// hidden mask //
Sometimes, I feel I'm wearing a hidden mask.
I don't know how people see me.
But I always hope to appear cheerful and easygoing.
Cuz I don't wish to burden anyone else with my troubles and insecurities.
Being a human, of course, there must be an outlet for this release of frustrations.
That's when this blog come in handy.
However, there are still certain things I won't publish.
Everyone has, secrets of their own.
Please don't reveal them.
Cuz that's what makes us unique.
i didn't dare to close my eyes.
cuz i'm afraid that once I close them,
the tears i struggled to prevent it from falling
will be shed
i don't want to cry.
cuz i have no idea what i'm crying for.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
// a pricey cny //
CNY - It comes with pleasant things like getting hong baos,
eating new year goodies, and wearing new clothes.
At the same time, CNY, somehow also causes undue stress to people,
due to the need to do spring cleaning, whip up a sumptuous reunion dinner,
decorate the house, entertain guests.
Furthermore, it's a time for people to meet up with their relatives,
whether familiar or rarely met ones.
Perhaps for people with social phobia (like me), it's a form of stress.
In this year of economic downturn, I guess the stress adds on.
From my understanding, Chinese people are a bunch who really cares
about their pride.
That's why CNY is a time for some to flaunt their wealth by wearing
expensive gold and diamond jewellery.
It's also a time to show people the size of your house,
the excellent results of your children,
the amount of your year end bonus,
the luxurious car you possess,
and the lavish food you feast on.
Families affected by the economic crisis will have to worry about what to
say when they meet their relatives and friends.
But I do not deny that CNY is definitely something
to look forward to every year.
A festive season -yes
but it comes with a price.
CNY - It comes with pleasant things like getting hong baos,
eating new year goodies, and wearing new clothes.
At the same time, CNY, somehow also causes undue stress to people,
due to the need to do spring cleaning, whip up a sumptuous reunion dinner,
decorate the house, entertain guests.
Furthermore, it's a time for people to meet up with their relatives,
whether familiar or rarely met ones.
Perhaps for people with social phobia (like me), it's a form of stress.
In this year of economic downturn, I guess the stress adds on.
From my understanding, Chinese people are a bunch who really cares
about their pride.
That's why CNY is a time for some to flaunt their wealth by wearing
expensive gold and diamond jewellery.
It's also a time to show people the size of your house,
the excellent results of your children,
the amount of your year end bonus,
the luxurious car you possess,
and the lavish food you feast on.
Families affected by the economic crisis will have to worry about what to
say when they meet their relatives and friends.
But I do not deny that CNY is definitely something
to look forward to every year.
A festive season -yes
but it comes with a price.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
// what time is it? //
I just came back from my religion's coming-of-age ceremony for 21 year-olds.
One piece of guidance struck me the most.
" If your life is represented by one day, meaning that 12 midnight
represents the time you are born and 12 noon is equal to forty
years of age, then, 21 year old means that the time is 6:15am.
It is the time, early in the morning when people just woke up.
A day just started."
Somehow, this makes me feel happy going on to 21 (even though there's still like 10 mths to my real 21st)
At same time, I am afraid that I will lose the ability to appreciate the little things in life
as I grow older.
Losing the sight of the beauty of life.
It's a terrible thing.
You'll think the whole world is against you and why your life is so hard.
You'll think you have given enough but not receiving the same.
You'll grumble about every single bad thing that happens to you,
no matter how minor.
While others saw a glass of half-filled water, you saw a half-emptied one.
When others saw clear blue skies, you said the sky is so bare.
Where others saw beauty, you saw nothing but ugliness.
You forgot how to give way to people, to tolerate others.
Just because you have more life experiences,
you are always right.
Sometimes, I feel older people like my mum falls prey to this kind of thinking.
I also went to IMH today.
At first, I was rather afraid of the patients there.
Before we stepped into the women's ward, when the nurse was explaining certain things to us,
I could see some of their faces through the transparent door.
A few were poking noses at the door, their hands in a "let me out!" position.
Hence they look quite intimidating.
However, after we entered the ward, I felt much better as many of them
were rather friendly and extended their hands to wish us Happy New Year.
One women was shouting "Party" because they were supposed to have a party tml.
Perhaps she thought the party came earlier.
