Your Song

HK: Eat and Shop till you flip.

After my full day of rest on sun, Mon and Tues was entirely on eat, shop, sleep, eat shop and sleep.

I didn't buy anything for myself because I am still recovering from my Thailand Trip. Spent around 1000 in thailand. So i limit myself to 600 this time round. I only bought the DIE die must buy stuff. Stuff for my mom, dad, sis and bro. Goodies for my boss and fellow team mates. The moment I got all these items, I automatically just switched to a mind blank, just follow mode and bascially just followed the gals where ever they go. And also the porter mode, helping them to carry their stuff.

Stormed all the factory outlets. Esprit, Nike, Adidas, Puma. You name it, we got it. The shopping itinerary was 10 sheets thick. I don't even bother to read through them. It just amazed me the extent of preparations gals will take to go shopping. The very big trolley suitcase with 2-3 very big empty bags, together with the months of research.

Guess the shopping place is bigger as compared to Thailand, with the cooling weather as well. That's why I don't really find it so tiring as the last time. The gals also took into consideration that I just finished a marathon, so they did take the effort to slow down their shopping pace. But occassionally, I have to make request. "eh.. i am tired. i want to take a seat." "eh... i am hungry... i want to eat." I am sure that if i didn't sound off my hunger, they will most probably just skip lunch or dinner. Other than the porter and follow around role which they gave me, I was also the guy's pt of view opinion for them.

AUdrey: eh.. you think black nice or white nice?

Me: Eh... Black looks sophisticated... white looks more pure and innocent.

Audrey: Happily took the black and went to make payment

After some comtemplating, she turned and came back to get the white one.

Me: Ohhh... so you decided to be pure and innocent again?

Audrey: Placed back the white one... and took off with the black one again.

I can't understand gals. Seriously.

As for our sightseeing trip, we went to the very famous buddha temple. THe going there part is good. My maiden ride on a cable car. Or cable car virgin you would say. hahaa. We saw Mei Yan fang tablet in the temple as well. Outstanding artist.

In the night, we went to the place where the stars' palm and signature are on the tiles. hahaa... people like jackie chan, maggie cheung, aaron kwok. I think we look a bit over excited whenever we see stars we like. And the funnie stunts everyone threw. so sorry for all the blur shots. Night Mode not good!!

I miss Hk and the shopping company.

HK Marathon 2009

Decided to have a post solely for the review of the HK marathon.

The entire experience is really awesome. To be able to run in a foreign country across their heartlands, along their iconic bridges and through the central business district is really a hard to come by opportunity.
The residents shouting cheers in cantonese which I find it very heartwarming. You hardly hear cheers in dialects. "Ka yao!! Noh lek!!" (which means Jiayou, work hard). They are everywhere. Along the roads, in their housing estates, on their balconies, on the overhead bridges and especially the last 2 km stretch through the Shopping haven, Causeway Bay. The amazing shopping crowds.

The entire race route was challenging with the slopes located at the last 12km part of the run. I find the slopes even steeper than the ones we had at Benjamin sheares. Sad to say, I didn't train hard for the slopes which i knew before I went over to HK. Whenever I encountered every slope, I just stopped and walked up. Thát's why training is impt. The haze is not as bad as I tot it would be. Everything turned out to be fine, perhaps it's because it's a Sun and the factories are closed. THe weather is good as well. Low humidity and cooling weather at around 20 deg. I regretted dousing myself with water along the race. The water together with the cool winds to the hot and sweaty core, made me feel a little sick along the way.

My timing is reasonably okay. Shall try to hit below 4 hrs for the end of the year Sinapore Stand Chart Marathon.

10km mark: 54 mins
21km mark: 1 hr 52 mins
30km mark: 2 hr 53 mins
42.195km mark: 4 hr 25 mins.

And this marathon has a cut off timing of 5 hrs 30 mins. Anyone whom the organisers deem as unable to meet that timing will be asked to load up the bus and to be driven back to the end pt. I remembered seeing bus loads of participants alighting when I was battling the crowds back to my hostel.

