Orbitation

Fly away with me now

2011-08-22T23:30:00.003+08:00

It is as fast like the night and I'm just zooming along, unable to react and make sense of it. Just a helpless passenger on this journey that I didn't sign up for and I'll be an unwilling patient when it all ends.

I haven't had time for myself, to sit, to think, and, if it can called that, writing.

We run, hoping to be ahead and be in control, but the faster you run, the more lost you're only going to be.

Let's get above it all, and see the bigger picture. Let's be high up where no one wants something from us, wants us to be someone whom we are not. Let's be free of other's opinions and views. Let's fly away and not be hampered by time, expectations, jealousy, ego, hatred and, yes, and obligations.

Let's fly.

Timing

2011-02-09T13:07:00.002+08:00

I realise that I share the same toilet timing as another colleague on my level.

You feel the obligation to nod and acknowledge each other's presence the first few times but after the fourth or fifth encounter in a row, you quickly avoid any eye contact like how a couple would awkwardly behave after a drunken one night stand.

Let's see what happens on my next toilet break. Probably we'll cave in and trash it out.

Where are you~~

2010-08-17T16:15:00.006+08:00

I have this uncanny talent for making taxis disappear. No matter where I go, no matter how hard I try, fate would destine that 99 out of 100 occasions, I would be stuck by the roadside waiting sadly for the taxi that never show up.

Can you picture me standing quietly there by myself? My lonely silhouette cutting against the empty road.

A picture of sorrow.

Also, waiting by the road for more than 20 minutes is like being rejected without getting to see your blind date. Don't even think of that goodnight kiss when you send her back to her door step. Don't. Even. Think.

It has to do with luck. And maybe some careful planning of where to get a cab (you gotta position yourself well to make it difficult for other irritating folks to pop out from nowhere to "kop" your cab). And, well, some knowledge of when to wait for one would be important I guess, to avoid peak hours and lull periods. Then again, it's also pretty helpful to...

Damn, it's more than a science now.

I do try calling the booking hotlines, you know. But again, nobody picks up. The girl gave me her number but didn't want to hear from me again.

"Oh, you tried calling? I was probably showering. Didn't call back as I was too tired and needed to hit the bed."

Well, at least not with me on it.

For now, I think waiting a bus or a train would probably be more dependable, they'd show up. But only if I can get on these overcrowded ones...

The long and short of it

2010-03-07T22:21:00.001+08:00

I don’t know why she keeps coming back to my mind.

She was a friend back in primary school, wait, I might not even consider her a friend given the vagueness of the memories and the age that we were at. Its not even in the upper primaries where we had a higher consciousness and the slightly less childish disposition.

I knew her back in Primary 2, or was it Primary 3? That little detail won’t matter. She is a simple girl, with oriental eyes that arch up at the end and a pointed chin that highlighted her thinness. A pair of pink glasses adorned her soft face as she finished up her visual with a smile.

She’s hardly without a smile.

Being back in primary school, there was this somewhat natural affinity with the boys and this silly in-born repulsion for the girls. Don’t you remember yourself back in the good old days, mocking a fellow friend for talking to a classmate of the opposite gender?

“Oh! You love her! If not why you talk to her?!”

“You touched her hand! You must marry her after school!”

But she and I had a surprisingly mature understanding. We did talk but with simple words that each other understood and we don’t linger after the last word is said.

During a school camp which was held for some reason which I cannot remember, all of us were having an early supper. I remembered she was seated somewhere along the long table and tried to take a bite at the big meat bun.

She looked up and sulked, “No meat one, just only eat the dough.”

I recalled that I didn’t make any remark though we did look at each other.

I wonder why I remembered that scene at the canteen. The way our minds are programmed, constructed with little rooms and pockets to be filled with bits and pieces. A flashback of dinner when you were 5. The fall you had when you were at your auntie’s place for CNY back in 1985. A conversation you had with a friend before the PSLE exam.

The details are vague; the surety is undeniable.

I recalled another incident with her and that was probably the most indelible memory I had of her.

It was early in the academic year and during a music class. We all love music class. Finally we can all get rid of the stripped mono-tone books and have fun playing the only musical instrument that was bestowed onto us.

The white fake polish of the recorder flustered in our hands and the teacher was nagging at us for our collective candor in playing out of tune.

It was like a loony toon orchestra.

The teacher was walking around before my friend was randomly pulled out to the front.

“You! Why aren’t you playing properly?”

The teacher grabbed the recorder and stared at her.

Yet all she could do was to look down.

The teacher was used to silence answers and promptly held the recorder with one hand and grabbed either her arm or her wrist by the other.

What the teacher didn’t know was that she had deformed fingers. They were shorter than the average fingers and yet of uneven length. Her middle finger is probably much shorter than her index. Bending the fingers was also awkward.

Of course she couldn’t play the recorder properly, her fingers are unable to manage the simple task of covering up the holes to make the proper tunes.

The teacher froze when the fingers were held up and you could see the gushing up of extreme guilt. And all she did was to look down and remain silent.

We didn’t talk after that and there wasn’t a need to. She will recover from the incident.

Until today I still do not know what condition it was. It could be Brachydactyly or it could be some accident but it doesn’t matter to her at all. That was the plate she was served with and its on that plate that she will be having her meal.

Oh, and I forgot to mention her name and I am surprised that I really am able to summon up that detail. She is Ying Ying and hopefully I can write a few more stories with her in it, the fictional ones, of course. My memory can only serve me that much.

In 60 seconds

2010-02-16T00:07:00.007+08:00

I like the simplicity of the ad. To the point, encapsulate google search in a nutshell and strings everything together within a 60 second ad creative.

It was aired during the Superbowl XLIV a week ago.

*fixed the broken video

Of meat and coins, the soft and the hard

2010-02-07T22:04:00.002+08:00

Finally sold the stacks of newspapers that's been piling up in our storeroom.

This bugger is super zai. He used his hands to tear the ropes with so much ease but wouldn't let me take his photo. Moving with He also deals in handphones and laptops and when asked how are the prices, he looked at me and said, "Oh, depends on your specs lah, the better the specs the better the price. You let me open the laptop and I check for ya."

All of them are modernized liao.

Quite alot lei...

In the end they only fetch $1.50. Somehow I didn't bother to negotiate for a few more coppers, I wonder why.

Anyway.... bought the godzilla bao the other day... Its supposed to be the biggest around. Costs about $3.xx if I recall correctly.

Looks normal... but if I compare to...

an iron.. looks big right?

How about a bottle of Ru Yi You? (Wo gang cai hai "pu!" le yi shen!")

Its pretty power-packed. Not just a whole lump of flour.

See, even he likes it.

Overall its not bad and stuff, but its just basically a supersized meat bun, like a Mega Big Mac kinda deal.

Into the sunset

2009-11-29T22:38:00.002+08:00

Bali. 20th October 2009.

I held the horizon in my gaze and sat back in the salt dusted wooden chair.

Its a great view.

Dancing fin... young and sweet...

2009-09-28T21:42:00.002+08:00

Not only do these Swedish folks sing, dance and make the bell bottoms oh-so hip, they apparently also fish.

Original Pirated?

2009-09-27T19:10:00.000+08:00

I'm still here

2009-09-21T22:03:00.003+08:00

Sitting right where you left me, hands crossed and soles comfortably flat against the ground, I had the back of my head leaning against the wall.

The lazy whirls of the bladed fan churned the warm air into slow moving chunks of moist heat as the late afternoon sun hung over the window.

I turn my gaze onto the calender saw that its time.

Now I have to put it behind me and move on.

I am still here, but not for long.

I have always wondered

2009-04-12T18:06:00.002+08:00

and wanted about living the simple life, having a stable and predictable job where I know what is coming tomorrow and the surety of the knock off time.

I was piqued by what I saw on my alma mater's website the other day when I was browsing the web. They were opening up positions for lecturers and their requirements seem to be attainable though the remuneration packages are not known.

Being a lecturer does have its pluses. You contribute to the nation, talk to teens rather than toddlers who can't understand how to go to the loo and the job does sound a little cushy.

I don't know whats going into my head, given the economic situation I should be thankful I have a job rather than running around and looking for another one.

But... well, its always good to wonder.

A few more

2009-04-11T13:06:00.005+08:00

Its weird though, that we are married but not able to live together.

The paperwork for the handover for our flat should be done by the end of June, and with the renovation, preparation and moving in, it should be ready in time for our customary wedding in October.

Busy busy busy bee.

One more to round it off. :)

When two becomes one

2009-03-26T21:28:00.003+08:00

Till he actually sends me any photo, you can see our hands (particularly of my shaking ones) there.

22/03/2009

2009-03-22T09:14:00.003+08:00

I sit here at 9am with a largely empty mind.

In an hour I'd be heading out to the hotel, and in 4 hours time I will be married.

Sometimes you think about it before it all happens and it tends to be detached as it isn't really possible to imagine the real thing really happening. In your mind everything is fast forwarded and the key moments savoured, the preparations automatic and the aftermath non-existent.

Leading up to today we went through quite a number of hurdles and issues, but it all comes down to today.

Also, I paid the deposit for my Pasir Ris flat yesterday.

It all seem so surreal.

Prolly the next time I know, I'd be blogging about kids in a few years time, which, seems really like a blink of an eye now.

I'd be off with the wife on a short trip for a 1st honeymoon.

Till then.