Anyway, some were watching TV while the others sat around.
I did not really know how to communicate with them
But I was glad that there was totally no sense of dread, unhappiness or despair
in the room.
All of them were engaged in some activity or another hence the room was buzzing with noise.
But, how different are they from prison immates?
Of course they have nurses and psychiatrist to take care of their health.
Volunteers to shower them with care and concern.
But, they are part of the forgotten.
Forgotten by society.
Forgotten by their family and relatives.
Their perception of the world is only as big as IMH.
Even sadder, some might just commit suicide after hearing voices in their heads.
I wish I can do something for them, no matter how small.
We are really fortunate.
I just came back from my religion's coming-of-age ceremony for 21 year-olds.
One piece of guidance struck me the most.
" If your life is represented by one day, meaning that 12 midnight
represents the time you are born and 12 noon is equal to forty
years of age, then, 21 year old means that the time is 6:15am.
It is the time, early in the morning when people just woke up.
A day just started."
Somehow, this makes me feel happy going on to 21 (even though there's still like 10 mths to my real 21st)
At same time, I am afraid that I will lose the ability to appreciate the little things in life
as I grow older.
Losing the sight of the beauty of life.
It's a terrible thing.
You'll think the whole world is against you and why your life is so hard.
You'll think you have given enough but not receiving the same.
You'll grumble about every single bad thing that happens to you,
no matter how minor.
While others saw a glass of half-filled water, you saw a half-emptied one.
When others saw clear blue skies, you said the sky is so bare.
Where others saw beauty, you saw nothing but ugliness.
You forgot how to give way to people, to tolerate others.
Just because you have more life experiences,
you are always right.
Sometimes, I feel older people like my mum falls prey to this kind of thinking.
I also went to IMH today.
At first, I was rather afraid of the patients there.
Before we stepped into the women's ward, when the nurse was explaining certain things to us,
I could see some of their faces through the transparent door.
A few were poking noses at the door, their hands in a "let me out!" position.
Hence they look quite intimidating.
However, after we entered the ward, I felt much better as many of them
were rather friendly and extended their hands to wish us Happy New Year.
One women was shouting "Party" because they were supposed to have a party tml.
Perhaps she thought the party came earlier.
Anyway, some were watching TV while the others sat around.
I did not really know how to communicate with them
But I was glad that there was totally no sense of dread, unhappiness or despair
in the room.
All of them were engaged in some activity or another hence the room was buzzing with noise.
But, how different are they from prison immates?
Of course they have nurses and psychiatrist to take care of their health.
Volunteers to shower them with care and concern.
But, they are part of the forgotten.
Forgotten by society.
Forgotten by their family and relatives.
Their perception of the world is only as big as IMH.
Even sadder, some might just commit suicide after hearing voices in their heads.
I wish I can do something for them, no matter how small.
We are really fortunate.
Friday, January 16, 2009
// thermodynamics //
the theory:
total entropy of the system and surrounding always increase.
how my prof explained it:
Let's say your room is initially very neat, everything is in order.
As days passed, it becomes messier, resulting in a disordered state.
This does not require any energy.
However, to make your room neat again, energy is required.
Anyway, as your room becomes messier and messier and messier, day by day.
One day, you cannot even tell the difference of the state of your room as compared
to yesterday.
Equilibrium state is reached.
All this while, I was imagining the state of my room.
lol.
imagine! you can't even tell how messy is your room
and that is called equilibrium state!
the theory:
total entropy of the system and surrounding always increase.
how my prof explained it:
Let's say your room is initially very neat, everything is in order.
As days passed, it becomes messier, resulting in a disordered state.
This does not require any energy.
However, to make your room neat again, energy is required.
Anyway, as your room becomes messier and messier and messier, day by day.
One day, you cannot even tell the difference of the state of your room as compared
to yesterday.
Equilibrium state is reached.
All this while, I was imagining the state of my room.
lol.
imagine! you can't even tell how messy is your room
and that is called equilibrium state!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
// singlish talking to english //
recently I noticed quite a number of angmohs in school.
I guessed they are exchange students from other countries.
So today, as I was in the queue for the veg stall,
the girl in front of me turned around and that was when I realised
she is one of those caucasians.
