Gravity, Me and You

Interesting Way to Look at The Past

2011-01-17T14:46:00.002+08:00

http://waybackmachine.org/

"The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine puts the history of the World Wide Web at your fingertips. The archive contains 56 billion captures of over 10 billion web pages from as far back as 1996"

How true?

2010-07-01T12:03:00.001+08:00

"ask most people what they want out of life and the answer is simple, to be happy, maybe its this expectation, though, the wanting to be happy, that just keeps us from ever getting there" Grey's Anatomy

I'll Try Anything Once

2010-06-15T11:31:00.000+08:00

"Ten decisions shape your life, you'll be aware of 5 about..."

"There is a time when we all fail,
some people take it pretty well,
some take it all out on themselves,
some they just take it out on friends"

"oh everybody plays the game,
and if you don't you're called insane" I'll Try Anything Once, The Strokes

Simple Pleasures

2010-06-10T14:17:00.002+08:00

"I am sitting in a hard-seat carriage with a hundred strangers, swaying from side to side as the train clatters along. It feels nice. My nerves begin to calm. I don't want to read, or speak, or move, or think... live your own life... sky beyond the sky... empty, everything is empty..." Red Dust, Ma jian.

Following Footsteps

2010-06-10T12:55:00.003+08:00

Red Dust by Ma Jian - a Chinese painter cum photographer, is a journal of his experience traveling around china, during it's trying time under Mr Deng Xiao Ping, who was clamping down on "Spiritual Pollution". From Bei Jing, to Mongolia, to Xi'an, Shang Hai, to Tibet, Guang Zhou...

Then came Matt Gross, the Frugal Traveler of Nytimes, who followed the lead of Patrick Leigh Fermor, departing on a "frugal europe, on foot" journey, from Vienna to Budapest, a 180-mile route, tracking part of Patricks trail 70 over years ago.

While reading Ma's 3 years of exceptional experience has been keeping me off my chair, a whole world of reality has been gravitating me back on to it. difference? Matt writes about his travel experience for a living, while I sit in a office cubicle.

Who would pay me for my experience? I promise I'd tell a hell of a story (ies).

Thalassaemia

2010-04-20T10:24:00.002+08:00

I recently went for a full body check up, surprised that I have high cholesterol, even more surprised to find that I have Thalassemia, a inherited autosomal recessive blood disease, from dad no doubt.

Thalassemia will not affect my life or my life span in anyway, however, if my spouse is also suffering from the same disease, my child might not live pass 10 years old. if she does not have it, my child will have a 50% chance of inheriting it, like me my dad.

it was shocking when the doc told me "your child might not live pass 10 years old", but in some ways its soothing, too, to find that I inherited something from dad, good or bad, I retained a certain part of dad, and I feel closer to him, even though he is no longer around.

Transition into a photo blog?

2009-11-03T11:35:00.007+08:00

Was out on a random Sunday afternoon with my brother's camera...went to this park call Fort Canning, attempting to convince myself its worth it to buy a DSLR (which I did eventually, and lovin' it!)

More will come (the next time photos from my own camera)!

The Birthday Getaway

2009-04-20T02:31:00.006+08:00

It was one year ago, exactly one year ago since I last traveled, to Bangkok.

I went back again, on the second week of April this year, to the place where the people love their king and nation so much they'd come to a complete halt and stand still as the national anthem played on the loud speaker, in a crowded weekend market, without supervision. It was an amazing scene, where all bargaining, chattering, eating, water fights would cease, like hitting a pause button on a recorded video, and as the anthem finishes, everything came back to live.

Going back this time didn't bring back memories from my previous trip. I didn't go alone this time, though with the same backpack, I had together with me, 2 colleagues, with their humongous appetite to shop and eat, mainly shop. Thus, gave me a completely different perspective of the city. Suddenly Bangkok wasn't this alien place with thick cultural background, its this city with loads of malls packed in it, and we were gonna roam it all.

Of course that didn't happen. It almost always does not go my way.

If you've been reading the news, 13th April of 09, the newscaster on Al Jazeera read the latest on the riot happening in Bangkok, quote "The most dangerous city in the world now", while we were getting ready to leave our hotel for a huge water fight party at one of the biggest club in town, in which 13th of April happens to be my birthday. Me being me, we went out anyway, and happy to report that we had an amazing time at the club, so amazing we went back again the next night, to the club as huge beside it, cept this time, we had a VIP seating (dance space), coz 1 of my friend in Bangkok actually owns the place. Pretty sweet.

A riot lead by Thaksin supportors broke out on the Sunday before, while we were happily shopping in Chatuchak, trying to bargain for a pair of pants which already cost next to nothing. it went so bad the PM annouced state of emergency in Bangkok. What a time to be there huh?

To sum it all up, riot sucks, but Bangkok rocks!

Hip Flask

2009-04-20T02:28:00.001+08:00

The coolest gift yet.

And the weekend is not even over yet

2009-02-08T05:05:00.004+08:00

There I was party hopping, frantically looking out for a cab alone at 10pm, with soft legs and cheesy smirks, from a nice wines, steamboat and gambling, to more wines and Guitar Heroes World Tour edition. I must have looked like a pervert to the mother and daughter who walked pass, while I tried (hard enough) to stay focus and sober.

Its a good CNY saturday. Not getting piss-drunk was a bonus :)

The Frugal Traveller Wanna-be

2009-01-23T04:48:00.005+08:00

As soon as I pass the custom, I stared at the directory, found the "you are here" arrow and quickly figure out the direction to the nearest pub. found it, disspointed that it was actually closed.

4:49 am in Changi Airport. Being 3 hours early for my flight, I have the luxury of time, exploring the airport, observing people. Curiousity of a cat.

Like you would expect to see frustrated transitors in airports, they are all over the place, in most awkward positions, on plastic chairs, carpeted floor, tiny sofas in movie lounge trying to catch up with sleep, while keeping half-an eye on their over stuffed hand carries. Knowing that I will be boarding a flight which will only take 45 minutes before the plane lands again, I envy these people.

Putting their bad hairs, soar backs and jet lags aside, there is nothing more exciting than being in an airport, waiting for that flight that will take you to new places. to newer opportunities.