But the going home part was hard. Trying to squeeze my way past the shopping crowd in my smelly,sweaty singlet and tights is not easy. The crowd is like the count down kinda crowd. I feel so bad for being so smelly. hahaa... And the ending point is full of indonesians. I guess it's their place for the maids to gather every weekend. I was so shy until I tried to cover my tights with the finisher pack. The HK runners who wore tights had a running shorts over it. Mine was just the tights. Cultural clash. I even had to queue up to cross the road which is only 3 metres wide to get to the side of my hostel.

And when i finally made my way back to the room, my other running buddy is already lying on the bed. Clothing washed, shower taken. Outstanding. His timing: 3 hrs 54 mins. And I owed him a meal. We had a bet that whoever is the slowest will treat the faster one. Lost this time round. We had another bet for the one end of the year. I will make sure i will win him, despite the fact that he is 13 years older than me. hahaha...

And I just slept my day away. And the gals left for dim sum without us.

my 100th post!

The start of a new year... I mean lunar new year.

Was looking through the photos for the past 2 years which I have taken.. I realised life has been treating me quite well... The time for reflection... weight reflection? hahaa

Year 2004 Weight: 60-61 kg.

I looked like some starving Pows... Unbelievable...

Year 2007 Weight: 62 kg

I realised I looked so fair and untrained. What was I doing man.. hahaha.. I remembered I was searching for self identity after some hiccups in life... and ling was telling me that I looked better with some flesh... so I stopped running and swimming for a good 8 months..hoping that this will make me grow fat... what was i thinking,.. hahahaa... Cui ah..

Year 2008 Weight (Picture taken in Dec 2007, still qualify as 2008): 67kg

Simply cannot take the nua-ness anymore, i started to exercise again... Surprisingly, i grew heavier and bigger.. Who said exercising makes you thin... i Gained weighT! Feeling much more happier when I started my training regime again.

Year 2009 Weight: 68-69kg.

The peak ever since i left NS 5 years ago... My peak before NS was 80 kg... I was nothing but a pile of walking meat.

Trying to bring my running and swimming to a more competitive level, I joined a running club and started training hard... Marathons and biathlons... Again, eXercising doesn't make you lose weight.. It helps you gain more... on a random note, I lost 3 kg after running the stand chart marathon in dec 08. Just one day, i lost 3 kg... 42 km=3 kgs of water lost... Needless to say, i gained everything back within 2 weeks... hahahaa..

And maybe I should put more sun block during my swimming training. The numerous instances when I was being mistaken as some indians or malays...

Me happily putting the stuff at the counter in a Ma ma shop..

Indian Storekeeper: !#^**%$&%*# (Apparently he is trying to tell me how much it costs in Tamil)

Me: hUh? (looking at him with a very blur look)

Indian Storekeeper: !^&&*()*($#(& (Now he is trying to tell me how much it costs in MALAY)

Me: AH bang... I am Chinese la... Do I look like an Indian or malay?

Indian Storekeeper: (Now trying to tell me the price in hokkien, cantonese, teochew)

Me: (trying my best to keep my cool.. Heng i understood dialects) okay okay.. i know... it's 2.50..

Just a simple get stuff, pay stuff transaction can get into such a complicated circumstances...

I AM A CHINESE! for goodness saKe

This day 7 years ago..

Today is my 7th enlistment anniversary.

23rd Jan 2002. The day when I shaved my head to serve my obligations... haha.. times flies and now it's 23rd Jan 2009.

Let's do the sums..

7 years...

2 years 4 months serving NS and got to know my buddies.
3 months slacking around after NS.
3 years 10 months getting my B.Eng(Mech)
1 months slacking around, job hunting and grad trip.
6 months working... again... serving the nation cos i am a public servant... public servant as in employee in a stat board.. public servant sounds so... "free frag" like open to everyone.. hahahaa

The milestones in life... Wat else remains? marriage.. kids.... *work running in parallel all the while* 30 more years of work... at least I don't dread taking the morning train to work...