"Do you know what is the weekly special, 'Kway Chap'?" she said,
pointing to the menu signboard.
erm the way she prounced chap...well.. as in "What a nice chap!".
lol.
apparently she was taller than me, so I had to strain my neck to see
what it was.
"Oh! 'Kway Zaap'! That is pig's organs, like intestines.."
I thought I saw her turn a tad paler.
"But it's fake right?"
"Ya!"
"Is it made of tofu..and stuff?"
"Ya...I think it's made of tofu and...er what is that.. flour!"
"Thanks."
Haha. In the end, she didn't try that.
I think she opted for something more common.
recently I noticed quite a number of angmohs in school.
I guessed they are exchange students from other countries.
So today, as I was in the queue for the veg stall,
the girl in front of me turned around and that was when I realised
she is one of those caucasians.
"Do you know what is the weekly special, 'Kway Chap'?" she said,
pointing to the menu signboard.
erm the way she prounced chap...well.. as in "What a nice chap!".
lol.
apparently she was taller than me, so I had to strain my neck to see
what it was.
"Oh! 'Kway Zaap'! That is pig's organs, like intestines.."
I thought I saw her turn a tad paler.
"But it's fake right?"
"Ya!"
"Is it made of tofu..and stuff?"
"Ya...I think it's made of tofu and...er what is that.. flour!"
"Thanks."
Haha. In the end, she didn't try that.
I think she opted for something more common.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
// I don't want to be inFLUenced //
a random day, what can i say?
the flu-struck me initially decided to skip school.
but to do make up for lab would be too troublesome.
besides, my psych tutorial will be dividing into project groups.
hence it's a bad day to miss school.
anyway.
met a would-be intellectual tai-tai with her epiphanies.
quote: Not believing is a belief, It's a belief not believing.
lol.
interesting.
well, my psych group mates of course, expectantly, knew each other.
felt a bit out-casted cuz the everyone present is a psych major (either yr 2 or 3)
after careful evaluation, I had appealed for this mod cuz it:
1. Fits well in my timetable.
2. Seems interesting compared to the rest.
(its about job analysis and personnel assesment..HR stuff)
would it be stupid to drop this mod?
I dunno.
other than the fact that my goup members and I seem not be able to get along,
I am rather worried about how the exam format is like.
almost certainly, psych majors taking this mod have an advantage over the minority like me, who plans to take a minor.
in fact, I was too engrossed in making a decision that I actually
forgot to visit the clinic at ntu after class.
decision to be made by : 18th jan
a random day, what can i say?
the flu-struck me initially decided to skip school.
but to do make up for lab would be too troublesome.
besides, my psych tutorial will be dividing into project groups.
hence it's a bad day to miss school.
anyway.
met a would-be intellectual tai-tai with her epiphanies.
quote: Not believing is a belief, It's a belief not believing.
lol.
interesting.
well, my psych group mates of course, expectantly, knew each other.
felt a bit out-casted cuz the everyone present is a psych major (either yr 2 or 3)
after careful evaluation, I had appealed for this mod cuz it:
1. Fits well in my timetable.
2. Seems interesting compared to the rest.
(its about job analysis and personnel assesment..HR stuff)
would it be stupid to drop this mod?
I dunno.
other than the fact that my goup members and I seem not be able to get along,
I am rather worried about how the exam format is like.
almost certainly, psych majors taking this mod have an advantage over the minority like me, who plans to take a minor.
in fact, I was too engrossed in making a decision that I actually
forgot to visit the clinic at ntu after class.
decision to be made by : 18th jan
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
//muttering to myself//
seems hard to get psych subjects.
that doesn't clash with my core.
haiz. dropped HP329.
hopes of getting HP314B is really really low.
anyway i wouldn't want to get caught in doing a boring psych module about asian psych..
all those mini projects and reports will definitely get me down.
no way.
wait for next sem?
seems hard to get psych subjects.
that doesn't clash with my core.
haiz. dropped HP329.
hopes of getting HP314B is really really low.
anyway i wouldn't want to get caught in doing a boring psych module about asian psych..
all those mini projects and reports will definitely get me down.
no way.
wait for next sem?
Saturday, January 03, 2009
// reverberating promises //
Perhaps it's the start of the year, that's why the words of my resolutions kept spinning in my mind.