Spot on

2009-02-25T22:06:00.004+08:00

I am lucky I got him to be the photographer for my ROM.

Smile more for him on the 22nd.

2009-02-15T21:12:00.003+08:00

He doesn't look that happy with CNY.

Sooo... Been away for a while, wonder how you kiddos are doing?

This is in bits and pieces but I just don't know where to pick up from where I left off.

Naturally, alot of things happened during period, with the wedding preparations, work, CNY and [luckily] fun stuff like the recent Kuching getaway and my birthday.

Oh yeah! My birthday! I don't have the photos with me now but it was a fun one. My girlfriend brought me to the toy museum! Geek alert!

Hopefully I can update soon with the photos of Kuching and my birthday.

It sucks

2009-01-22T21:00:00.004+08:00

Came across this poster at some food place the other day. The text in question is in the lower left corner. Loosely put, they love to suck.

Several things happened at work (of course, what else is new?) but I guess I am getting numb enough to let things pass by.

An interesting incident happened the other day when I was taking the MRT back home. I was sitting in the 2 seater area, happily minding my own business when a middle age lady (say, 40 odd?) sat beside me. All was well for a few minutes into the sharing of the personal space when she started to smile openly to herself and dotting it with various giggles. I was getting piqued when she asked me in Chinese if I am from China.

OK, strike 1.

I politely replied in my best rendition of a fake American accented English that I am not from China and I am a local.

She then "looked" shocked and said, "Oh, you are a local!".

The conversation died off and then she went on to giggle endlessly to herself while stealing glances around. Then I took a more careful look at her and noticed that she was wearing multi-colored beads with some funny sash and also an arabian sandal. I was contemplating to ask her to grant me 3 wishes (I hesitated because I was worried she would ask me to rub her lamp, wherever her "lamp" may be) when she started to giggle uncontrollably.

Strike 2, my dear lady.

When I thought I couldn't put up with the silly giggling, she stood up and went to sit beside a young chap, who was also minding his own business.

My line-of-sight was partly blocked but I saw her talking to him and handed him a piece of paper before leaving the cabin, TO TAKE THE TRAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE.

My mind went blank from how ridiculous the whole thing was and just stared blankly out of the train. I don't remember if I was foaming at the edge of my mouth.

The day is finally drawing close...

2009-01-18T13:35:00.006+08:00

I stood stunned for a moment looking at the beauty standing before me.

We have been through together for so long and I have watched you grow, witnessed your blooming and marveled at the awakening of your splendor. Yet when I was waiting at the bridal studio I have not expected this and all I could was to smile sheepishly and tilt my head a little when you wear your gown and wonder, how could a bloke like me be loved by you.

I love you.

Don't lie

2008-12-28T17:49:00.009+08:00

This grainy photo is of a toy at Gentings. It can be read as 2 words - lie and Bao separately, put together it probably means where a "Bao is not telling the truth".

But trust. Trust is over-rated, no?

Yes it is, especially so in a relationship.

A lot of times when someone is being enquired on a matter, the person will turn back and ask, "Don't you trust me?".

Seriously though, how would trusting the person help?

More than often, trust is one-sided. The act of trusting another person will entail someone to let down his defenses and be hurt much more than ever. Trust is misused and over-used.

Look at all the cases of infidelity. One spouse trusted the other, but when the other spouse is about to commit the said act, would this "trust" materialize and stop it from happening? Would the person stop because someone else trusted in him/her?

No. Not a chance.

Trust is a naive idea that serves to cloud the mind and sweeten the lie. It means nothing when a person says it out that the other person is trusted.

If a girl tells a guy that she trusts him, do you think it will make him change his ways? An iron rod will probably work better.

If the person is reliable and trustworthy, even if you don't trust the person, you have no danger of being hurt. But if the person is thinking of committing some sin, no matter how much trust you levy on the person, all you are getting back is hurt, and a bucket load of it.

Wake up, smell the roses and count your blessings. Don't think that all people are as nice as you.

Trust me on this.

Busy turning around

2008-12-14T13:39:00.011+08:00

Its been a long time coming. Bo Eng is really an understatement.

Work came, shit happened, I blamed myself and a viscous cycle ruled my life.

I always felt that things are within my control, that when something succeeds or fails you can find my imprint somewhere in that mess. That's how I motivate myself each morning when I pick myself up blurry-eyed from bed at five thirty, before the sun rise or when most of Singapore are still in their dreams. That I am responsible for the day's pickings and I have to ensure that everything I do is right, every single move I make is the correct choice.

How foolish.

When something fails I take personal blame and responsibility of the cause, much to the concern of my loved ones and the slight amusement of my superiors.

I got sick. I got short tempered. I distanced the people who cared for me and I kept wondering what can I do to improve myself.

All this continued until an incident at work woke me up. The sheer gravity of the issue finally made me realize my puny existence. That sometimes when shit happens, you just scrub it off the sole of your shoe and walk away. You cannot make the shit disappear, its there.

Alot of times it is easier said than done.

But I think I am easing it up alittle, if anything.

I need to read, write, drink, eat and laugh.

I am making an attempt to write at least twice weekly, to chronologicalize (is this an actual English word?) my life a little more. My memory can't serve me all that well.

Run

2008-10-06T00:01:00.000+08:00

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, or act like you aren't trying, the past will always come back to haunt you.

From the shadowy pits a claw will stretch out to taint you, crossing your path with the very thing that you are running away from.

At the stroke of midnight.

I cannot run away from it all...

Online doo-doo

2008-08-30T11:27:00.002+08:00

A couple of webcomics I love.

Sinfest is one of, if not the best webcomics I have read thus far. Superb drawing, sharp satires and great humour.

Thebookofbiff is loved by some and hated by others. A one panel comic that hits you right in the face.

Penny-arcade is one of the biggest gaming comics on the internet. It started out as a simple commentary cum comic site and it has now grown to a gigantic site that spawned a convention (Penny Arcade Expo, or PAX) and many other spin-offs.

Yes, you are right

2008-08-30T10:15:00.007+08:00

Throughout my life I have been told that I am wrong, stupid, myopic, narrow-minded and insecure.

People ask me for my opinion so that they simply could refute whatever that I have said and tell me their version, which to them, is the universal and the only truth. Co-workers, friends, family members and even taxi-drivers hand me verdicts that found me guilty, questioning my logic and putting a menacing justification on my incapability.

Everyone has their different view point and how can anything be ever in black and white. Why can't we agree to disagree? I try to listen hard to the other person's viewpoints so why can't he/she just listen to mine? In our younger years teachers and people of higher authorities consider the expression of an alternative opinion an act of rebellion. Students then treat this as a form of subjugation.

I have this friend back in Secondary school that cannot take it that there is an alternative view. My ex-colleague is one that always starts his sentence with "No,..."

In the past, whenever someone declared my argument wrong, I would put up a fight and try to explain to him/her that there are always 2 sides to a coin and that other viewpoints can just be as legitimate. I soon realize that the argument would just degenerate to a battle of egos and turn everyone blind.

Nowadays when someone shuts off to whatever I (or others as well, on numerous occasions) have to say and openly argues back and starts to go hysterical about his/her stand, I have nothing else to do. I would just wait for an appropriate pause in the middle of the oration and walk away after looking at the person in the eye to say, "Yes, you are right."

Hi!

2008-08-27T10:59:00.000+08:00

Am on MC today, so thought that I could have a quick one here.

I told my friends the other day that, at the beginning of a normal working day, I was reading some routine business reports disseminated by my GM. One of them reported a tanker of palm oil was hijacked off Somali waters.

Reading the report with interest, I suddenly heard my manager walking past and called out "Hijack!"

I jumped up like scrawny spiderman ready to splash balls of net at the would-be terrorist, when I saw my manager greeting my colleague, Jack.

Please, please, please, if you have a friend named Jack, don't ever bring him on a plane.

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*Realized this post was saved but not published. -_-"

Let's walk

2008-08-17T17:44:00.003+08:00

This road should be pretty good.

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Talking about roads, which are for vehicles or any object that is self-propelled and is generally accepted to be on wheels, let's talk about pavements.

Pavements are also, in the most general manner, taken to be for the following, People walking, People strolling or even People running/jogging. Due to some ambiguous definitions or just some people, cyclists have come into the fray.

I walk to my office from the train station and it is a short stroll. Give and take 15 minutes or so of leisure walking and I'd be plonking my meatless ass on my chair, ready to ~~laze~~ work the day away.

However there are ALOT of cyclists out there that make use of the narrow pavements and pedestrian walkways to commute to their work place. Around my office are littered with production factories and plants and alot of the workers travel on bicycles.

For a moment you can tell yourself that it feels like in China.

I don't know what else to say but to write this:

-----------------------

An open letter to all cyclists.

Dear Friends of the Two-Wheel Clan,

I am writing this to highlight the injustice and the frustrations that we have been suffering for a very long time.

I know that the Two-Wheel Clan (and your affiliated Three-Wheel Tricycle Clan and the young wing of the Four-Wheel (Junior) Clan) is a formidable and powerful society in Singapore and I respect that it is anyone's choice to join.

However, your members have been portraying a very negative image of the society by their unruly and roguish behaviour while they are involved in the said society's activities.

When they travel on pedestrian walkways they assume that all non Two-Wheel Clan members ("pedestrians") are obstructions and must give way as they are below the stature of the society's members. As they approach a pedestrian from the rear, they will ring their bell incessantly, like a Taoist Master ringing his mythical bell to chase away the Chinese Zombies ("Jiang Shi"), expecting the pedestrian to get out of the way to allow the member to pass.

