friends in Vegas, since everyone is studying in different parts of the states. How cool is that?? haha. Watch this space for more pictures.

Oh and Liverpool suck.

The light

2006-11-13T00:22:00.000-08:00

I finally see the light..so bright and pure...
Calling out to me...reaching out.
Everything becomes so clear to me...
Its like as if I'd just gone for lasik.

I have no idea how I became soo blind and got totally deluded in the process.
Does love hold that much power over me that I can't tell apart what's right and wrong? Its sad to see what has become of me after all this while.

But now, I'm just so glad I managed to wrench myself free from all cloak of deceit that i wore upon myself for the last few months.

The future that lays in front of me suddenly seems so promising, so many opportunities...and more importantly, no longer warped and uncertain.

I've learnt so much through this whole time being away...money cant buy all that experience. I wouldn't trade this for anything.

I really really thank my parents for giving me this great once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not only to gain experience, but also to allow myself to pull out of the mess I've created.

Nevertheless, like I said, the memories were beautiful...they will always be.

Thank you.

And thank you to all who cared...means alot to know that friends will always be friends.

Autumn in my heart

2006-11-11T14:13:00.000-08:00

My school is just so beautiful in fall. Trees with different shades of colour..red..orange..yellow..green.
The famous Old Well.

For the trees may be bare...
But the leaves that they shed...
Will always remain beautiful
.
.
.
.
Thanks

2006-11-09T22:22:00.000-08:00

Finally sober after a hangover that lasted months

deadlines

2006-11-09T22:19:00.000-08:00

Must there be a deadline for everything?

i'm having truckloads next week. A mega paper due on tuesday which i havent started. Then a test on monday which i have no idea what is going to be tested. And on top of that, i have a presentation on Wednesday.
That means an end to my lazying around, my endless enjoyment of TV shows, my pointless online surfing and chatting.

Are all things good meant to end?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Why must there be an end for everything?
On one hand, we like to leave it hanging in the air coz we are just too confused. But on the other hand, the desire for a proper closure bears down on us as well. Why are we treating something that we'd cherished so much previously in such flippant fashion as if its a "to go lecture or skip it" decision? The very fact that its so insignificant probably tells us alot about we think of it.

I dont wanna give up. I dont believe in giving up because of a temporary stumbling block placed in front me...a block that will be removed in a couple of months. But i cant help feeling that if there isnt any desire from you to maintain this thing at all, then why should I be the fool pining and hoping like an idiot displaced from reality? BUT i also cant help feeling that it will be a waste if we give up just because of a temporary stumbling block which, as i said, will be removed. Its not something that lasts for 1 month, but which had been going on for the a year and a half.

However, somehow i hear this voice telling me...that even if the block is removed, things might not appear as how they seem to be. We will just be cutting the wedge deeper and deeper so much so that the eventual product will be uglier than anything we'd seen or expect.

People have asked me if I still do have feelings. Yes i do. How is it possible to lose your feelings for someone in just 3 months when nothing drastic happened? well, though nothing drastic happened, 3 months of constant misunderstandings, miscommunication and problems does make me very jaded. I can air all my displeasures, all my unhappiness here, and make it look like you are the sole perpetrator and devil. But i choose not to, coz I also believe I have a fair share of blame as well, and i still do respect you as a gf..and more importantly, a friend.

Its such a shame though. Only 3 months has passed. A mere 3 months and so much has surfaced. Maybe its a sign. For better or worse i dont know. Will it help reinforce and fill up any holes that were so gaping but we just couldnt see them? Or will it be the tool that thrust the wedge deeper and deeper?

I'm so numbed that I cant feel anything but confusion.

Pain?
devastation?
anger?
Sadness?
betrayal?

Think i've gone beyond all that. No one will understand. Not when you are not in a position where you are 10000 miles away, without a trusted outlet to vent, and when you are supposed and obligated to enjoy yourself because of the money spent.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Despite the confusion, what i know though, through this whole time away, is who you really are.

Maybe this exchange is a blessing in disguise in fact.

Boone Weekend Getaway

2006-11-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

It was such a beautiful weekend up in the mountains. Its the Blue Ridge Parkway that we drove up to. While most os the trees have shed by now, the some parts of the mountains are still bathed in flaming red and orange shades. We had a very nice cabin up there and all's well! Now for more photos...just scroll down. My school before we left
the cabin (more like a luxurious house)
The group of us having supper (i realised i'm like the only guy around)
Me and Emily, the nice host and organiser