The last Lecture

In my previous post "The last lecture: Your childhood dreams", I was talking about this Professor who was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer and has only 3-6 months left to live. That was in Sep 06. He passed away on 25 July 08. Almost 2 years after the diagnosis.

Frankly speaking, I was quite sad to know that he had already passed away. He was so motivated even in the face of such dire circumstances. Only 3-6 months left. With a lovely wife and 3 young kids. He fought hard by signing up for the most painful treatment so that he can get to live, even for a few more days. Very inspiring to see how a man fighting so hard to live even when life deals him a bad hand. At least he chose to play it well.

He published a book on the lecture he gave in Carnegie Mellon. "The last lecture". I guess his reason for this book is so that his kids will get to read what he wants to say when they grow up.

I bought the book. Was feeling the need to really appreciate life when I am still given the chance. To be an unshakable optimist.

Yet another Graduate!

Yet another graduate into the society. haha.. Today was my elder sister's graduation from SIM. I have to stress on the elder because almost everyone thinks i am the eldest in the family. So sad.

Some people even tot my sis is my gf.

Even worse when my little cousin is around, they tot my sis is my wife. So whenever my cousin is around, I always maintain a safety distance from my sis. I also refuse to hold my cousin's hand when she is holding on to my sis on the other side. hahaha.. that's the extent i will go. haha

Anyway today was her big day. She graduated from SIM. Enduring the dun know how many years of attending sch after work. The essays she has to write on top of the composition she had to mark (ya.. she's a teacher). The lessons she has to attend at night after giving lessons in sch including PE classes to the little kids in sch. GOod for her that she made it through.

My brother told me that he wants to go uni after his NS...

Me: WAh.. serious ah.. not bad ah u... AT least you want to improve urself..

My Bro: no la.. cos i find the gals in Uni quite cute...

Me: -_-'''

One thing that really puzzled me is this guy holding this thing. What's this THING? It's somekinda samurai sword which they place it on this supporting frame when the congregation started.. then when it ended, this guy will take it and leave with it. I realli wonder what's this... thing? i dun remember i saw it during my commencement... or maybe i wasn't paying attention during mine. haha.. SOmeone pls enlighten me...

My father was sucking on this sweet.. that's why you can see his mouth doing this sucking gesture... RETAKE!

My family Portrait...

Don't attempt to get your old folks to take pictures for you.. hahhaa... My mom was quite cute.. We trust her to take better pics than my dad.. so we passed her the camera.. and guess what she did... she aim the camera at herself.. thinking the LCD was the lens.. and the lens as the viewfinder...自拍.. and quite obvious she doesn't have steady arms.. hahaha..

No more Dutch lady? Go for goat milk..

Hope everyone enjoyed themselves. And if anyone is interested is going... It's Hay dairies at Lim Chu kang road. Milk selling at $2 per bottle ... and the goat feed goes at $2 per packet as well.

Happie Birthday!

My little cousin's birthday just passed and she turned 7.

I called her on the phone... and i decided to play a little prank on her..

She: HELLO!
me: hello. (The uncle kinda hello.)
She: AH heng GOR GOR!
me: AH heng gor gor? I am policeman. I want to catch you.
She: .......
me: What is your name?
She: ... Don't want to tell you.
me: You sure you don't want to tell me? I will also catch your mama, papa, meimei and didi.
She: ..... don't tell you.
me: I heard today is your birthday. So i can catch u already (i also don't know what is the link)
She: No.. not my birthday... (wat kids will do to get out of trouble)
me: (Can sense that she is starting to feel a bit stressed.) I am ah heng gor gor la.
She: HAIYA! u think i dun know it's you meh?
me: As if lo. You nearly cried rite?
She: No... Wat time you off from work? Can bring me go buy cake?