This behaviour is unbecoming.

The walkway is so called a pedestrian walkway is simply because it is meant for pedestrians. Two-Wheel Clan members have to understand that they cannot expect the pedestrians to get out of the way all of the time.

Many a times, on narrow walkways, the society member would ring his bell impatiently and wait for the pedestrian to walk off the pavement and onto the grass so as to let them through, all without a word of thanks.

In my 27 years of existential creation, I have only experienced one of your members conferring me a word of thanks as they cycle pass me. Surely it is not much to ask for a more gracious society?

As much as we give way out of courtesy (though more out of compelled decisions), we hope that your members will exercise courtesy and a sound sense of judgement.

Areas of Pasir Ris (among many others), have pioneered a new infrastructure where a special red cycling lane is paved specially for your members so that chances of the the beforementioned incidents will be reduced. Sad to say, it has met with little success. Many of your society members still cycle on the pedestrian walkway, defiant to the common logic and continue to ring their bells at common folks.

This cannot go on.

I beseech your members to rethink their conduct else it will only be a matter of time before we strike back. Already there are whispers that some of us will form a human barricade while listening to loud music on ipods so as to impede the travels of your members. And that is only the start. I heard keywords like "thumbtacks", "nails" and "sabotage" being carried around.

We must fix it before blood is shed.

Please, reconsider your conduct.

Your Sincerely,
Bao
Member of the Common Pedestrian Society.

Smell the flowers

2008-07-27T16:13:00.002+08:00

A road I found on one of my market visits.

My manager told me a story she found amusing at her previous workplace the other day. She had a colleague that would often buy a carnation for himself and smell the bitter fragrance at his desk, sparking some initial scratching of heads and jokes about him soon after.

I couldn't bear to tell her that I bought a plant (non-flowering, I gathered) a while ago to brighten myself up. The plant now sits quietly on my study desk beside my fishes and after hearing the story, at least I now know I am not alone.

Cooking Therapy

2008-06-30T21:53:00.009+08:00

I had wanted to cook when I was much younger and at that point I had the decency to want to go through the proper method of learning how to cook, perhaps some lessons with a culinary school and then becoming some apprentice at a big place and crawl my way up.

As I continue to grow up it somehow became somewhat faded until the point where I realized that it was merely more of a childhood dream.

Nevertheless, I do try to cook whenever I have the chance at her place. Last week's dinner turned out to be much better than I expected as we originally wanted to do away with just a fried rice and expectations were very low.

Love the XO sauce, its a tad expensive but the taste is really good. I was at the supermarket deciding which one to get when I felt that I should probably support my fellow business partner. I have met the people at Woh Hup at a couple of events where we went in as sponsors. Must tell them that their products are really good the next time I see them.

A simple dinner with her and her dad lounging in front of the TV. Her dad took a nap on the sofa after a while. Simple pleasures in life.

------------------------

We tried to cook for a couple of times before, once was when I tried to have salmon lingered with mustard cream sauce. Was a little bland as I was worried whether the taste of mustard was acceptable in the first place.

Now, this is what you see in a few food outlets. Its a hot dog rolled into a prata and it costs a few bucks outside. We had alot of them done under $10. And we can add as much or as little as we want. Serious, F&B are reaping in high margins.

I like recreational cooking, where the agenda is light and the meal simple. I don't mind cooking for her everyday.

We, the citizens of Singapore

2008-06-22T21:12:00.015+08:00

Were at the National Musuem again to catch the Singapore Living Gallery as well as the Singapore History Galleries. 1-for-1 if you have any Mastercard, which means it will be at only $5 a ticket.

This exhibition traces the history of Singapore from the 14th century or-so to the modern world today.

What I am impressed and amused with was this iPod look-alike gizmo called the Companion:

It is not an iPod (too big and heavy), and it is not the elite cavalry of Alexander the Great (as I am typing this I wonder who else would get the latter reference). It is a device that you hang around the neck and plug a pair of earphones into for a guided tour, like so:

As you walk around the 2,800 metre gallery, numbers will be denoted on the floorings at each section.

When you key in the number, the Companion will play out a voiced introduction and then you will be given options to choose from, all of which corresponds to the indexed exhibits. So when you are about to enter a room that holds some exhibits, you key in the main number that appears on the floor and you will get a brief tour. Along the way you can key in the extra numbers that appears beside the numerous artifacts and it will display a small text file that explains the history or the nature of the artifact in question.

What impresses me is that it is even "radio-controlled". When we were at an area where there are scheduled screenings of a clip, the Companion automatically plays the audio in sync with the screened vidio. When you are at a certain area when it is playing a looped movie, you can key in the number and "tune in" to the audio, just like 89.3 and TVMobile. Because the movie is continously looped and you cannot expect it to repeat from the beginning each time a visitor arrives, you hop into it like when you are listening to the radio - Halfway through the transmission.

I didn't get to take much photos as it was too dark and it is rude to use flash inside. For those of you who are still using the flash function in exhibitions, please stop doing so. It really bugs the hell out of people. For the record, here are a couple of OK shots. (Note the roman numeral 2 in the first photo, that means it falls under the 2nd section in the Companion)

We also went to the Living Galleries and they were divided firstly into:

This is where you see the past relics of our film and other wayang shows. Current wayang-ing at civil service sector is not included.

And then there is fashion, which isn't the most appealing for me.

There is a section in this part of the gallery that had reams of various types clothe being strewn around. It brought me back to the 80's Wu Xia movies where the rooms of the ladies always have this kind of setting. Imagine a bath tub behind, dimmer lights, a Xia Nu going for a shower. You get the picture.

And then there is good ol' glorius food:

The way they hung up the old food equipment is kinda like an armoury where the weapons are held on the walls, or worse, a torture room where the vices are kept.

My Favourite! Nasi Lemak!

Lastly we have the film section:

I didn't take a single photo inside cause it is simply eerie. The exhibits inside are all old photographs dating back from the 1880's to the 1980's. Many of the people in the photos have probably past on and it just gives me the shivers to have the thought of taking a photo of the photo of the dead. Uh-uh, no taking of chances here.

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All in all, we didn't get the chance to look through the entire gallery because it is freaking big, (think I mentioned it was 2,800 metres somewhere earlier in the post). However, it is a very good exhibition to go to, not only for the National Education part where we can know much more of our history, but also of the way it was presented. It is educational without the boredom and the strictness of it all. Entertaining, informative and eye-opening.

We really enjoyed it.

Fighters

2008-06-11T22:20:00.003+08:00

I interviewed a few candidates today for an opening in my company and I was heartened to see so many fighters.

The pay package for the position was honestly very low. In fact, it was so low that I was visibly quite embarrassed when my HR colleague openly stated how much the range is. I respect the company's policy and I do know that the market rate is actually a little lower than what we offer (there are higher ones, of course). However, the candidates were optimistic and willing to put in the hard work for that small piece of pie. Ethically I can't reveal some of their backgrounds but looking at their stories and what they are putting up with, I marvel at the determination and preseverance of my fellow man (and woman). Everyday people on the street, random Tom and Nancy beside you in the lift.

I looked silently at their scars and battle wounds and told myself that I am so much more fortunate than others and I have to treasure every aspect of it.

Have I posted this before?

2008-06-10T22:16:00.007+08:00

One of the things I wondered most about is why ladies like to wear a white top and a colored bra.

I mean, its not that I mind, in fact if the situation permits I might even thank the person for caring by sharing.

At times it would be a sheer white top wrapping over like a silky veil, barely able to quiet down the purple bundles of joy. Other times would entail a white uniform blouse playing the translucent guard to the bounty of pastel colored jewels. And let's not forget that executive lady that just got out of her car, wearing a professional stripped blouse that fits over those pair of lovely headlights.

I asked my girl and a few close female friends before and the common answers are that either a) the girl didn't realize it or, b) the girl needs attention. I'll never know the real reason and I need not to, I'll just enjoy the fruits of its labours.

I am sure I have written this sometime back, it could be here, could be on orbitation.org or, hell, back in diaryland. I just got reminded of this when I was walking around today and saw a few treasure chests, waiting to be explored.

Sorry about the innuendos.

100 words: I believe

2008-05-19T22:24:00.001+08:00

I knocked before turning the knob. I could have forgone the courtesy but the occasion made me do it.

“It really wasn’t me!”

The man swung his body wildly to exaggerate the point to my colleague as I threw the file onto the old metal table.

“HEY! Don’t shout!”

“I didn’t kill anyone! Officer… Officer, do you believe me?”

I tilted my head a little and looked past him.

“Actually I have to say I do.”

My colleague gave me an exasperated look but I just shrugged.

Of course I believed him, after all, it was I who killed her.

Iron Bowl

2008-05-04T11:27:00.003+08:00

Iron Rice bowl?

Got free tickets to the Iron Man movie from a vendor and watched it with my colleague on Wednesday night.

Now, seriously, the Iron Man movie, isn't that just another stereotypical American movie?

They have the protagonist Tony Starks: White, Rich, Smart, Heir of a business empire, Man-in-distress turned Hero. Then somehow they fit in Gwyneth Paltrow: The blonde love interest that is all too similar to Kirsten Dunst in Spiderman - Looks pretty on screen, makes no significant contribution other than to appeal to a guy's groin and to appease the ladies going into the theatres, gets into trouble and needs our hero to help while continue to having a vaguely ambigious relationship with the Superhero.