Double Cheese Burger

2009-01-20T00:30:00.002+08:00

I just had a double cheese burger, with 3 pieces of cheese in it. Miraculously.

What a pleasant surprise! :D

Black

2008-09-13T18:40:00.002+08:00

Subtle. Mature.

Running at 4am

2008-09-11T08:28:00.004+08:00

the water along side was not as still. wavy, unsettled. reflections of lights blurred, into rows of inverted rays. the Singapore flyer was almost impossible to recognise from the water surface. I did not take the usual route. I did not go under the bridge after crossing it. I needed some chaos in the routine. an urge to derail. i went straight. no turning back, no going under. only straight. straight on. I wanted so much to shrug off the present, only to find the pavement around the field leading to Raffles Place.

3 quarter pass 4 in the morning. construction workers taking naps besides building pillars. streets was empty, filled with only gentle breeze and occasional traces of exhaust gas. I was alone. I ran. My mind was blank. peaceful.

Eventually my body disagreed with me, and I slowed down, and I was sucked back from infinite time & space, back to reality, where gravity dictates.

Half pass 5. The road was still empty. Asian girls dressed in short skirts and tight low cut tops by the curbside waiting impatiently for a cab. Indian setting up the newspaper stand. The honest bread boy counting stacks of daily supply in the van parked infront of 7-11. Lower end of the far sky was painted with mild mild tangerine.

New day's dawn.

...underwaving self-absorption

2008-08-26T01:30:00.003+08:00

"he could be generous and caring to a fault, but he had a darker side as well, characterised by monomania, impatience, and underwavering self-absorption..." Into The Wild, Jon Krakauer

Some people are just weird...

2008-08-13T00:14:00.001+08:00

This is by far, in my 24 humble years walking this earth, the sickest and the most fucked up news I've ever seen...

http://www.weirdasianews.com/2008/08/07/man-almost-loses-penis-humping-steel-bench/

A Good Reminder.

2008-08-10T23:36:00.004+08:00

it was random. One day Anna emailed me about a lady she met while traveling in New Zealand, and she told her that she would be coming to Singapore in the months to come. Anna suggested that I take her around Singapore. And so Susanna came, a nice Spanish lady whose been working in Sweden for quite a while, who decided to leave it all behind and travel the world.

We met twice, once during a Thursday for lunch. In her text she said she's short, blond and holds a black day pack. and there she was, all short, blond and holding a black day pack, nervously looking out for me, what was she imagining me be like i wondered as I approached from afar? I've always thought a Caucasians' imagination of a Chinese male, would be like the gay Asian acrobat in Ocean's Eleven... ... ... OK, that aside.

I walked up to her and said "Susanna?" with much suspicion although I was fairly confident it was her. She had this immediate mixed expression on her face, as if she was relieved I did not turn out to be a short, gay, head neatly shaved, Chinese guy with a one-piece leotard on, metallic silver in color... ... ... neh, that wasn't really what happened, she said hi back and shook my hand in a very friendly manner.

Any's, we met again on Saturday, for a walk around orchard road, half way through, we sat in front of the Ngee Ann City fountain for a smoke and talked. She was telling stories of her travelling from Melbourne to Darwin, and without me knowing, I was taking over the steering of the conversation, telling her how similar my experiences was during my trip, and we both got very excited. And at that very moment, under the shading trees, under the afternoon sun, among chattering and quick footsteps, it reminded me of how much I miss travelling. and how desperately I wanted to be in her shoes. Her eyes was kindled with happiness when she talked about em'. I was envious. no. Jealous.

We ended up going to a port luck at a friends place (of course, I invited her) and then karaoke session, which was being describe by Susanna as an "amazing experience".

She had fun (I hope she did), but whats more important was, I am more sure of what I want to become, what I will become. more than ever. Susanna was a living example that I am not the only one.

Glimpse of my world

2008-07-21T23:38:00.004+08:00

Its my 3rd week in the dealing room, and merely surviving it from day to day. under enormous pressure from my own expectation, that is to meet the manager's expectation, I am trying hard to force the overloading information into my head, causing my feature to turn zombie-ish, betraying my thought to work hard, and leaving impressions that I am always tired, hence being associated with another worst impression - lazy. sigh. the expectaton is so to be said - impossible in such a short period of time, people know that, I know that, but under this circumstances, there is a need for me to meet it... and, I want to.

on another note, I just finished the book " The Kite Runner". I've seen the movie before I read the book and I thought I wouldn't able to finish it. Turned out to be the contrast, I couldn't let go of the book. Moving on the the next Khaled Hosseini book - A Thousand Splendid Suns, one of my very few get away from the real world now.

Something True

2008-07-03T13:25:00.001+08:00

A world wide survey was Conducted by the UN. The only question asked was: 'Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?' The survey was a huge failure, coz...

In Africa they didn't know what 'food' meant,

In India they didn't know what 'honest' meant,

In Europe they didn't know what 'shortage' meant,

In China they didn't know what 'opinion' meant,

In the Middle East they didn't know what 'solution' meant,

In South America they didn't know what 'please' meant,

And in the USA they didn't know what 'the rest of the world' meant!

If Only

2008-05-29T22:18:00.001+08:00

"I would have sooo... go out with you..."

...

'' I would have too"

Taste of Africa

2008-05-28T00:20:00.007+08:00

So I was fortunate enough to be invited by my Chairman today to a wine tasting session organized by Barclays Wealth - Pinotage Wine Tasting Dinner at Raffles Hotel, a colonial hotel in Singapore, dating from 1887, visited by famous people including Queen Elizabeth II , Charlie Chaplin and Michael Jackson.

Pinotage, for those of you who do not drink wine a lot, is a red wine grape that is South Africa's signature variety. a cross between Pinot noir and Hermitage, hence the name.

The dinner started off with a pre-dinner out at the foyer of the ball room, where big bosses and directors in formal coats mingled, while I know for certain, were all sweating the crap out of their bottoms. Clumsy waitresses in white uniforms floated nervously among caucasians towering over them, balancing treys with orange juice and chanpaign on their palms. 'if only they were bigger palms', they might have complaint.