So after my work, went back home to get my car and drove to pick her up to go cake shopping. Went to almost every cake shops in Tamp central. Looked at ALL the cakes in the display fridge. And i think everyone was staring at me... not that i am young. But i am still relatively young to have such a big kid. Finally settled on one with a tweety bird and ultraman toy stuck into the cake.

She: I dun like that cake.. cos got ultraman.
me: (starting to get impatient) Just take out the ultraman la. I like ley. Can give me?
She: OKie lo. (finally.. phew...)

On the way back to her house, i asked her what is her birthday wish. APparently she doesn't know what is a birthday wish. So i have to explain to her.

Me: Birthday wish is what you want. Like.. i want to get all correct for spelling. I want to grow taller etc.
She: I KNOW I KNOW. My birthday wish is I WANT TO BECOME MORE BEAUTIFUL!
me: -_-'''... you are already so beautiful.
She: I want MORE!
me:........

Had a mini party at her place. And hope she had a nice 7 years old birthday.

I bet i will spoil my children next time.

"I want to grow old with you"

Went blog surfing... Read this from that blog and decided to paste it over here.

"On my wedding day, I carried my wife in my arms. The bridal car stopped in front of our one-room flat. My buddies insisted that I carry her out of the car in my arms. So I carried her into our home. She was then plump and shy. I was a strong and happy bridegroom.This was the scene of ten years ago.The following days were as simple as a cup of pure water: we had a kid,I went into business and tried to make more money. When the assets were steadily increasing, the affections between us seemed to ebb. She was a civil servant. Every morning we left home together and got home almost at the same time. Our kid was studying in a boarding school.Our marriage life seemed to be enviably happy. But the calm life was more likely to be affected by unpredictable changes.Dew came into my life.It was a sunny day. I stood on a spacious balcony. Dew hugged me from behind. My heart once again was immersed in her stream of love. This was the apartment I bought for her.Dew said, You are the kind of man who best draws girls eyeballs. Her words suddenly reminded me of my wife. When we just married, my wife aid, Men like you, once successful, will be very attractive to girls.Thinking of this, I became somewhat hesitant. I knew I had betrayed my wife. But I couldn t help doing so.I moved Dew's hand aside and said, You go to select some furniture,O.K.? I ve got something to do in the company. Obviously she was unhappy, because I had promised her to go and see with her. At the moment, the idea of divorce became clearer in my mind although it used to be something impossible to me.However, I found it rather difficult to tell my wife about it. No matter how mildly I mentioned it to her, she would be deeply hurt. Honestly,she was a good wife. Every evening she was busy preparing dinner. I was sitting together. Or, I was lounging before the computer, visualizing Dew’s body. This was the means of my entertainment.One day I said to her in a slight joking way, suppose we divorce, what will you do? She stared at me for a few seconds without a word.Apparently she believed that divorce was something too far away from her. I couldn t imagine how she would react once she got to know I was serious.When my wife went to my office, Dew had just stepped out. Almost all the staff looked at my wife with a sympathetic eye and tried to hide something while talking with her. She seemed to have got some hint. She gently smiled at my subordinates. But I read some hurt in her eyes.Once again, Dew said to me, He Ning, divorce her, O.K.? Then we live together. I nodded. I knew I could not hesitate any more.When my wife served the last dish, I held her hand. I ve got something to tell you, I said.She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.Suddenly I didn t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want to divorce. I raised a serious topic calmly.She didn t seem to be much annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? . I m serious. I avoided her question. This so-called answer turned her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man!At that night, we didn t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer, because my heart had gone to Dew.With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. I felt a pain in my heart.The woman who had been living ten years with me would become a stranger one day. But I could not take back what I had said.Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer.A late night, I came back home after entertaining my clients. I saw her writing something at the table. I fell asleep fast. When I woke up, I found she was still there. I turned over and was asleep again.She brought up her divorce conditions: she didn t want anything from me,but I was supposed to give her one months time before divorce, and in the month s time we must live as normal life as possible. Her reason was simple: our son would finish his summer vacation a month later and shedidn t want him to see our marriage was broken.She passed me the agreement she drafted, and then asked me, He Ning, do you still remember how I entered our bridal room on the wedding day?This question suddenly brought back all those wonderful memories to me.I nodded and said, I remember . You carried me in your arms , she continued, so, I have a requirement, that is, you carry me out in your arms on the day when we divorce. From now to the end of this month, you must carry me out from the bedroom to the door every morning.I accepted with a smile. I knew she missed those sweet days and wished to end her marriage with a romantic form.I told Dew(BITCH) about my wife s divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she does, she has to face the result of divorce, she said scornfully. Her words more or less made me feel uncomfortable.My wife and I hadn t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. We even treated each other as a stranger. So when I carried her out for the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly, Let us start from today, don t tell our son. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for bus, I drove to office.On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on mychest. We were so close that I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn t looked at this intimate woman carefully for along time. I found she was not young any more. There were some finewrinkles on her face.On the third day, she whispered to me, The outside garden is being demolished. Be careful when you pass there.On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I seemed to feel that we were still an intimate couple and I was holding my sweetheart in my arms. The visualization of Dew became vaguer.On the fifth and sixth day, she kept reminding me something, such as,where she put the ironed shirts, I should be careful while cooking, etc.I nodded. The sense of intimacy was even stronger.I didn t tell Dew about this.I felt it was easier to carry her. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. I said to her, It seems not difficult to carry you now.She was picking her dresses. I was waiting to carry her out. She tried quite a few but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, All my dresses have grown fatter. I smiled. But I suddenly realized that it was because she was thinner that I could carry her more easily, not becauseI was stronger. I knew she had buried all the bitterness in her heart.Again, I felt a sense of pain. Subconsciously I reached out a hand to touch her head.Our son came in at the moment. Dad, it s time to carry mum out. He said.To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had been an essential part of his life. She gestured our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face because I was afraid I would change my mind at the last minute. I held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom,through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly, as if we came back to our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step.Our son had gone to school. She said, Actually I hope you will hold me in your arms until we are old.I held her tightly and said, Both you and I didn t notice that our lifewas lack of such intimacy.I jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my decision. I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door. I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I won t divorce. I'm serious.She looked at me, astonished. The she touched my forehead. You got no fever. She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I can only say sorry to you, I won t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn t value the details of life, not because we didn t love each other any more. Now I understand that since I carried her into the home, she gave birth to our child, I am supposed to hold her until I am old. So I have to say sorry to you.Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into cry. I walked downstairs and drove to the office.When I passed the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet for my wife which was her favorite. The salesgirl asked me to write the greeting words on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until we are old."