Obadiah Stane, the old rich caucasion that wants power and to take over the entire corporation. Following that we have the token black guy. Army officer that plays like a silly sidekick to the rich caucasion, cracks alot of silly jokes, knows a little of the inside secrets of our Hero and, last but no least, makes no progression through the entire film. His role just stays the same throughout the entire movie.

Its one of the best sterotypical movies from Hollywood that one can draw an example from.

Ramen?

2008-04-20T12:20:00.005+08:00

To be honest I have been extremely busy for the past few weeks. I even had to put the Fact of the Day that I sent out to my friends daily on hold. (note: I send it everyday before work starts).

I have always wanted to pay them a visit and didn't have a chance till yesterday afternoon. Recommended to me by my manager, we had to delve a little deep at Central to spot it (it is clearly seen from the outside of the building though). I think it was featured on the papers or a magazine some time back but I can't be sure.

The soup was simply lovely though you would finish up the noodles in a jiffy. Recommend you all to get the larger portioned bowls.

Reality

2008-04-06T20:19:00.002+08:00

To all the well-wishers, people who asked and people that heard it from others. Yes, thank you, I popped the question.

Now, for those that are wondering why I didn't tell you and are upset about it, please don't be. I actually didn't go and tell anyone for I think it is kinda weird if I call a person and say, "Hey, you know the other day I propose lei."

It gets a little uncomfortable to do that.

And also, yes, my wife-to-be (WTB) and I are currently on a high and everything really seems to be painted in perfect 32-bit colors with wide-screen vision.

Reality, however, is starting to set in.

It seems pretty messy but it is not all that bad though. There are of course questions, problems and issues sprouting out of the ground. When shall the ROM be? The banquet? How do we want the banquet to be? How much is our budget? How about our wedding photos? Gowns and tux? How about our new home? Where will it be? What? How? When? Where?

I sat down with my WTB the other day and started putting numbers and dates down on paper. The bigger problem is actually the new home but I believe in time it will be resolved.

Its a new phase in life and with it new challenges but now, there is also a new person with me to tackle it. :)

On bended knee

2008-03-23T13:56:00.000+08:00

With this, I promise my love for you.

Greener on the other side?

2008-03-02T13:28:00.002+08:00

My parents swapped my pillow case while I was away. Very cunning of them.

I wonder if the grass is really so much better elsewhere? Are we really able to find what is best of what we currently have, or are others always much better at it?

Finally caught the screening of Michael Clayton which, to my surprise, was weighing more on the acting of the cast than the script to lift the film. The pacing is a little off but other than that George Clooney is honestly pretty good. The thing that really pissed me off during the show was that the couple on my right was talking and making "insightful" commentaries. When Clayton was busted at Arthur's apartment, the guy said to her girlfriend, "The guys below called the cops." As the spookie broke into Clayton's car, he made the wise discovery and commented, "He is gonna put the bomb."

Come on. I groaned quite audibly and yet they just keep on peppering 2 hours with rhetorical statements and observations. It really pissed me off sometimes.

Meet the Spartans!

2008-02-24T17:34:00.008+08:00

Went to the National Musuem with my Har Gao to see the Greek Masterpieces from Lourve yesterday!

Do check out the sketches and photos outside the gallery.

There are volunteers who conduct small guided tours around the exhibits but we decided not to follow them initially as we wished to have more room for ourselves. However, at an earlier part of our walk, we overheard a volunteer describing a sculpture and liking his voice, I decided to follow him around.

At the relief sculpture of Eurydice and Orpheus, he described the tragic loss of Eurydice because Orpheus decided to turn back and look at her. A kid asked very innoncently why Orpheus did not choose to move on to get another wife and it drew a few smiles from the group. The volunteer, in all good nature, patted the boy on the shoulder and said, "If only love works in such simple ways, young man. You'll understand when you grew up."

If only it does, won't it be much more simpler?

All together now

2008-02-24T15:28:00.008+08:00

A louhei with my siaolangs.

Its been a while since I brought some of my life into this little space of mine.

Where to begin?...

I started with my new job for almost a month now (which explains my disappearance, no?) and it is better for now. Of course, with higher pay, better working hours and a more challenging working environment, it all comes to a big price tag. My office is at Boon Lay. I have to get up before 6 in the morning every weekday though I do reach home to catch the sun as it hasn't disappeared from the horizon yet.

I am honestly looking forward to try and make something out of this job. Its further but the opportunities are much richer and interesting.

Caught the Dim Sum Dollies!!! Was getting the tickets but Judy kausah hers to me. Hee. Like always, it is entertaining and very witty, plastered around the edges with very funny dialogues. Sadly though, it seemed to show its age when a part or two seems too predictable and tired. I hope they can turn it around when it comes back with another new installment.

By the way, the drinks sold at the theatre area are so expensive. $4 for a can of coke and more than a piece of red dollar note for a very thin glass of champagne. It seems pretentious though, where just because you are at the Esplanade, to drink a glass of champagne and layering your talk with an unnatural accent. It was a fact that I saw a few ladies tried doing when they stood near a group of causasians.

I'll update in a while (hopefully) of other adventures, but for now, I'll go and think about how to update on a more regular basis.

2 more things

2008-01-25T13:33:00.000+08:00

Anyone has or possibly knows where in Singapore can I find Bergman's films? The only place I can remotely find a trace with a hint of Singapore is on the Singapore's Ebay website, which isn't exactly the route I want to go to.

I can't find it at quite a number of places and I had to download (eek!) a couple of his movies, but I really hope to get a hold on the discs. Persona and The Seventh Seal are on the top of my list, though I have already downloaded them.

Let me know.

Oh, look what I found? Elementary!

W00t! The full collection of Sherlock Holmes! I have been meaning to buy a copy at MPH but it was a little overpriced, lucky I found this copy at the library. Sure return me some of my investments (overdue fines, actually) in them.

I do feel Sir Arthur himself is a little showy in his potrayal of Holmes' ability of logic and deduction, much so that I feel he makes the character quite unrealistic. I love more of the plots and stories and Holmes seems to be more of the narrator than Watson from where I am reading. Watson merely records what Holmes reveals about each sinister case time after time.

Reading about him reminds me of Zhuge Liang from The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Luo Guan Zhong's epic fictionalized the real state of war and made Zhuge Liang almost god-like and unbelievable. An interesting saying is that Zhuge Liang (who is real, of course), invented the first bun on a big scale. Yup, he made the first bao so that his soldiers can munch on marches and provide much more convenience in rationing. You can call him the first Kong Guan.

I owe it all to him man.

A bit of everything

2008-01-23T12:58:00.001+08:00

Just some bits and pieces.

I have been very busy painting my entire house. A fresh coat of paint for the new year and I felt like Phua Chua Kang, minus the yellow boots, perky mole and a good sense of humour. Later on I will be painting again, it's tough work.

I went for a foot massage when I was in Thailand and it was kinda weird. Firstly I am not that used to being rubbed around by a lady I just met, I mean, I don't mind after a movie and a few dinners, but hey, just not so fast OK? Although it was a foot massage, she did press around the inner thigh areas which was, let's find the right word, a tad too uncomfortable. Overall it was not bad, the massage I meant and the price was not that expensive.

And oh, you have to be really clean to buy their merchandise.

It's official

2008-01-21T12:04:00.003+08:00

Sigh. Yes, it is cast in stone, done in overtime.

Thank you for the memories Brett.

I was hoping for a Packers-Patriots Superbowl.

Last Holiday for now

2008-01-21T10:11:00.000+08:00

Just came back not too long ago from Bangkok, the highlight of which is, very luckily, not to do with the 4.5 days of shopping.

For one, I finally made it to the Grand Palace!

Even before we reached the premises, I was awed by it's majestic grandeur in the distance. Really, it is a place fit for a King.

Another place that we popped by will be Chinatown.

I have heard about the great food, the back alleys of hidden gems as well as the endless streams of herbal and medicine halls. True to the words, I found great food, lots of back alleys with funny stores (one specializing in Halloween costumes, all 'round the year) and alot of chinese halls and goldsmiths.

We popped by the place which was said to have good Bird's nest. Think it is call Nam Seng.

We ordered a tad too much, the portion was strangely generous and another table of Singaporeans had to cancel one of their orders as they had over-ordered unexpectedly. The scallops were fresh and the fried rice fragrant. I was initially worried about the seafood's quality but luckily it was great. The bird's nest was quite a study because they have various classifications and types. I guess most people would order based simply on the prices.

What's an overseas trip without popping by places where you can't find back in Singapore anymore?

The trip was quite tiring, honestly. Shopping was basically the main reason for the travelling and besides the normal Platinum, MBK, Chatuchak, Pratunam, Siam area, CentralWorld and many other allies along the way, there was about 3/4 of day for the Grand Palace and the Chinatown area walkabout.

Oh, you will see these regularly in Thailand.

They are called Zebra Crossings back in Singapore and are meant for pedastrian usage, where cars stop for them to cross. In Thailand, you run for your lives even at the crossings. When we first reached Thaliand and got into a metered cab at the airport, the driver honked at the pedastrian crossing the zebra crossing to get out of the way. It is like playing Frogger in real life.

Overall, it was, OK.