And then came the wine tasting session an hour or so later, with a variety of very yummy cheese and bread basically scattered around the ball room, and of course - 10 kinds of pinotage vintage. Ask yourself, what would heaven be like? Dinner was then a south african fine dine, 3 course meal, followed by vintage chocalate served on ceramic plates. not to mentioned, the great great people from around the world whom i dined with, interesting exchange on lifes from different corners of the world.

I really enjoyed the night.

P/s: got a bottle of pinotage as door gift TOO!

Stagnant

2008-05-18T20:49:00.002+08:00

While reading back the posts I published in May 05, there was a post with 6 comments from 5 different people, some when I saw their names, I was like "wow, they visited by blog before? those are really good comments!".

I wonder if people still visit my blog though, now that its been stagnant for quite a while. ha...

Baby's Eyes - Thailand and Malaysia

2008-05-17T12:28:00.010+08:00

I don't know where to start. But I guess while I am sitting in Gloria Jeans, waiting, I might as well do something.

though gutted by having to work this morning (I don't usually work Sats), I am relief its a long weekend, thanks to the celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, Singaporeans get Monday off. Really need that break to catch up with rest, being sick aside, I am still tired over the visit up to Thailand - the land of free, and the short spin up Malaysia and Singapore, showing my kiwi mate Daniel around, experiencing the shocking cultures of Asia (Dan ate frog porridge... with much torture)

Thailand was great, I spent 3 days in Bangkok and 1 1/2 days in Chiang Mai. to satisfied my art-urge, I decided to experiment with my dad's 30 years old Minolta SLR film camera in Thailand, and I must say I am pretty happy with it, with that camera, I made some friends along the journey, though some of them turned out to be hardcore scammers. (check em' out, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37094&l=88cc1&id=547966634)

I was not too fond of Bangkok (I didn't get away from Singapore to end up in another city, twice as big, twice as crowded and ten times as polluted), but I absolutely enjoyed Chiang Mai, good people, good food, no sign of sky scrappers, and absolutely lay back culture (made me thought of New Zealand, ha). but largely also because Sharon was there, and she really did her part as a host, we "dashed" away in her lil' motorcycle around town, had interesting conversation about the King of Thailand, and I had the craziest shrimp dish, Gung Den (dancing shrimp in english, and it meant literal, the shrimp was live and kicking when they serve it. talk about fresh sea food huh)

With that, I asked Mr G (Google) about "Dancing Shrimp", see what I found:

"Dancing shrimp is the name of a Thai dish in which very fresh raw shrimp is served with a very spicy, garlicky, and limy sauce. Because people in northeastern Thailand and neighboring areas of Laos have a liking for raw foods spicily laced with chillies and seasonings and served with fresh herbs, vegetables, and steamed sticky rice, some food enthusiasts have opined that sushi, so identified with Japanese cuisine, might have originated here. What with the texture of the rice, the ritual of rolling it with the hand and eating it with raw meats, fish, and vegetables and spices, the idea sounds quite plausible to me"

so for sushi lovers, you know what to look out for in north thailand. awesome.

After some 24 hours of train ride, tons of walking under the sun, and getting pissed drunk in Thailand, alone, Dan and I took off from Singapore to explore KL and Malacca in 4 days. For the first time, I really explore and enjoyed Malacca. I guess while being with a tourist, you tend to see things as a tourist too. With a pair of very curious eyes. baby's eyes.

Peace out guys. See ya later.

Sikkim - Closing for 2007

2007-12-30T23:36:00.000+08:00

After the 2 weeks venture to the north of India, in a place where nothing feels or looks like India, where the roads are always rocky and never flat, where people speaks Tibetan and not Hindi, its weird being back, to live among technologies and sky crappers.

the 2 weeks in Sikkim was just the thing I needed, giving my 2007 an awesome ending. Getting there was not easy, we touched down in Kolkata (previously Calcutta) on the 14 Dec, and took another flight up to Badogra on the 15 Dec, followed by a 7 hours jeep ride through the dusty/rocky roads of Badogra and then up the winding, again, rocky slopes of the highlands before reaching Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim.

We then venture to a small village Yuksom, where the entrance to the Kachengjunga National Park is. from an altitude of 1890m, we trekked all the way up to 4100m, where I suffered from Accute Mountain Sickness (AMS) - not fun, but was a great experience. the rest can only be described with one word - Awesome.

if you asked me, I'd say I will be back again. Back to the Himalayans.

Happy 2008 to you who are reading this and Cheers.

Desperate

2007-12-04T23:33:00.000+08:00

the only thing in the world i am looking forward to now, is India.

take my mind of everything.

Hej!

2007-11-21T23:04:00.000+08:00

1. she said no for the second time. no big deal. as anticipated.
2. I shaved 2 inches of my hair off
3. I am getting ready for my India trip in one month time!!

its just...

2007-09-09T15:12:00.000+08:00

A ball, a club, and the green.

nothing else.

A Lil' bit of Golf

2007-08-28T22:27:00.000+08:00

Picked up golf recently. Got this Austraaalian as our coach. It might sound weird huh, Isaac playing golf? but it is the one thing I did not regret paying "some" money for.

Awesome.

DOW DOWn

2007-08-14T23:55:00.000+08:00

whats with the F**king market man?! so there is some credit worries, get it over with!!

Head Lines

2007-08-14T23:48:00.000+08:00

-Manhunt still on for escapees

-6 youths charged with rape and abduction in JB

-Youths attack Shah Alam house

-Night out with friends turns into tragedy

-Robber hacks technician at 4D outlet

-Officer stabbed in riot

-Bus of death

Some of the news headlines on the website today. Depressing. Ain't it?

Takamine G Series

2007-08-05T16:16:00.000+08:00

and the WORLD shall be informed that I bought this guitar!!!! Excited!!

Finally.

Kyler!

2007-08-04T14:33:00.000+08:00

7 month old!