I'm reminded of them every now and then.
Anyway, had a good badminton session today.
At least I still remembered how to serve and return the shuttlecock nicely.
Reminiscing about secondary school days makes me feel old.
Although I only shared half their memories.
It still feels I'm part of it.
Even though I may not play an important role in their lives.
I can still feel their longing for those good old days.
Sometimes, I wonder.
Of my friends.
Of my acquaintances.
Of the people whom I met once or twice.
Has my presence ever impact on their lives?
Or should I put it this way.
Have I ever made a positive impact on the lives of other people?
Afterall, most of the times, I have only appear in their lives once or twice.
At the most, a few years.
Even with those I have known for a number of years,
it doesn't matter if I am present.
Easily replaced.
Sad to say.
Causing zero impact makes me feels like not living for the past twenty years.
What have I been doing?
Except for worrying and taking care of myself.
And polishing off the world's resources.
The times to be self-centred has passed.
It's time to shower concern on other people.
Make an impact.
Initiate a change.
Meanwhile, I'm will also try to make positive changes to my GPA.
Perhaps it's the start of the year, that's why the words of my resolutions kept spinning in my mind.
I'm reminded of them every now and then.
Anyway, had a good badminton session today.
At least I still remembered how to serve and return the shuttlecock nicely.
Reminiscing about secondary school days makes me feel old.
Although I only shared half their memories.
It still feels I'm part of it.
Even though I may not play an important role in their lives.
I can still feel their longing for those good old days.
Sometimes, I wonder.
Of my friends.
Of my acquaintances.
Of the people whom I met once or twice.
Has my presence ever impact on their lives?
Or should I put it this way.
Have I ever made a positive impact on the lives of other people?
Afterall, most of the times, I have only appear in their lives once or twice.
At the most, a few years.
Even with those I have known for a number of years,
it doesn't matter if I am present.
Easily replaced.
Sad to say.
Causing zero impact makes me feels like not living for the past twenty years.
What have I been doing?
Except for worrying and taking care of myself.
And polishing off the world's resources.
The times to be self-centred has passed.
It's time to shower concern on other people.
Make an impact.
Initiate a change.
Meanwhile, I'm will also try to make positive changes to my GPA.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
// have faith, be resolute //
What makes people:
Excited for the last hour.
Cheer till the last minute.
Count down to the last second.
So you've guessed it!
Happy 2009!
To welcome the new year,
perhaps it's best to set personal resolutions.
For those of you who do set resolutions,
why did you choose to do so?
For me, at least, it is to welcome the new year with refreshed hopes and courage.
Resolutions are a way for me to challenge myself and to prove to myself that I have not spent the year in vain.
So what if I might try to carry them out for the first few months of the year and cleanly forgotten about them in the months that follow?
At least I had tried and also welcomed the new year in high spirits.
That's what matters to me, ultimately.
Over the previous years, I had set many resolutions which I have failed or at most fulfilled 50% of them.
And I think I have learnt an important lesson from it.
Resolutions which I have failed in carrying out are usually those which are beyond me.
What I mean, resolutions should be set to improve oneself, and not changing oneself.
I have always been a supporter of being true to oneself (looks familiar? =D)
and will keep doing so.
What sets each and every one of us apart really interests me.
The timid and the bold.
The saint and the criminal.
The rebellious and the obedient.
The stubborn and the submissive.
The extroverted and the introverted.
The healthy and the physically disabled.
The attention-seeking and the quiet.
The trendsetter and the follower.
The arrogant and the humble.
The normal and the weird.
As we label people accordingly, or should I simply say stereotype people,
perhaps we should be mindful that majority of the people falls within the range in-between.
For instance, one can appear timid under certain circumstances and appear courageous in other situations.
Whatever the case, I feel it is rather impossible to change a person's character thoroughly and there is no point in doing so unless he/she is causing harm to others in the society.
Therefore, I have learnt that we should seek to improve, and not change our original self.
Oh ya, I shall not sidetrack and proceed with writing my resolutions.
i
1. To be able to have the good fortune of attending the Tozan Pilgrimage to Head Temple in Japan by being able to overcome any obstacles that might arise.