End of the paper chase

The day we have worked hard for...

Memory Consolidation

Looks like everything is coming to an end in NUS. Got results back on 30th May. The most stressful day in my life. 4 years of hardwork didn't come to a waste. Or should I say 3 1/2 year cos last sem i was damn slack. At least I managed to scrape through. A good end to studies. A good start for the working world. I hope.

Thanks for the so many well wishers. Though I didn't do as well as the previous sems, at least I didn't give up on myself for so many things that have happened. Frankly speaking, during my 1st 2 years in Uni, i always have this drive to be the 1st in Mech engin. Giving my speech as the valedictorian, giving credits to the people so impt in my life. It's that bad until sometimes while on the bus back home after school, i will imagine myself standing on the podium facing the hundreds of people in U.C.C during commencement, giving my speech to honour my loved ones etc. hahaha... But apparently i am not one. Can only imagine it while sitting down there during commencement when the REAL one is giving his.

Since reservist is just round the corner, I think i shall give this 4 years a code name. Operation ... erm.... Operation Tintin. damn lame. Throughout these 4 years, i have learnt....

1) TO smile to people even you know they are damn f* up.
2) Get ready that people will run away after they ask you about ur cap so that you have no chance to ask them back.
3)Gals are more inclined not to reveal anything abt their grades.
4) You raise hands in class to answer qns not because you are enthu but because you need the participation marks.
5) You need a campus map in your bag even after being considered as a senior.
6) NUS is not going to be wheelchair accessible.
7) Gals ask guys which JCs they used to be from. Guys ask guys which units they used to be from.
8) You try to full use of your sch fees by swimming more in SRC, seeing the doctor more at YIH, using the coms more at CBLC and most importantly drinking more MILO whenever there's a bazaar.
9)You sell your notes at the end of every sem so that it will not remind you anything about that mod again.
10) You read only one reading from each chapter instead of the many, thinking that it is sufficient and you are lucky enough to choose the correct one.
11) You know the POWER of S/U. S/U used to be first declared before exams but they changed it to declaration after exams. That's why freshies will still work hard in mods they intent to S/U. But oldies just dun give a damn abt it.
12) Sometimes you self taught yourself a mod because you cannot understand the accent of the lecturer.
13) Mid term tests' statistics are all bluff. Dun assume you can get an A when you score the highest in mid term. Conversely, you can get A even if you suck for mid term... but definitely not suck big time la.
14) You have to be on good terms with your profs when you are in your upper years. Grades are always subjective.
15) NUS only has atm machines in ARTS and YIH. Why remove the one in Engin?!?!
16) Clementi bookstore generally sell books cheaper than Coop.
17) Buy 2nd hand textbook at a low price, maintain it and sell it off at a higher price.
18) Almost everyone is biased against Engineering guys. We dress comfortably because we need to go to the lab!
19) Engin doesn't equate to car engine. It means ENGINEERING. (seriously, some gals tot i study car engins for 4 years)
20) ENgin has local students as well, though it is becoming a province of ... you know where...
21) Most Importantly, we call the graduation ceremony as COMMENCEMENT... not convocation as what they term it in NTU.

wah liew... while typing this entry, my neighbour is blasting celine dion's song. feeling so Nostalgic! haha

4 years of hardwork, a sense of achievement during commencement. Let's restart and prepare for the working world. I haven't given up on myself. I have became stronger.

i made it!

I made it!!! 4 years of hardwork... 8 semesters of pure mugging. I graduated!!! 1st class! hahahaa. I couldn't sleep last night man... woke up at 2am... then on and off till 7am...

Realli a BIG big relief. luckily i made it. If not, I wouldn't know how am i going to face my friends during commencement cos everyone thinks i am going to get 1st class.

Finally, a good ending that marks the end of my academic career.

There are just too many people to thank. At least my first class can make my parents proud!

HA HA ha.. i am so happie and relieved.

Happie Birthday Amiru

Not sure whether i got the spelling correct.... Amiru.. Aini's brother... 2 kids whom we met in the Queenstown's home. 26 May was amiru's birthday and we promised to treat them for movie. Initially, we wanted to bring more kids out but the 2 of them insisted otherwise. Actually, good also la...during mentoring in the home, it's already hard handling one kid. Bringing out the whole bunch out will definitely need some serious planning.

Anyway, vincent planned it but last min he couldn't make it. So it was Vicki, Kiaboon, Eugene and I who went to meet up with them. Now then i know handphone is really a neccessity. THe kids have no hp, so it has already been confirmed 2 weeks ago that we will meet at Tiong Bahru plaza at 7 pm. Act, I quite scared that they will bangseh us. No choice rite... nowadays, bangsehing people is becoming so common. ahaha.. Think the problem lies with us adults la... So as we walked to GV to meet up with them. They were already there. I was really surprised. They were already there waiting at 6.50pm. Little kids. So reliable.

Caught the movie... Narnia. Not a bad show i feel. Perhaps out of 10, i would give it a 7? hahah.. the Kings and Queens of Narnia a bit buay zai. At least make them stronger or bigger. So not convincing to get a few little kids to act as Kings and QUeens. Amiru kept talking... very loudly... luckily eugene was sitting beside him. hahaha. And the cinema was damn cold.