嗶一聲之後 - 王菲

2007-08-02T22:55:00.000+08:00

留話留話請在長音之后嘆氣
留話請留話請在我說完后哭泣

我不在這里我不在這里

請在嗶一聲之后留下自己的秘密
請在嗶一聲之后對話筒沾沾自喜
請在嗶一聲之后對空氣唉聲嘆氣

我不在這里我人在哪里我想到哪里

請在嗶一聲之后留下有趣的話題
請在嗶一聲之后分擔感情的問題
請在嗶一聲之后某某名字別提
(你要找的人不在不想給任何人尋覓)

你現在要找的人正在娛樂著自己
(抱歉你要找的人不在想說什么都來不及)

你現在要找的人不需要姊妹兄弟
(你要找我已經沒關系已經來不及)

你現在要找的人自己同樣在尋覓
(誰要陪我我在玩尋人游戲)

No particular Reasons

2007-07-30T22:59:00.001+08:00

I just like this picture a lot.

I was in front of the very old Train Station in Bleinheim, New Zealand. it was the winter of 2006. Travelling with my Brother down south.

Every little things

2007-07-30T22:20:00.000+08:00

I plugged in my earphone this morning while I was steppin out the door. it was usually bright at that hour already, but it was raining abit this morning. I was havin the Monday Blues. As I gently click the play button on my Ipod, the very song that I felt like listening came on. I smiled and was off for the day. feeling lucky.

After work, though a long day, me and a collegue, invited, of all the people, the Managing Director out for dinner. We didnt go to some fancy restaurant with dimmed lights. believe it or not, it was a Hawker centre. moreover, a lousy one but with good local food. of course, it was implied that the best part of having dinner with your MD was that... its free, right? we "talked cock" over dinner (a very Singaporean way of saying "chatted"). so that was fun.

Got home, saw AK's postcard from Auckland lying all flat on the table! (but the written date was 25 June 2007, AK, did you got lazy on sending the postcard out again... grin...) hehe...

for those of you who know me enough would know I have a (good? bad?) habbit of appreciating everything little things in life.weird. well, these were the little drops of contentment in my all-in-a-day's life.

enjoy!

Gathering!

2007-07-19T01:26:00.000+08:00

the 97ers!

Good Byes

2007-07-19T01:20:00.000+08:00

Good bye only mean something when until one day you meet again, some 2 years later, for 2 hours, followed by yet another good bye.

what long would this Good Bye last?

Exciting

2007-07-03T22:23:00.000+08:00

But I wasnt there... was walking pass it on a cloudy Sunday afternoon after swimming.

hm....

Mom's visit to Singapore

2007-07-02T23:59:00.000+08:00

Mom's home cook soup. THE best.

They were tryin to act cute. haha...

"Fly"

2007-07-01T16:58:00.000+08:00

I want to grab my back pack now, fill the 60 litres of space with some clothings and jacket, grab a ticket to Berlin, rent a discounted car, and drive down from Frankfurt, to Munich, then to Rome. Along the few weeks drive, I shall meet someone, we shall share the ride, have fun inter cultural talks, appreciate the scenery, enjoy some true tuscan food, laugh at the Italy-english accent, then we shall say good bye at some point.

I shall stay in a budget backpackers by the hill some where in Italy, share cheers with em' other backpackers while having our self-made dinner, sitting out in the yard, enjoying the sun set. we will share a bottle of nice Chianti wine.

I shall drive off again the next day, after taking some mental photos of those I shared the night with, to the next european country... which I will only then decide. and then the next... and the next...

Silent ..

2007-07-01T00:48:00.000+08:00

and it makes you wonder, what would life be without dreams?

I drifted, knowingly, in between concretes, into manipulated temperatures, into days when there are no sun lights. The momentum has set. and I follow through as if I am in vacuum.

and then, the impact. Reminding me of my purpose in life.

Silent

2007-07-01T00:32:00.000+08:00

what do you say to people in such pain?

you shut your mouth, and you listen. I guess.

Titled "Sexy Ah Pek"

2007-06-10T01:23:00.000+08:00

By CH (2006) - a very disturbed 18 years old mind.

got me laughing like hell... hahahahahaha...

Made in Heaven

2007-06-07T21:55:00.000+08:00

The market went against me... work was tiring... personal life was frustrating...

came home and saw this: a card Made in Heaven (by hand).

it Made My Day.

Thank you. =) how have you been?

Silent Scream

2007-05-30T21:36:00.000+08:00

AAAAAAAAAAaaaarggggggg...

Life in Singapore?

2007-05-26T01:42:00.000+08:00

Spend my last 20 minutes reading some of the post I wrote over the course of pass 1 year, and it strucked me on how different my life has become. the life I'm living now is no where within my imagination 6 months ago. Isaac the chef stayed in Wellington when Isaac the corporate officer came back. it use to be all about jazz, books, coffee, walks under the sun, beach and music... now its about sky scrapper, stocks, regulations, underground transit, stable income and news.

what a difference a day make huh?

But trust me when I say this, I really miss the life I had before, and my dream is still full on. However, life took a different course and suddenly I'm here, in Singapore, where people spend most of their time in air conditioned area, either under ground, or in between tall concretes.

I'm saving enough for a guitar as at now. Hoping it will fill my world with a lot more colour than the mere colour of dullness.

drop me a message and say hi! it'd be great!

Routine

2007-05-21T22:33:00.000+08:00

The big R-word towering over my life. least I go swimming on a weekly basis now, and its one routine I look forward to the most. well... of course and the monthly routine of adrenaline pump, when my bank account increases by a certain amount.

Balancing life.

I saw Phantom himself!

2007-05-07T00:27:00.000+08:00

The Phatom of The Opera :-

its been a dream to see the musical live since I was a kid,

well, the dream came through!!

Nice Weekend

2007-05-01T22:48:00.000+08:00

went to a friend's wedding, had soooo much fun at the wedding!

When around the beach of Kuantan, its been a while since I last stepped into the sea

Road trip from Kuantan back to KL with a couple of nice ladies!

... and yummy local food.

good times (just what I needed !!) haha...

I see yellow p..eop..le...

2007-04-24T23:21:00.000+08:00

Dan and Tom's 4 hours in Singapore:

2 caucasians, an asian, and a stupid hat

we were saying something like "Virg...i........a........"

"Argrgrgrgrg...."

good times.

More of little Kyler!

2007-04-22T23:16:00.000+08:00

"phem..."

"What ya lookin' at huh?"

"wait the minute... its..."

"You scared the hell out of me man!!!"