2. Continued faith and increase buddhist knowledge.
3. To be able to be more tolerant and considerate towards my family.
4. To deepen my friendships. (by not pangseh-ing people, for a start =X)
5. Continue to strive for better results, despite whatever disappointments there might be.
6. To set aside time for exercise and fight off temptations of junk food.
7. To commit in volunteering at IMH.
8. To help my tutees achieve their fullest potential. ( Scold if need arise, give credit when its due)
9. Allocate time to pursue my interests in psychology, music and japanese language.
Last but not least, I hope everyone around me can enjoy good health and happiness for the rest of the year!
If I were to be able to fulfil each and every single of my resolutions, I could be place right at the top of Maslow's heirachy.
But nah, I know that's impossible.
But hopes are enough to keep people alive. =)
What makes people:
Excited for the last hour.
Cheer till the last minute.
Count down to the last second.
So you've guessed it!
Happy 2009!
To welcome the new year,
perhaps it's best to set personal resolutions.
For those of you who do set resolutions,
why did you choose to do so?
For me, at least, it is to welcome the new year with refreshed hopes and courage.
Resolutions are a way for me to challenge myself and to prove to myself that I have not spent the year in vain.
So what if I might try to carry them out for the first few months of the year and cleanly forgotten about them in the months that follow?
At least I had tried and also welcomed the new year in high spirits.
That's what matters to me, ultimately.
Over the previous years, I had set many resolutions which I have failed or at most fulfilled 50% of them.
And I think I have learnt an important lesson from it.
Resolutions which I have failed in carrying out are usually those which are beyond me.
What I mean, resolutions should be set to improve oneself, and not changing oneself.
I have always been a supporter of being true to oneself (looks familiar? =D)
and will keep doing so.
What sets each and every one of us apart really interests me.
The timid and the bold.
The saint and the criminal.
The rebellious and the obedient.
The stubborn and the submissive.
The extroverted and the introverted.
The healthy and the physically disabled.
The attention-seeking and the quiet.
The trendsetter and the follower.
The arrogant and the humble.
The normal and the weird.
As we label people accordingly, or should I simply say stereotype people,
perhaps we should be mindful that majority of the people falls within the range in-between.
For instance, one can appear timid under certain circumstances and appear courageous in other situations.
Whatever the case, I feel it is rather impossible to change a person's character thoroughly and there is no point in doing so unless he/she is causing harm to others in the society.
Therefore, I have learnt that we should seek to improve, and not change our original self.
Oh ya, I shall not sidetrack and proceed with writing my resolutions.
i
1. To be able to have the good fortune of attending the Tozan Pilgrimage to Head Temple in Japan by being able to overcome any obstacles that might arise.
2. Continued faith and increase buddhist knowledge.
3. To be able to be more tolerant and considerate towards my family.
4. To deepen my friendships. (by not pangseh-ing people, for a start =X)
5. Continue to strive for better results, despite whatever disappointments there might be.
6. To set aside time for exercise and fight off temptations of junk food.
7. To commit in volunteering at IMH.
8. To help my tutees achieve their fullest potential. ( Scold if need arise, give credit when its due)
9. Allocate time to pursue my interests in psychology, music and japanese language.
Last but not least, I hope everyone around me can enjoy good health and happiness for the rest of the year!
If I were to be able to fulfil each and every single of my resolutions, I could be place right at the top of Maslow's heirachy.
But nah, I know that's impossible.
But hopes are enough to keep people alive. =)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
// what do you believe in? //
Since young, I have always believed that whatever that happens is a result of our own actions.
In other words, our destiny is in our own hands.
However, as I grew older, I realised that the world is not so simple.
People's mentality change as they age.
Things which will happen happens and there's no control over it.
The mistakes we made will make us look back and realise the causes and how we could have prevented it but there's no way you could have known it beforehand.
So? is this called destiny?
Many encouraging phrases by famous philosophers, theologians, ex-world leaders, ex-US presidents...people who supposedly have weathered turmoils and turbulents.
"Failure is the mother of success"
"The process is more important than the result"
and so on. which I cannot think of at the moment.
If you win, you win. Could it be due to luck and destiny?
You lose, you lose. if you keep losing, it is wise that you accept that your are born loser.
Everyone knows to win is better than to lose.
But why are some people trying to prove the contradictory I have no idea.