After the show, we went to KFC for some snacks. Ordered pop corn chicken meals for them with cheese fries. THey onli finished up one of the meal and they ta bao the other one. Nowadays, i think most kids will just eat everything and if they can't finish, they will just heck it. Who will bother to go and ta bao. Sometimes I realli have this urge to ask Aini and Amiru abt their family. But family to them is a real sensitive issue. You wouldn't know whether you will trip the wire. So better be safe, dun talk abt family issues unless they start first.

The time read 10.30 pm and they still didn't want to go home. Their Curfew was 12midnight. Went to Tiong bahru park to reminisce our childhood days. The swings, merry go round, horse rides and playing catching. i am already quarter century old... asking me to play catching... hahaha.. i feel a bit out... but okie la.. not too bad...

Time passed fast and it was already 11.30pm. We sent them home in Redhill. A HDB blocks with 2 rooms apartments. More or less expected as they were not from well to do family. As we bade goodbyes, i can feel that our effort for the night have been appreciated by them. Amiru's birthday. Something realli worth a celebration. The birth of a unique person.

I didn't realise until kiaboon told me that she could feel that the kids can't bear to leave and go home. And aini told me earlier on that she has been discharged from the programme. This is supposedly a good thing because things in her family might have already change for the better. But just as bonds are starting to get stronger, one has to leave. She was telling me that she might be coming back every wed when we are there. It realli feels good to know that your effort is being appreciated by the little ones. And she got first in her class. Just hope as our paths crossed, with our little efforts in mentoring them, we can at least show them that there are still people around caring for them. Some treat this mentoring as a chore, some just treat this as a requirement for subsidies for our YEP trip last year. But perhaps it would be good to treat it as a start for more community involvement. Be someone with a big heart, i hope i can be one.

What should I put?

Seriously, i can't think of any attention grabbing headline or title. How can life be that exciting as an unemployed?

Life is just about working out, watching TV, going out and job hunting.

Have been looking at my pics from taiwan and i realised that my face is getting kinda big. Guess it's a sign telling me to shed the fats off. Aiming to cut 5 kg! I hope. To have a buffer zone before i start working. During my internship, i could really feel the blubber around my wasitline growing when i was sitting in front of the com. Everyone is telling me that once you start working, maintaining ur weight is realli a tough task. 真的廋不了.

What's more to say about news we see on TV everyday. Ma Y ing Jeou taking over that Chen shui B ian? Or the ever rising petrol prices. I really can't take the petrol hike anymore. It now costs $2.136/litre to pump 95 when it only cost $1.70/litre close to 10 months ago. And public transport is not helping either. THe trains and buses are always taking forever to come. haha.. buay tahan. In taiwan, the trains come in like every one min. U can slowly walk down the escalator, seeing ur train closing the door..... and by the time u reach the platform, the next train is reaching. I am not exaggerating.

Nothing much to say anymore. Just showing some of my "act stupid" picturesFirst day in taiwan.

"Ha ha ha.. you shark fin... u can't swim away"

"Welcome to Kaoshiung" While posing for this pic, i felt stupid cos it was a peak hour.

"Come..give me a kiss... U red indian"

Pictures!

This guy is trying to be funnie

HK international Airport

Pictures from my friend. Not from my camera. In case i get charged. haha

Taiwan 2008

I am back! 9 days away from Singapore.

I think I lost a bit of weight and my legs became thinner. We walked a lot! Walking around with a big backpack isn't easy in the bustling crowd. Technically, we went one round around Taiwan. Some stops are just mere stop overs. Like one hr break between the train rides.

taipei->taichung->chiayi->tainan->taidong->hualien->taipei

Temples, National Parks, Night markets, beaches etc.

Still "QC-ing" the photos. Will post online once i am done with them.

Will post some pics first. Have to put disclaimer first. Some of the pics have gals inside. Took them not because I chek ko pek but because i tot it looked nice. hahaha