Oh, my girlfriend has two great tasting balls. Tee Hee.

I think I have had enough of Pad Thai for now. I really have to go somewhere else.

What does it mean???

2008-01-08T11:44:00.001+08:00

I had a totally whacked dream.

I was walking along some pavement when Huijing popped out from nowhere and gave me a Sistic ticket for some unknown event. I remember talking to her about the event and then I just continue walking on, as she suddenly vanished. Judy came along and asked me some things that made me laugh. The banter hammered with crude comments and lame jokes carried for a while along the pavement when she suddenly disappeared as well and Vincent came and took her place. Like a page out of magical realism, I casually changed the conversation to my new work place and how I can meet him for lunches in the future, should he decided to stay.

I vividly recall the walk took a while before I found myself suddenly alone in front of some hall. Jester came towards me and asked, in his unique tone, of where I was earlier. I went on to tell him we should meet up more in the future after the previous plan to meet up failed.

Some people came in and went out but I couldn't remember who they are nor what they did.

It's all very complicated. I am blogging this quickly as nobody can remember their dreams after a while.

It's weird.

Have you ever had those funny dreams with alot of random people and alot of different scenes? Scientfically dreams make no sense but hey, sure is fun thinking back about it.

A can of sardines

2008-01-06T12:57:00.000+08:00

Taken at Bugis, December, 2007. If someone breaks a fart here everybody is going to die.

I hate crowded places, seriously.

I avoid Orchard Road, town and places where people go there just to squeeze. The irritating people that walks very slowly down right at the middle of the walkway in front of you, taking their own sweet time and blocking everybody at the back. That group of delinquents that form a straight horizontal line and forming a human barricade. The random asinine lady that consistently appears and walks into your path but looks in the opposite direction at the shoes on discount.

It pains me to feel some sweaty dude's sticky arms and requesting the countless "Excuse Me" to deaf ears.

That's prolly why I am either at home or in some remote part of the island.

At least then the only person that irritates me, is myself.

Lai Lai, tuck in

2008-01-05T01:14:00.000+08:00

I have to say this is the most productive of me ever in blogging. It may be some filler-materials to some of you, but hey, this is the average amount of posts I make in, say, a month.

Tuck in, enjoy while I still have the time.

I took this photo during a lunch with my previous colleagues. It was a fun time then, too bad I had to move on.

Iowa - Where it all began?

2008-01-05T00:37:00.000+08:00

You may have the best speech writers but you seriously, it was a really good delivery. Obama really made the speech work, especially near the end.

The surprise for me was that Edwards got a percentage higher than Clinton's. Proves that perceived past prestige and bags full of money won't solve everything.

Wonder when politics in Singapore can become so interesting.

Potatoes in disguise!

2008-01-03T23:37:00.000+08:00

Its Optimash Prime!

Autobots, transform and literally, roll out!

The Extra-Ordinary

2008-01-02T23:03:00.000+08:00

I have always been meaning to post this up but I didn't get a chance to, largely due to the fact that I am lazy. It was when I chanced upon it on Youtube again did I remember about it.

Paul Potts of Britan's Got Talent. He went on to win the competition in June 2007 and performed for The Queen of England at the Royal Variety.

Like what Simon Cowell said at the end, "I like shows where somebody isn't a professional, has a talent, isn't aware of it, has a normal job, and then you see something else. I like that."

When I write (if it can ever be called writing), I tend to write mostly about the seemingly ordinary people around us, the everyday Joes and Janes you see everyday. The auntie sitting by the side of her stall, the boy that hops over the zebra crossing and the person sitting next to you on the bus. Every event that involves us is unique, every adversity we face is a story in the making, every attempt we make is a legacy to be told.

Things are much different if you look in another perspective.

That little bit of extra.

The Extra-Ordinary.

The spot on the window

2008-01-02T14:18:00.000+08:00

The next time you are on the train or in a car, focus on a dried water drop or a spot of dirt on the window while the vehicle travels along its route.

Watch as the background scenery flashes by, becoming a vague block of water colors.

That's life. Sometimes we focus on a little issue or situation and didn't realise what we are missing.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-27T20:46:00.001+08:00

100 words: Cecilia

2007-12-23T15:38:00.000+08:00

“Hello?”

“Father Philips?”

“Sorry? You have to speak up.”

“Father Philips? It’s Cecilia. My granny has just passed away. Daddy asked me to call you.”

Holding blankly onto the receiver, I could see her at the other end grasping the phone, closing her eyes and fighting back the tears.

I twirled the wire with my fingers. “I’m terribly sorry about your loss but I’m afraid you have dialed the wrong number.”

“Oh god. I’m so sorry. It’s just… There’s nothing I can do…”

“But what can we do, Cecilia?”

“Nothing. Nothing I do helps and what helps cannot be done.”

What? But I am not

2007-11-23T14:15:00.000+08:00

This is a little out of context, since the whole conversation took 15-20 minutes, but I can't help but only remember this as the highlight.

----------------------------------

Ms Judy Yuen, CEO of Skinfood Singapore looked at me and highlighted, "You know, your resume looks great and the work you have done at your company is pretty impressive. However, when I looked at you I really don't know if you can market our products that effectively."

"I'm sorry?"

"Well, I looked at your qualifications and your experience and I thought I have to take a look at you before I make a decision. Now I feel we really need females cause they use the products and they are more at ease in this industry. Or unless you are gay."

"What? But I am not."

"Exactly." She gestured at me.

-------------------

She has a point. Honestly she is a very sharp lady. From the conversation (talking about other industry issues), she really has the business acumen.

Somehow, I am glad she did not offer the post to me.

The Bohemian Rhapsodies

2007-11-19T02:00:00.000+08:00

Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
A little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me

Bintan!!

2007-10-14T21:56:00.000+08:00

Went to Bintan last weekend! Took a day of leave on Friday and boarded a trip down to the island for a quick getaway.

The basic plan was to go there and relax. To rejuvenate. To recharge. To NUA.

I parked my butt on the hammock and let myself sway along with the winds, catching the breezes from the sea and taking my mind off everything. Disconnecting from Singapore really eases my mind alot, well, basically disconnecting from my work will ease me anytime.

Went to the "shopping haven" they call Pasar Oleh-Oleh, but there are only 10 shops there and hardly any visitors around.

The big bus that we sat in only carried a 6 person load and when we got down, the 2 aunties behind us asked in Hokkien, "Like that only ah?"

We did get something out of it though - we went for spa/reflexology!

I didn't take any photos during the session but I am telling you, when the guy was doing his reflexology thing on my legs I was almost tearing like I had listened to Michael Bolton for 24 hours straight. The funny thing though, is that right after it my legs felt really light. Kinda like wearing the real Nike AIR.

And besides lazing the weekend away, we ate.

And ate.

And er... ate.

And... yeah. And we ate.

Oh, we spotted some interesting green blob washed up on the beach.

Anyone who has the slightest idea what it is, drop me a note. For the moment, I am dubbing it "Flubber".

----------------

Epilogue

When I went back to work on Monday, I was charged up and tackled my tasks with renewed vigor, never saying die like an Energizer battery. Things went smoother even though its the same shit and the same problems.

By Wednesday I was drained out.

I used to laugh out loud at the idiosyncrasies and humour at Dilbert comic stopes before I started working full time. Now, all I could do was empathize.

How about you, you, you?

2007-10-14T21:17:00.000+08:00

Took leave from work to go the zoo about a month back and it was pretty fun, walking through bits of childhood as memories of Primary School excursions lined around the compound. It is largely still the same and the animals like the penguins, monkeys and the elephants seem to be at ease in the zoo.

The white tigers on the other hand, exhibit very obvious side-effects of captivity. They are over weight and the male tiger is walking around the same spots marking his territory.

The horses really seems to be suffering. They looked really passive when people approached them and the pair just stood there, inert.

Holding the visitor's information pamphlet, we tracked our way around the zoo systematically and caught a couple of animal shows. The show with the seals are a disappointment, mainly due to the fact that we went there late and could hardly find a hole for us to peek. In the end we stood near the side walk and leaned over the railings to watch 3/4 of the show.

The show with the dogs (forgot the name of it) is really geared towards children and it is not something that gets your champagne bubbles rising.

All in all, it was a nice way to break away from work and I'll leave with a couple more photos.

A couple of photos

2007-10-02T22:27:00.000+08:00

My new workstation!

Really cool looking, though its much easier for my boss to be behind me looking at what I am doing.

Caught The Campaign to confer the the Public Service star on JBJ 1 week plus ago. Just for those people who don't go to watch dramas and plays often, the book in the above photo is NOT free. I saw alot of people going over to the desk to realize with big beady eyes that it costs $2. Come on guys, only $2. Do support the art scene if you can.

I will leave the review of it open, since alot of people have ALOT of differing views on it. My statement is only geared to those that told me that all the actors (both of them) did were to complain and poke fun at others. My feel will always be that art need not necessarily provide a solution, it can simply be the medium through where we derive it.

The Office

2007-09-30T16:28:00.000+08:00

1 month zoomed by and I wondered how things have changed and transpired. Warning though, this could be a boring post.

Work was pretty mundane, save for the occasion spots of a sudden rush of activities that makes you wonder the logic and motives of other co-workers. I am stepping into my 5th month at my current workplace and a number of people actually came and went during this time.

On another note, my colleague got me a Winnie the Pooh cushion for an "Angel & Mortal" event in our company.