Pleasant Surprise

2007-04-22T13:23:00.000+08:00

Got an Email from Daniel a.k.a fart face, who was somewhere around Europe a few days ago, saying that he will be in transiting in Singapore for a couple of hours, before the flight back to New Zealand on Friday.

And so, I took a half day off work on Friday just so I can have a few rounds of lager & stout with my long lost friend, catch up. Though, long lost here equals a period of only 6 months. I have to admit I did struggled a bit while justifying my motive to take half day off work. you know..."have beers with friends and not work?! how are you gonna tell that to your boss?!"... I'd even have to pay my company 50 bucks back coz they've already banked in my pay cheque for the month. which sucks.

In the end, I wrote on the leave form no more than "urgent personal matters". and took off.

It was a tight 4 hours tour around the city, then dinner, then some drinks. Tom (Dan's mate) said the air in Singapore's so humid, he can feel the tiny water particles moving his leg hair. More exaggerating, he said he felt like he was swimming.

had a big rush in the end to the airport. They were suppose to board at 5 to 9, we were still Hi in some down town pub at 12 pass 8. it was a good 40 minutes transit to the airport from where we were. You get the idea.

Good times.

... "Your mind, to my mind, my mind, to your mind... your mind, to my ASS!!!"...

The Glaues

2007-04-21T22:06:00.000+08:00

Finally get a chance to talk to the Glaues.

it was great to finally have seen this little guy in action. he is by far, im not kiding, the cutest baby. Ever.

haha..

Departure

2007-04-07T23:34:00.000+08:00

lets see, where would I want to head to today... Japan? Colombo? London? oh.. I know... Frankfurt.

Ive got thing for airport man...

Standing in an airport to me is like a kid standing inside a caged front porch, looking at other kids cycling towards the park. The jet plane is of coz, like the bicycle my dad promised, but still no where in sight.

22 more months!!

Ahh...

2007-04-05T22:57:00.000+08:00

A Life in A Day

2007-04-05T22:43:00.000+08:00

I had such a tiring day.

Spend almost half my day on a spreadsheet, summarizing the error report for the whole month. I struggled for at least an hour to get a 1 cent figure right. well the rewarding part of the day was though, the feeling of getting an important ad hoc done. after work was spontaneous, it just so happened that 4 of my dude work mates left the company at the same time, so we decided to grab some food and after that went to an Irish pub for some draught. Guinness. Greatness.

we agreed that having some chicks around would add-up to the greatness. Got to know more about them after 2 rounds. man, things just flow out their mouth (I agreed to myself that they don't usually drink), some parts I don't really wanna know, but it was all great too.

in the end, I made a move to come home. I think they eventually end up in some doggy place for massage...

haha, such a random day...

Guide to A Successful Meeting

2007-04-03T23:38:00.000+08:00

1. Think thoroughly about what to say before every phone call, best if able to rehearse it as a monologue first.

2. Review every official document for a minimum of 3 times, at least the grammar and spelling must be hundred percent correct. and then let some one else to review it for at least once.

3. Be fully prepared for every meeting, even casual once. most importantly, do not expect it to be casual.

4. always make sure you know what you are saying, before you say anything.

5. Prepared enough drinks to go round the table during a meeting. Make sure you know the amount of attendees before hand.

6. Always prepared an agenda of meeting, but only distribute when needed only. or else don't risk getting into trouble of disclosing non-disclosable information.

... so far what I've learnt... ...

*Disclaimer: the above mention is base solely on personal experience, it does not guarantee success. Its merely a guide. Should there be any dispute, the blogger is not liable to any compesation.

Ball Breaker

2007-04-03T22:48:00.000+08:00

yo,

you know, when a blog has been left alone for such a long time, and when its abrupty being attended to again, its because the blogger has got something to bitch about. haha...

sometimes life can be a ball-breaker. Just as you thought you are being real smooth about stuff, mending relationships, slapin people's buttocks here and there, getting positive feedback about work from your boss, earning enough to maintain the beer tap from stop flowing, everything is sweet. was sweet. until when the universe starts to come down on you that very day. and you can only be a sucker.

and its not even that big of a thing, its only an error of distributing INACCURATE company information to the WRONG people. not to mention, CONFIDENTIAL. and hence, of cause, I got fucked. its also only attacked by formal emails with strong sarcasm. haha..

all the pass glory is as if wiped out when you fail this once, this small fraction of the year. it dominoes to your other areas, and make you feel really bad about yourself, for that one instance. but the important thing is to look back later on and smile.

haha...

Bande à part

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

Nouvelle Vague!

got it! Life is good!

Thoughts on a train

2007-03-15T22:12:00.001+08:00

The perpetuality of time. of work life. as if hundreds of million of hours being blend into one big dough, years being churn into one everlasting day... standing in a crammed-up underground train struggling to remember whether its night or day, whether your heading to work, or back from work to prepare yourself for yet another daily grind. either way, leads to the same end.

"Expect nothing, live frugally on surprise." Quoted, Alice Walker.

Career wise

2007-03-12T21:39:00.000+08:00

well, I've been given two choices by my Managing Director:
Compliance Officer.. or Dealer?

each has got its potential, but Ive chosen. I choose Compliance. Its a very sought after position in the financial field, the learing experience is definately more exciting and the potential is beyond sky. He also said in a year, if I find myself unsuitable, I can transfer back to dealing when the right person is found to fill my shoes. opportunity is opportunity. its does not come around and stick by your side.

the strong sense of "I'M in control" of my life. I am in control.

Get Shuffled!

2007-03-10T14:40:00.000+08:00

haha, its no big deal. just the first Ipod in my life. The initial plan is to take over my brother's old Ipod Shuffle. but he decided to give it to his gf instead. But a new one is equally good.

its no 80 GB Ipod Video, but I'm lovin' it! lets get Shuffled!

Bastard

2007-03-10T14:21:00.000+08:00

by, Ben Folds

"You get smaller while the world gets big
The more you know you know you don't know shit
"The Whiz Man" will never fit you like "The Whiz Kid" did

So why you gotta act like you know... when you don't know?
It's okay if you don't know everything
Why you gotta act like you know... when you don't know?
It's okay... ... If you don't know everything"

Good song. Go check it out!