It likes an occasional cornetto at work.

Not the most mucho gift a guy can get, but it sure beats the gloomy atmosphere that is always hanging around my workstation. Talking about my workstation, my computer just got upgraded with a wide screen monitor as I have been reflecting that my design work (I am always arrowed to design ads, flyers, brochures, even cards) is hampered by the snail-like AMD comp. Will take a photo of it.

---------------

What else is worth mentioning...

Well... nothing much really. The office is pretty much as is. Small, compact and in a dark-humour way, seperated from everything else.

Eat eat eat

2007-09-30T16:01:00.000+08:00

People have been commenting I have put on some weight despite the fact I run almost every week.

OK, I ate alot. Really, I admit, alot. Only got some photos to show of it. Realize nokia really sucks, need a SE phone cam for this kind of stuff.

I am telling you, these people are really smart. You cook your own food, you have to eat it fast as it cooks in under a few minutes and because of the smell and heat you tend to leave the place earlier. High patronage, great turnover on the seats and low cost. They are smart.

Rakuzen at Millenia Walk was good though it is a little pricey, think it was about $70+ for 2.

My phone's camera really didn't do it justice.

Went to The Central and it has an area just for Japanese food. Tried Wakashachiya as the people from Waraku didn't even bother to entertain nor answer my questions though I was standing in front of them.

They are famous for their curry udons but I prefer rice. Pretty OK for it isn't a place you would want to go back nor a place you would never go back, nothing special. Seriously: nothing special.

I like the TCC though slotted at the escalator.

It overlooks the river as well as the arcade of the shopping area. It has a relaxed feel as it is only half-crowded almost all the time. Saw a couple of people sitting by the windows with a drink and a book, lounging away the evening.

Writing all these makes me hungry.. hmm...

一人一半

2007-08-29T23:57:00.000+08:00

I finally caught 881 today, late but better than never.

Alot of people mentioned that it was over-rated, some damned it to oblivion and a number questioned the directing style.

I liked it for the plot fits together nicely and basically it was well written. The "powers" and the mythical elements in the movie is probably magical realism running inth the veins of yet another Singaporean writer.

When was the last time you shared something with someone else? When was it that you treasured the person next to you?

...一人一半感情不散

100 words: Dusty Trails

2007-08-04T11:20:00.000+08:00

Scanning the growing crowds along the packed riverfront, I was questioning the long wait when the void that was the empty sky suddenly sparked into life, an orgasmic flurry of searing lights flashing the swatches of night sky.

Glowing trails climbed and seek out the atmosphere before bursting into spatters of colorful radial sparkles that spread as it descends back to earth.

The finale was marked by a continuous surge of pyrotechnics exploding into thousands of colors, only to leave dusty smoke trails lingering in the air – an indelible mark to us that this stage of our lives has ended.

Shut eye

2007-07-15T01:01:00.000+08:00

Working late is not an anomaly any more after my 2 months at work. The other day I hailed a cab and let it filter into the ECP and up the endless trail of road and darkness. The Singapore Flyer loomed ahead and it sat uncomplete on the reclaimed Marina Centre, while the floodlights from the Marina Bay Floating Stadium on the left of the flyover shot weak light-paths up into the distant sky.

The humming of the diesel engine kept silence at bay as the driver frowned to focus on the motor-cyclists streaming past his blindspots.

My eyes moved heavily around the sights out of the window, catching blurred bits of life in the other cars.

"Wah, you look very tired ah?" The driver didn't look back and started to tap softly on the stirring wheel. "Why not you just close your eyes and rest? I'll wake you up when you're home."

Just a heads up

2007-07-08T02:46:00.000+08:00

Don't worry, I am not dead.

But I think I am dying.

Tea Time

2007-06-17T18:24:00.000+08:00

I was at Millenia Walk the other day and finally dropped by t-connection to take a look.

And expected by many, I picked up a small satchet of Earl Grey and it has a much richer citric after taste than most of the other Earl Greys I tried. Interesting blend of flavours but nevertheless satisfying.

They have alot of other types of teas so if you were to walk around town, just drop by and take a casual look around the outlet, the sales assistant was friendly enough.

Today is the only day thus far where I was not so drained out that I can't even sit down and write. Everyday after work I will go into a robotic routine: Shower, eat and stare out of my window wondering where everything is heading.

My writing book is blank, my pen is running dry and my mind is at a lost.

The corner

2007-05-13T20:17:00.000+08:00

If you were to go up to my office you will realize the quaint lift design harks back from the 70s. The squarish buttons are protuding with the help of an aging spring, and the gears ache whenever it has to pull the weight of its passengers against the force of gravity.

My spot in the office is placed in a humble corner beside one of the blind-covered windows. I don't have a cubicle and neither do a number of other employees and it is due more to the fact that there isn't enough space than the configuration based on seniority.

Very often laughter from banters and jokes will ring around the office, which temperarily covers my colleague's mp3 collections across the table.

I pull down the blinds to watch the cars zoom past and wonder what is in store for me down the road.

Its a bird

2007-04-25T21:15:00.000+08:00

From Yahoo news (from Reuters): Link

LONDON (Reuters) - Kryptonite, which robbed Superman of his powers, is no longer the stuff of comic books and films.

A mineral found by geologists in Serbia shares virtually the same chemical composition as the fictional kryptonite from outer space, used by the superhero's nemesis Lex Luther to weaken him in the film "Superman Returns"...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
All we need now is this dude called Superman.

On the 300 words of reflections

2007-04-23T22:39:00.000+08:00

It took me almost 3 months from conception of the idea to endless re-writings to actually posting it online today. Far from being anywhere near completion, I hope to re-visit this soon and see if there is anything I can do to sharpen it.

I will like to thank Jester for taking time out to proof-read and critique it for a couple of rounds and help me iron it out. Thanks alot, man. You deserve the cake and the right to eat it.

And as I read the three sets of a hundred words, the image of the MRT ride with the couple and the child drifted back to me again. After getting off the train, I immediately wrote down what I felt on the staircase steps at City Hall MRT station. It was lucky I was early for an appointment with my friends. I had time to write it all down.

I hope this piece will represent the complexities of life and all that is out there.

Reflections

2007-04-23T22:16:00.000+08:00

100 words: She

She turned away from him and looked out the window. The MRT sped past the setting sun as she thought about her hope for living out a simple life. Yesterday’s quarrel wrecked everything.

“A $1,000 ring and fancy dinners!” she swung her arms wildly after throwing the crushed monthly statement into his empty face. “To think you saved on me so that you can spend on that whore!”

As ever, he remained silent.

Her son fondled a porcelain duck as she wondered about the next 7 months and life after that.

Feeling her tummy, she closed her eyes and sighed.

100 words: He

His hands went softly back into his pockets and he gazed at her profile against the glass panel’s reflection. He loves her and he is sure that nothing can make him abandon his feelings for this woman.

He fidgeted his toes in his new Ferragamo shoes and admitted he knows no better than to get into all this trouble. Fingering the store keys absent-mindedly, he listened to the muffled clinking and wondered what would have transpired if he had not close his bookstore a little later than his usual 9pm.

Mustering the courage he whispered, “Can I tell you something?”

100 words: The Boy

The boy guessed his father had, for once, overspent. Despite the on-going quarrels, his parents appeared their usual selves when they bent down to ask how his day went.

The weak sunlight refracted past his parents and triggered his thoughts about uncle Alexander’s orange top last weekend. He is sure if his mother was at home then, she would have said it was indecently tight and glittery for a man.

The train jerked with a sudden shudder and threw its passengers off balance.

Helplessly, he lost his hold on the porcelain piece and watch it shatter into a thousand pieces.

My window

2007-04-14T18:15:00.000+08:00

I was just looking out of my window and saw part of a cloud forming the arched shape of the alphabet “C” and very soon after, a fluffy puff of white drifted under the said alphabet to form a pedestal for it to rest on.

Whenever people asked me what I was doing and I answered that I was looking out of my window, they would always asked me what is that I was looking for.

I love to look out of my window and I had deliberately placed my workstation flat against the wall so that I am perpetually connected to the outside world.

Casting my eyes far away, I find answers to my schoolwork, ideas on where to go or inspirations for my writing (if it is considered so). I can also reflect against the vast darkened skies as I sit down to think about what happened during the day. I locate myself outside my room, a singular star hovering high above everyone so that I can have my moments alone.

Sadly, I find my only refuge through the window, for the thick foliage of the trees do let its thoughts wander off and block me off, the occasional yellow bird do not flutter up to stop my thoughts and chirp incessantly and the beige buildings readily accept my excuses for all the wrongs I did.

As I ponder about all these, I looked up to see the clouds dispersed and the skies graying.

I instinctively reached for my box of tea bags and left the room.

Bookworm Club

2007-04-07T00:13:00.000+08:00

Went down to the warehouse sale at Expo and got myself some dead tree trunks. People nowadays tend to call them books.

No Raymond Carver, John Collier, Ray Bradbury or Kazuo Ishiguro. Heck, there isn't even Tom Clancy. Still, there were some rare gems that got looked-over.

Thanks for the heads-up on this, Judy.

In the beginning

2007-04-06T23:54:00.000+08:00

I love aquascaping.

Give this another month and let the plants fill up.