Wellington at Dusk

2007-03-10T00:52:00.000+08:00

----- Message to a certain someone -----
Date: 10 March 2007
Time: 12.55am
Re: glad to see Wellington again!
Looking at the date on the card, its a while ago since you sent it. but the address was to Malaysia, and I'm in Singapore all along. My brother went was back home for 2 days and brought it back for me only on today. at the same time, I got another which you sent out on 26 and 27 of Feb. It great to receive them. It feels really great! hugs!

hows it?

2007-02-27T20:13:00.000+08:00

I got my first pay cheque today. yep. one whole week worth.

experiencing a shock at the mo. you know... after one whole year of hullabaloo, to settle down on a 10-hour day-shift, itsss... no child's play. you get it. right?

althought I must say, despite the hardship of having to wake up at 7 everyday, and arrive home at the hour where the hour hand and minute hand point at the exact same numbers, 12 hours later, I'm learning so much it overwhelms me. And as everyday pass, I am hungry for more.

its tiring, this job, I am still struggling to keep myself awake during the first 5 hours in the office, but it is rewarding. how far I've come from 5 months ago when I left New Zealand without a hint of the future. despair. and now, I'm on the track of becoming a professional.

its a lil' bit of bitterness, and a lil' bit ecstasy.

its like a good'ooold... Guinness Stout. thats how it is.

Some very nice people

2007-02-09T16:38:00.000+08:00

Daniel

AK and Elaine

A cup of flat white in singapore

2007-02-09T16:37:00.000+08:00

another attempt to make the perfect flat white.

*sorry about my obsession towards coffee

Masi Cafe

2007-02-07T10:23:00.000+08:00

"There are places I'll remember

All my life though some have changed

Some forever not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places have their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall..." In my life, the Beatles

The news of Masi being closed down devastated me for a second. but a few clicks on the internet told me its relocating, and will be re-open when a premise is being found.

Heres to hope, and the best coffee in Wellington. cheers.

You know? the job thing?

2007-02-07T10:07:00.000+08:00

I GOT IT!

let me explain, the position is "trainee dealer" in a well-developed commodities firm, trading precious matels, agriculture good, future contracts, options, yada-yada-yada. you get the idea.

a month spending miserable time all alone in my brothers room, doing nothing but job hunting, I guess its being paid-off now. reasonable salary, good benefits, training provided, boy-o-boy am I feeling contented. I am.

yet, this is just the begining of another long strech of suffering.

Awesome.

Well, Brandon said it right..

2007-01-22T01:38:00.000+08:00

"what makes a man? its not when a man is at its most successful moment.." he said.
"its when he's facing controversy and crisis" he continued.

haha, yeah, thats true.. but I'm not bothered by any of that now. Coz I'm drunk now. and I'm happy.

haha. =)

drumrollss.. INTRODUCING!!

2007-01-22T01:25:00.000+08:00

born 16th of January, 2007. 11:52am C.S.T. in Macomb, IL, USA.
7lbs 12oz and 21inches long.

his name is Kyler Ng Glaue, MY nephew. =)

Post Secret

2007-01-17T21:49:00.000+08:00

(no new secrets are posted here every Sunday.)

(secrets are behind the postcards, not meant for you guys.)

- Woods in Sweden (with permission)

----email message-----
Sent: Wednesday, January 17th, 2007
Subject: thanks heaps!

I love them, especially the flower in shape of a heart.
knew it was you without even flippin' the letter over, your hand writting is so easily recognizable. and I was kiiiiiiinda... anticipating a CD in it. haha. but no worries, take your time.
Lots of hugs too!

St. Patrick's Day

2007-01-17T17:33:00.000+08:00

"Here comes the cold, Break out the winter clothes..."

Listening to this song brought me back the time I was in paekakariki. WE, were in paekakariki. it was my bday and I decided to take me-friends to a nice bach 20 minutes up north of Wellington. The light guitar strum. weird chords. beautiful lyrics. its all plotting out the scene of us sitting in the lounge of the light-green bach, feeling the breeze at the top of our heads, the sunset on the far east, chatting away how we failed to put the kite up. the shallow water on the flat beach was mirroring the golden sky.

"No way November will see our goodbye, When it comes to December it's obvious why, No one wants to be alone at Christmas time..."

**pause**

I remember it well, it was April. it was almost the end of autumn. it was 2005. three more months and its one year ago.

it also brought me back to the time when I was walking on the streets of Wellington. When Im walking alone, with my head phones on. I always had my headphones on. listening to this song. it reminded me of The CD Store on Lambton Quay, reminded me of the strong wind at the junction light beside Willies foodcourt, the coffee in Masi on Willies street, where I share my thoughts with AK and spend quality time with myself and my book. also reminded me of the people, all well shielded with their wind breakers, asians, maoris, whites, blacks...

"February, won't you be my valentine? And we'll both be safe 'til St. Patrrick's Day ..."

I remember it well. the streets of wellington. the cafes I once parasite in. the strong wind. I once was there.

Someone else's

2007-01-16T17:06:00.000+08:00

someone got herself a work holiday visa
someone got himself a PR
someone got herself a study offer
someone got himself a nice girl
someone got herself a nice trip to Hong Kong
someone got himself a job in a multi billion company

someone else's

the lil' things

2007-01-04T21:06:00.000+08:00

Out of total boredom, not because of having nothing to to, but having done the same thing over and over again for countless hours, I went to this mall around my place for a walk. As I arrived, I went down to the super market for a spin. Hanged a basket on my arm, without any intention of buying anything - I decided to blend in anyway. Happy to have spotted a very familiar label - Bundaburg Ginger Beer (my favourite drink in NZ), with much joy, I grabbed a 4 pack and put it in my basket (bought something after all!). There was a long queue at the counter after I finish 'shoppin', as I patiently waited, I observed the very funny cashier. He was blindly handling shoppers groceries, with his specs slided all the way down to the edge of his pointy nose, so by saying blindly, I meant it literally.