Free

2007-04-02T11:54:00.000+08:00

I was packing up some boxes when I found my Visual Basic CD stacked underneath a pile of novellas and magazines. I had been freelancing on and off as a programmer since my Poly days though there hadn't been any decent clients in the last few years. I did get a couple of contracts from SME's and what they mainly wanted was small applications that serves to help generate reports and basically help with data management. The money wasn't good. I did program in C++ and Java to a certain extent but given the pro-Windows environment in Singapore, anything that runs is good enough so I stuck with VB for most of my tasks.

I had also freelanced as a web designer but this was even worse. The measly few "clients" I attracted were friends that needed a sprucing of their blogs or game sites where I got a simple dinner in return (a couple were at Mac's). I had one real client though. My final year lecturer back in Temasek Polytechnic was asking around for help on setting up a web site for an adminstrative project that he is undertaking and I got the deal simply because I was beside him when he mentioned it. He liked what I did and one thing led to another and I began designing my department's website which then started to spill over. In the end I had to help with the Business faculty's entire site and with so much on my hands I had to outsource (its a rising buzzword then) a site (or was it 2?) to him. Lucky he wasn't in my department, else I might lose my deal to him. His stuff simply kicks ass.

A friend had commented that its so characteristic of me, to dabble in freelancing not because I don't have the time, but because I don't want to be encumbered.

She's right.

I want to be free.

Up and down

2007-04-01T11:25:00.000+08:00

A couple of us were fairly amused at today's headlines that stated our top students got whacked by foreign students in The Arena. Naturally all of us will think out loud, "Top? Its top in studies. The best in memorizing. The bionic-boy/girl in differentiating dy and dx. The superkid with the thick glasses and oversized bags."

And MOE will pull out all their statistics proving that our students scored the highest scores globally for maths and science while shuffling to the back our equally stupendous score of myopia in this garden city with all the greenery that is purportedly the best sooth-aid for eyes.

I am worried that in a couple of months over-zealous schools will start running for a core CCA in debating and push the kids to stay back everyday to memorize scripts and counterpoints.

Glass Walls

2007-03-24T01:34:00.000+08:00

Walked side by side amongst the crowd,
the voices booming the noises so loud,
in the same direction forward,
we moved without talking,
we knew nothing about the other,
what he is trying to be after,

I stopped, and
spoke,

-silence-

I saw the ceiling fan
and stretched out my left hand,
to tap the girls and men,
but realized no one heard my calls,
blocked out by the thick glass walls.

100 Words: Answer in the form of a question

2007-03-18T01:23:00.000+08:00

I stared up at the clouds and wondered what she is doing now.

“You know, I wish that things were different. It’d be so much better, no?”

Vic looked back at me and asked. “Really? Do you really want that?”

“Wouldn’t us all?”

The clouds started to drift off to the mountains tops and block out the peaks.

“I’m lousy, that’s why she left me, right?”

“That’s not…”

“I know as a good friend and you won’t want to hurt me, wouldn’t you?”

“Well, for that…”

“Yeah.” I stood up and patted my jeans. “We know the answer, don’t we?”

What it means

2007-03-15T22:21:00.000+08:00

Submitted another paper and again I got the same comments.

“You have serious problems with your grammar and idiom usage… your ideas are good but I hope you had developed it more…”

Before you handed it back to us you commented that the class had some expression problems, and you flipped open the first stapled stacked of papers on the pile in front of you and I stopped breathing.

It was mine.

You proceeded to pull out one language mistake after another from my paper like it’s a pit-less well, fishing out bits and pieces, gnawing off bones and tearing them apart.

Flip.

“Different beliefs cannot be put together, you can reconcile them, you can compromise them, but no, you cannot put them together...”

Flip.

“You can’t make the women go through a progression, they can only progress…”

Flip.

Flip.

Flip.

******

Some things happened after that but all I remembered was that I left the class and went back home. I then sat around absently-mindedly before taking a nap, perhaps in an attempt that after opening my eyes I would realize that it has been a bad dream and none of it ever happened, that I had been on my bed the past morning and hadn’t stepped onto campus grounds.

But of course we knew it happened. I had a dream during the short nap, it seemed longer than the nap itself and I saw you and me standing in the middle of nowhere and I was holding my marked paper.

“You have good ideas but you just can’t express them well, why are you in my class?”

I stammered, I choked and I nearly cried. “I’m trying, I am doing an ‘O’ Level revision book now to try and hammer it down.”

“What? ‘O’ Level? How old are you?”

“26.”

“And what age is the book meant for?”

“16.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “I thought most of you read proper books? Didn’t it rub off you?”

“I don’t know, perhaps I was like Haroun and flew over the seas but I didn’t reach in,” I scratched my head. “Guess I also don’t know.”

“What a waste.”

And I woke up.

I wondered what the dream meant.

An explaination

2007-02-12T20:11:00.000+08:00

It is not that I hate you guys wishing me happy birthdays nor that I hate people reminding that I am getting older. I never meant that wishing happy birthday means nothing to me.

Although my birthdays hold no personal value to me, you guys remembering do. As much as I feel awkward about it, I do feel a warm fuzzy feeling when I receive a sms wishing me all the best on the 10th of this month every year.

I apologize for not replying some of your sms but each time after 6 or 7 sms's (or is it smses?) clutter in my inbox I have problems sorting them out for replying.

Thanks.

Birth

2007-02-11T15:10:00.000+08:00

Thanks to all the well wishers and people whom I didn't expect to remember. Not that I am underestimating the potential of your empathy but I just didn't realize I am worth the effort of a sms.

Birthdays have had no personal value for me, largely because of the fact that I was brought up with no family birthday celebrations and no "little birthday parties" hosted in my house. For over 2 decades my birthdays have been spent quietly and for my 21st birthday I had a simple dinner with a small group of friends, whose turn-up rate can be counted on one hand.

Maybe its the morbidity that I associate with birthdays.

Its not adding up of age.

Its a countdown ticker to the final day.

What went on

2007-01-29T13:16:00.000+08:00

Looking at the space before me I can't help but feel drained, as I have nothing to fill this empty void, a vacant canvas awaiting the inevitable brushes of colors. Using the excuse of a writer's block is not only superfluous but also a cruel misnomer. I am by no means a writer and certainly nor am I a person who had been credited with pieces of creativity so prophetic that they wish for an encore.

I yearn for the ability that I can write things that move people, words building up into three dimensional figures and reaching out to touch your heart.

Until then, I can only sit by the window and hear the rains come and go, amazed by the pelting shards of inspiration against the impervious walls. Seemingly within reach but simply untouchable.

2 things

2006-12-13T20:07:00.000+08:00

Hello, my name is Bao.

I like fishes:

and I like to read:

Nerd-iology

2006-12-06T12:56:00.000+08:00

I've recently been transfixed with a little worm that vanquishes its foes by, to quote, "vocabulizing" them. Yes, it's Bookworm Adventure Deluxe by Popcap.

You play a little worm called Lex that, using an arsenal packed with lexicons, attempts to save this little creature called Cassandra. Lingustic heroism never seemed any more sexy.

Anyway the game is pretty fun, and you can surprise your opponents:

Aha!! Gotcha!

The amount of damage that you inflict onto your opponents is directly proportional to the length of the word that you conjugate. So while the word "Aha" is catchy and will knock him off-guard, it deals only about half a heart of damage.

But try using this word which I managed to fish out the other day:

When our powers combine..

I think I just sent him up to outer space.

This game rocks but its price tag is ridiculous. US$30 for an electronic scrabble and animated RPG crossover registers as an outcast in my cost-value analysis. I'd rather get Medivial 2: Total War. I've been holding off that for a long time.

Stop

2006-12-01T14:57:00.000+08:00

I was reading Salman Rushdie's Shame and came across a passage:

What's the opposite of shame? What's left when sharam is substracted? That's obvious: shamelessness.

And I stood on the train, looking across the blank faces and wondered, what then, is the absence of innocence?

My guess?

Knowledge.

The very thing that expelled Adam and Eve from the Biblical Garden for opening their eyes, looking at Earth in its truthful state and realizing their nakedness. He dropped the apple as he had to find something to wear.

How many a times do we wish that there are things we know not of, truths we later hoped we didn't hear, admitting that not knowing is better than having a full grasp of the in's and out's.

When was it that you last wished you had put up your hand and said, "Please don't tell me anymore, I don't want to know."

"Please. Stop."

The Karang Guni Man: The Dog

2006-11-28T02:18:00.000+08:00

I remembered something back yesterday when I was making my rounds near my home. It was those executive rooms flats with better amenities like larger playgrounds and a mini shopping mall to cater to the residents.

The incident wasn’t anything special but it has been lingering at the back of my mind.

I was singing my infamous tagline along the corridors when a middle-aged man opened his thick wooden doors and waved me over in earnestness behind the posh metal grilles. I happily returned the wave and when I went up I noticed the tall stacks of newspapers and magazines propped up nicely behind him and wondered how long has this family been piling them up.

He opened the metal grilles and beamed, “Karang Guni, I got a lot of stuff for you. Boy ah! Come help me!”

As he began to offload his goods at the entrance of his house, I saw the Business Times on top of the moulds of newspapers. I casually flipped them over and realized that only the top few papers of each heap are the Business Times, the rest are mainly the Straits Times and The New Paper.

“Boy! Get those magazines over here! Stack by stack ah!”