He seemed relieve when he saw only one thing in my basket, a 4-pack Bundaburg. He swiftly pull the paper handle of the drinks and scanned the bar code. beep. $1.50 showed on the screen. wait the minute, this is not right, $1.50 for a 4-pack? I thought. though nerdy, but he seemed preeeety confident when he said to me "a dollar fifty please." I paid non the less, with a suspicious face.

the bar code scanner found the bar code of one bottle instead of the bar code on the paper package. sweet. I enjoyed 4 bottles of nice Australian Bundaburg Ginger Beer for the price of one!

that. ahem. made my day.

It feels amazing!

2007-01-03T16:57:00.000+08:00

I got my first interview today!! only on the second day of my attempt to gun down every company I laid my mouse cursor on!! I know I know, its not big deal, but it actually gave me a good push on my effort to job hunt. This is my first ever interview and Ive got a lot of prepare for it!

wish me luck!

2007

2007-01-01T02:39:00.000+08:00

and so my 2007 begins with lossing 20 bucks on poker (every penny I've got on the table). that proves yet again, that I am a complete idiot in gambling. I must admit, its rather painful when the bills drain out of your corner, and the urge of wanting to get it all back builds up as your lossing record counts to 10.. 11.. 12.. 37.. (and then you crumble!)

but hey, this a only a small taste of life, the gambling, you win you lose. and sometimes, you lose it all. lets just be glad that I am not addicted to gambling. but gambling with life? thats... a bet no one can hide. I bet 'full' -- a full life.

happy 2007.

"come january, we're frozen inside, making new resolutions, a hundred times..." John Mayer

J-A-Z-Z

2006-12-30T02:14:00.000+08:00

I havent been this excited in ages. I went to jazz today (yes I DID!), caught up with long lost jazz time.

We went to this pub call Jazz at South Bridge in Singapore (which ive been to a few times before). when we arrived, it was an ordinary trio comprising a piano, drum, and of course a bass. but after a couple of songs, they introduced a vocal (that was a suprise, whats more amazing is, there wasnt any cover charge!). This vocal - James Flynn, scott-ish, turned out to be a very humorous guy. we've had the privilege to mingle with him (and his Eva-one-of-the-desparate-housewifes-look-alike partner) after two sessions. it was good good... Goooooooood....

also, My brother brought me to a CD store earlier this evening before jazz, a place call Gramaphone. its got a few listening post (nice Pioneer cd player, and veeeery nice headphones) with loads and loads of recommended cds, its good pretty good deals on cds, and whats more is its got all the cds I couldnt find in other places!! haha..

good times.

A Nice Dinner

2006-12-28T10:22:00.000+08:00

4 primary school mates
2 Entrees
2 Soups
1 bottle of nice New Zealand, Hunter's Malborough Chardonnay
4 Main Courses
3 dessert
2 hours

... 560 dollars.
but thanks to my friends company, we've got a 600 dollars worth of voucher. we didnt pay a penny. Thanks again Nic. I had a great night. =)

So its being said

2006-12-26T01:34:00.000+08:00

whats a loser?
a loser is someone who is so afraid of losing that they dont even try.
so am I tryin? or should the question be..

am I tryin 'hard' enough?

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T13:09:00.000+08:00

to... you! whoever you are!

Flash back

2006-12-12T02:27:00.000+08:00

to the time when blue is blue, and white is white.

Time flies like an arrow..

2006-12-11T19:50:00.000+08:00

life has been afloat. on still water. occational breeze trembled the stillness of the water surface. yet I wind-up floating on the exact same spot. no where to run, no where to hide, anymore.

came back from Wellington a little less than 4 weeks ago. has it been that long? trip to Australia and Taiwan didnt do the trick. I went straight to Penang up north west of the peninsular after the spin across south east asia, then all the way down south to Singapore. I knew dodging the reality was as impossible as dodging the bullet. the various indifferent choices of life huh? living the choice you've made is as hard as making it at the very beginning.

yet, I sit here, having fullfil Anna's request, trying to force my mind to concentrate on what matters the most - on searching for the very thing that when being found, things will, according to a lot of people, sort itselve out - a flippin' job.

can someone please give me a good slap?

Still excites me!

2006-12-02T11:29:00.000+08:00

seeing a...

... for Welly on the NZ weather forecast site.

must have been a great day! =)

Alisan National Park, 11th day in Taiwan

2006-11-22T00:03:00.000+08:00

Our train ride up to Alisan mountain, call the "little red train". it was being built by the japanese during their occupation, to transport wood from the mountain.

we took a walk around the woods as we arrived. it was absolutely soothing.

its being dubbed "four sisters". fours trees grew on a very old tree trunk (which was being chopped off ages ago) by coincidence. nobody planted them!!

Before sunset (dedicated to AK)

Before Sunrise (this too!)

(half an hour after sunrise, sunrise time - 6.33am) We went to the peak of Alisan Mountain at 4 in the morning to wait for the sunrise. there was more than 100s of us waiting. this is the scene of the cloud and fog under us, shielding the valley in between from our sight. the sky was clear blue. if felt like heaven.

Impression

2006-11-02T01:46:00.000+08:00

things I found interesting about Taiwan up until now:

1. they speak loudly. specially aged citizens
2. (this is a common thing... but still...) left hand drive?!
3. some lady used garbage bag as suitcase (yeah.. for travelling...). awesome.
4. the amount of 7-11 on one street. it freaked me out!!
5. (now im glad about this) Chinese characters are bigger on road signs. my first time seeing this.

til then! peace out!

3rd day in Sydney

2006-10-30T21:32:00.000+08:00

the traffic junction strucked me as a battle ground. ground zero. two battalions of soldier from opposing side in their pre-war formation. ready to charge whenever the signal is given. the green man flicked on and thousands of soldiers crashed. if it were to be a real war, throat would be cut open, heart stabbed, heads chopped off - if it were to be a real war. people slided through each other like water and oil wouldnt mix. the crowd was just amazing.

walking through the streets of Sydney, countless chattering can be heard in coutless languages, sky scrappers filling up the sky like curtains would cover the view through the window - only glimpse of the clear blue. with all the japanese, koreans, hongkies, chinese, taiwanese... etc walking by, I became very self conscious off what im wearing. its hard not to. I felt as if im on the venue of a fashion show.

but right after the long tiring walk about the city centre, was a rewarding coffee experience by the opera house, harbour bridge with a book in my hand.

awesome.

Flatwhite by the opera house - THE opera house

(not to the mention, the flies here are annoying!!!!!)

D-day plus 1 - Sydney

2006-10-29T22:13:00.000+08:00

it was almost 8 when i took these. lights of the city glowed while the sun faded.
its a Sunday evening, and as a guy who just came from Wellington, its ... weird to see the city so alive, on a sunday night. it was awesome.

Sydney Opera House

The Harbour Bridge

Sydney Cove

3 Days and Counting

2006-10-25T22:11:00.000+08:00

Wednesday
now thats more like it.. =)

4 Days and Counting

2006-10-24T08:01:00.000+08:00

Tuesday
Windspeed: 48km/hr
Temperature: 8 C

so this is how my last week in Wellington is going to be huh.

the whistling of the wind woke me up this morning (afternoon). it was so strong that part of the billboard on the building across the street was being torn out. it was left hanging on the building. what was originally a smilling man holding its right thumb up, with blue background and a quote "all for one", is now but a sail on a huge boat which was being freezed in an ocean of buildings. the sky was grey, wellingtonians were too shy to come out. I had my most easy-going music on, jack with his guitar, stacey with her luring voice, oscar with his playful piano, stan with his sax, but they didnt seemed to do the job. my mood was still as it is. tearing apart.

upside is, Im leaving for sydney, taiwan and malaysia, which, the weather will be guarenteed HOT.

flippin hot...

Strawberry Tiramisu

2006-10-23T17:17:00.000+08:00

what you think about that huh...?

Weather Forecast

2006-10-21T08:20:00.000+08:00

Sunday
- Rain, easing to shower.

Monday
- Some Rain

Tuesday
- Periods of Rain

Wednesday
- Rain Clearing

Thursday
- (yet to be announced) but its clearing up... right?

Just jotting down

2006-10-19T11:21:00.000+08:00

things done:
1. got my new passport
2. transfered my NZ Visa
3. got my Aus Visa
4. change of tenancy
5. flight comfirmed

things yet to be done:
1. pack - things to be brought back, and things to be ship back
2. close bank account
3. sell assets
4. give things away
5. book accomodation in Taiwan
6. one last cup of Flatwhite (Masi.. emmm..)
7. make sure i say goodbye to everyone
8. takes pictures around Wellington like an asian tourist (which i refuse to be one)
9. buy some souveniers?
10. Lido Jazzzzz...
11. YHA membership

things that can never be done:
1. be fully prepared to leave
2. not miss Wellington
3. ...

and counting.

12 days and counting.

2006-10-15T22:06:00.000+08:00

so i had yet another great day.

woke up a gloomy day, but my mood was on the other extreme end of the scale. I woke up fresh and new. found everyone in the lounge as I struggling to wake myself up completely. with my hair still well (badly) shaped from sleep, I decided we should all go for a movie. as a flat. movie didnt turn out eventually, thus, live music in Hummingbird.

it wasnt until work almost kicked in that the sun shown its majestic ray on us. the warmth landed upon the city. work was fun, its been fun for months now.. lots of jokes, dirty jokes. left work early for a dinner at Carmens, thanks to her, this is where and when the highlight of the day took place. good food, a selection of alchohol, laughter, good people from around the world, and a camera blended into one fine night.

walked AK home after getting "a bit" drunk. on one of the winding road uphill to Upland road, among houses and greens, there was an opening which the display of the whole city was visible. we stood. amazed. the wind was gentle. we could hardly hear anything from the city. as if the view was only a photo - a flat sheet displayin the city.

ive got 12 days left. and I am going to miss Wellington.

so much.

Crazy Mooncake Festival

2006-10-09T16:58:00.000+08:00

so we had a very fun sunday. how fun? see it for your self. haha...
.
.
.

20 days and counting.

2006-10-08T08:20:00.000+08:00

the soundtrack of the moment - In Between Dreams, Jack Johnson.

20 days til my departure. 9 days til roy's.

it has been a very gloomy week. until today. the sun unfiltered, through the vacuum space, through the clear ocean-blue sky. I woke up extremely excited, partly because of the sun, partly because I finally get one day off work (after 3 weeks of non stop working). this is the day where i dont have to start looking at my watch starting at 4 pm (making sure im not late for work), this is the day i can do my laundry, this is the day where i get to enjoy the street, at its 8 pm. this is the day where my day, is comparatively longer (length of 6 hours). this is the day where i dont have to STAND in tropical weather (you know, stoves, ovens.. heating lights..) for 6 hours.

going off for a cuppa. read my book. 20 days is all i got left.

Day Light Savings

2006-09-29T21:34:00.000+08:00

So I love the whole day light saving thing. the whole of NZ will loss one hour on the first day of October. thats means we will be one more hour ahead of the world.

Guess I love longer day time. makes you think you can get more done. while in fact you get to spend longer time under the sun. its good good... goooooooood...

So it has come to this.

2006-09-23T20:16:00.000+08:00

Never thought it would be so soon, that I have to say this..

"I'm leaving new zealand.in one month" adding on a ':)' or ':('

ive been given only a one month extension on my visa. though ive been told last time by another Nice Lady that i can apply for three instead. i guess thats the problem. it was a Fat Fuck who attended me this time. or maybe the charming aura wasnt with me that day.

as sad as I am, I still think its not the end of the world (sometimes). more is yet to be decided. there is still.. something to look forward to. anyhow, looking at the bright side of it, I get to see my mom before she flies to the states, and I get to travel, have nice airplane meals, enjoy the jet lag and be extremely fatigued. good times.

what would become of everything?

"The lies in every truth, and the sincerity in every dishonesty. its driving me crazy"

A Movie, A postcard, and An Invitation

2006-09-22T23:41:00.000+08:00

could they mean that much?

A Day Like Today. reprise.

2006-09-22T21:03:00.000+08:00

gladly, the setting sun was able to peak through the crack between buildings, finding its way into Masi - A little cafe which doenst stand out, being squeezed among pub, book store, sports wear shop, a bus stop and uncountable passerby. the cafe, once entered, a fine coffee aroma would instantly be noticable. like a dog would not miss the aroma of bacon, even in distance. the warmth laid on my face, the light blinded my sight. eyes closed.

had a great day :) until work kicked in :(