A heavily bespectacled boy, probably around seven years old, brought a pile of Reader’s Digest to his father and opened the wooden door wide to reveal a dog held in a small area at the living room. A small fence cordoned the dog off and the boy stood quietly, looking at a spot behind it. The dog was ridden with fleas and whenever it sneezed I can see bits of black dots dropping off the dog’s fur. A putrid puddle lay beside the canine.

“Aiyoh, I tell you to come and help me, not play with your dog!”

The dog wasn’t big; I can’t differentiate the breed though I know for sure it was still young, not more than a year old.

The father was working hard at emptying his wares and when all was done, I weighed them carefully and handed over several coins. I eyed the boy and he looked down and played with his fingers absent-mindedly.

I waved to the man and thanked him before he closed the metal grilles.

But before I left, I took another look at the boy and his dog stuck behind the gates.

A book

2006-11-26T20:51:00.000+08:00

I was on the train the other day when it occured to me that when girls read they are really attractive, impressing upon me an etheral charm which I can't really grasp a hold on.

No, not 8 days, not Teens and not Her World.

I'm talking about books. Just plain simple books.

When a girl opens up a book and starts to flip through the pages, her gaze borders between being relaxed and intense as she attempts to ease back and enjoy a good book while trying to decipher the plot's motifs and themes. And as she devotes her concentration and her eyes pass dutifully from left to right, bits of her hair will ease off the ear cascade into a fluid wave and silhouette the profile of the face.

That was one of the many reasons why I fell in love with my girlfriend.

I am a helpless nutter.

Fresh mint

2006-11-21T18:14:00.000+08:00

I was pretty amazed by myself this morning. When I had seemingly been bled dry and had no more left in me, my pen just kept on going. Rather than massaging the words out like how a true student would, I squeezed them hard and with no mercy. Its like when you pick up your tube of Darlie toothpaste and realize it is spent.

But don't you think that's the end.

And you squeeze the tube and roll it and even tried to push the follicles of the toothbrush into the opening of the tube just to get more of those non-existant toothpaste out. At the end of it all you decide to flush some water in by dabbing water on your finger tips and kneading the opening before proceeding to torment the tube of toothbrush again.

This very morning, out of nothing I wrote and wrote and wrote out lines of English which are supposedly aimed at sustaining my thesis statement.

Evidently I have ran out of ideas and they are simply incoherent, yet I kept on going

I am so impressed.

Do not

2006-11-12T03:42:00.000+08:00

I know my language proficiency is considered of average standard and it is nothing to boast about, in fact in my earlier entry I mentioned that I was told explicitly that my poor expressions caused the grade of a paper to drop. And I do also know and am (highly) aware that in my daily conversation I do sometimes use words that seem too "big". Often I am chided for it but I just thought that I should just try to use some of the words that I come across every now and then. Oscar Wilde has always been my hero but I guess its a different world now. I do try and cut down on it for I do not want to seem acting too pompous or smart.

But the line was drawn when earlier in the evening I accidentally slipped the word "promiscuous" into the conversation I was having with my girlfriend and she stopped and repeated the word. I duly explained it and she said, "Oh, so that's the lay man term."

To say that I was upset by this incident is inconsequential and irrelevant, all I know is that I have to stop. Just be understood and cut out all those excess flabs.

Penal Code 377

2006-11-10T13:55:00.000+08:00

I would like to thank the gahment for finally allowing us to do what we all have been, is currently and will be doing in our privacy.

Thank you lei.

Keane

2006-11-10T11:08:00.000+08:00

I took the bus 518 again yesterday, although I have to admit that I did it on purpose. There is little reason for me to travel to town alone and walk around the shopping centers looking for things I do not want for all I wanted to do was to ride along the expressway and look out of the window, and shut my mind off.

When I got up the bus I realized that it was no longer empty, the girl with the chestnut brown hair that I used to see was no longer there and my seat is already taken.

Sometimes a big part of us wished that things stay stagnate. The things that are close to us shouldn't change, they don't have to leave us behind.

And as I clamoured into my seat I looked out of the window and gaze out of the rainy late afternoon, the water trails lowering slowly and spots of condensation blurred the view.

My ipod clicked onto Keane's Everybody's Changing and I closed my eyes and tried to remember how it was back then, with the empty seats and the quiet ride, and you and there I was, reliving it all on the bus.

"But everybody's changing and I don't feel the same..."

HL 307

2006-11-07T19:45:00.000+08:00

"A good deal of work has been gone into the essay and the references are wide-ranging. The comparison ... also works well. A pity that certain weaknesses in expression of English are liable to undercut the quality of your work..."

British Council: English Courses for Beginners, anyone?

The Karang Guni Man: My Story

2006-11-01T20:04:00.001+08:00

It is funny trying to write again, lest talking to myself here. It has been more than twenty years since I had left school and even longer since I wrote on anything other than receipts and forms.

My youngest daughter thought of getting me to sit down and write into a book what happened during my day, what I saw and whom I met. She said it would help to make me smarter and if I were to be famous, this would make me earn a lot of money. She even suggested that I start something online and put up pictures of my work. Of course I wanted to question the logic of the latter but how could you reason with an eleven year old? However the idea of writing a journal piqued my interest and stirred something I couldn’t really put my finger on.

Among my siblings I did considerably well for my “A” levels but we didn’t had any more money back then to send me to a higher learning institute, we wouldn’t even sure we had the money for tomorrow’s breakfast. I never held it against my parents. Money was tight and with so many mouths to feed the importance of enriching the mind is hardly on anyone’s thoughts.

But I digress far too easily as I seem uncertain as to what to write here. Write about the fat lady that tried to cheat me of twenty cents and shouted at me when I said that she should take the clothes and burn them to get rid of its demonic inhabitants? Or should I talk about my rusting van that seemed to be always coughing up right at the wrong moments? Just today it decided to die on me while I was making a U-turn at a busy cross-junction. I never got so much attention before.

Or perhaps I should write about how I ditched my previous job and land up being my own boss.

I guess I worry too much; I’m on the first page of my daughter’s jotter book and there is no hurry.

Dear Diary.

Hi, people call me Ah-Tan and I am a Karang Guni Man.

This is my story.

The Karang Guni Man: My Story

2006-11-01T20:04:00.000+08:00

100 words: Fine Line

2006-10-25T12:11:00.000+08:00

She turned the fire down and lifted the lid to let the aroma of the mushroom soup steamed out of its metallic shell. Proud of herself, Jane walked over to the oven and double-checked that the potatoes were not too moist.

Caressing the handle of the pan, she then gently coaxed the steak onto the plates and scooped some of the leftover sauces over the medium rare meat for good measure.

“Wow! Honey, dinner looks great. Hey, does the new chair look funny to you?”

Flinging away the spatula, Jane tore the apron off and threw it in his face.

Where are you calling from

2006-10-20T11:14:00.000+08:00

To those who asked. Thanks.

Stressed? No, everyone is getting stressed during this period.

Worried? No, not particularly.

Empty? Yes.

Empty

I was having a project discussion late in school and there we were, throwing ideas, bouncing them around and I was trying to key them in. Cradling the bottom was an ambiguious question that seemed impossible to decipher, but nevertheless some thoughts were thrown around and there I was, at the keyboard.

And my mind went blank.

I tried to type a few words out, and it sputtered and dripped onto the screen.

A friend offered to take over the keyboard but I refused, acting a little stubbornly.

I closed my eyes and took in a breath of air, and I tried again.

Three more words were coughed out before it went splat.

She offered to help again but for the second time I refused, somewhat more persistently and just stared at the screen. This went on for a few more moments before another friend came over and told me to take a break.

And I walked away, confused, lost and largely emptied. Hovering around the room in search of something to occupy my mind, I saw an abandoned phone lying on a table and proceeded to plug it into the wall socket.

What greeted me when I lifted the handset was a continous dialing tone, even though I haven't pressed any numbers.

And I waited, pressing the phone to my ear.

But nobody answered.

100 words: Love, Me

2006-10-03T18:15:00.000+08:00

People around you say that Love is blind but yet believe in love at first sight. They argue that opposites attract but similarity breeds liking. People think that Love is to be together forever but distance apart makes the heart fonder. If Love is the answer then what, pray tell, is the question? Some wise man say that Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.

Nobody knows for certain what Love is, where it came from and where it is bringing them.

But if I know what Love is, it is because of you.

Less than usual

2006-09-27T14:36:00.000+08:00

I wanted to write 100 words to go with this and sum it all up into two neat paragraphs, but honestly I'm at a loss of words.

It should have been a perfect day

2006-09-27T12:27:00.000+08:00

But being myself, I naturally went to screw it up...

Let there be light

2006-09-19T21:03:00.000+08:00

People commented that I use very little exposure in my photography, trying to show some but not all, a full picture but incomplete.

Indelible

2006-09-04T01:33:00.000+08:00

No, please, I should be thanking you, all of you.

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

2006-09-03T21:19:00.000+08:00

100 words: End

2006-09-03T21:17:00.000+08:00

The train pulled out from under the earth and streaked across the quiet night. A boy bored by the monotony of the ride started to doze off on his father’s lap, breathing soundlessly as his sister stared down the cabin at him.

The curious looking teenager had plugged in his earphones and began doing a B-Box rendition and scratching an invisible vinyl record on his lap.

I lingered long in my thoughts while looking at his self-indulgence when the train rumbled unwillingly to a stop and opened its doors reluctantly.

“Sir, this train is not..”

“Oh, yeah, time to go.”

1000 words

2006-08-10T16:22:00.000+08:00