Being sceptical, I cannot help but think they are simply phrases of self-consolation.
Since young, I have always believed that whatever that happens is a result of our own actions.
In other words, our destiny is in our own hands.
However, as I grew older, I realised that the world is not so simple.
People's mentality change as they age.
Things which will happen happens and there's no control over it.
The mistakes we made will make us look back and realise the causes and how we could have prevented it but there's no way you could have known it beforehand.
So? is this called destiny?
Many encouraging phrases by famous philosophers, theologians, ex-world leaders, ex-US presidents...people who supposedly have weathered turmoils and turbulents.
"Failure is the mother of success"
"The process is more important than the result"
and so on. which I cannot think of at the moment.
If you win, you win. Could it be due to luck and destiny?
You lose, you lose. if you keep losing, it is wise that you accept that your are born loser.
Everyone knows to win is better than to lose.
But why are some people trying to prove the contradictory I have no idea.
Being sceptical, I cannot help but think they are simply phrases of self-consolation.
Monday, December 29, 2008
//back from kenshu//
I'm finally back to my comfortable home after spending 3 days at my religion's student camp.
BAck to water heater, laptop and TV!
Oh and, just in time to check out my results.
I hate getting Cs!
REally.
I wonder if the day of not seeing any C in my results slips will ever come?
At the same time, I'm rather happy to get a A- for intro to psychology!
yea! =)
hmm..makes me wonder if i should take up a minor.
Just for interests' sake ?
But my core mods will surely suffer. maybe a couple more Cs next time.
OK I JUST HATE Cs.
Super frustrated cuz the subject I spent the MOST time on reaped a Ccccccc.
=(
Like I think I have blogged last time, I should have remembered to bring a watch to that killer exam!
Full of regrets now =(
Or else I could have gotten at least a B-?
Goal for next sem: To achieve grades higher than C for all the mods.
-YONG JA- GO- YONG GAN de NINJA!-
(my kenshu group)
I'm finally back to my comfortable home after spending 3 days at my religion's student camp.
BAck to water heater, laptop and TV!
Oh and, just in time to check out my results.
I hate getting Cs!
REally.
I wonder if the day of not seeing any C in my results slips will ever come?
At the same time, I'm rather happy to get a A- for intro to psychology!
yea! =)
hmm..makes me wonder if i should take up a minor.
Just for interests' sake ?
But my core mods will surely suffer. maybe a couple more Cs next time.
OK I JUST HATE Cs.
Super frustrated cuz the subject I spent the MOST time on reaped a Ccccccc.
=(
Like I think I have blogged last time, I should have remembered to bring a watch to that killer exam!
Full of regrets now =(
Or else I could have gotten at least a B-?
Goal for next sem: To achieve grades higher than C for all the mods.
-YONG JA- GO- YONG GAN de NINJA!-
(my kenshu group)
Sunday, December 21, 2008
// out and out //
It's the first time I watched a RM6 movie. It's sooo cheap i can't believe it.
However, the screen turned blur at several instances.
Luckily I could understand Jim Carrey.
Anyway, It's so comical that I was laughing until I was tearing.
Jim Carrey IS fantastic.
BE A YES MAN. lol.
Then, we went to the Ktv, which was more roomy than Singapore.
To top it off, we ended the trip by going for zhi-char style food.
Yea. I bought scones and egg tarts from 'Season' too.
Okay, back to Twilight.
Ya, a bit disappointing.
However, I must say that it won't be easy to convert such books on supernatural beings into a movie. The director probably had a headache trying to find a cast of convincing vampires.lol.
Oh well, I don't even know if I would watch the second instalment of the series when it comes out.
-Saturday-
I was late for the baking session with debbie and hui ling.
When I reached deb's place, she was squeezing some coffee cream mixture onto some buns while hl was rolling some dough.
Haha. Truth be told, it was the first time I went anywhere near the oven.
Deb is so pro and skilful with the dough whereas hl and I were struggling.haha.made some really awful ones.
Deb's mum came into the kitchen and asked us what was that (the awful-looking ones).
Haha. In the end, hl and I took our 'creations' home. 'Creations' that I'll rather not be proud of.
Aiya, too bad hl couldn't make it for the gathering due to a wedding dinner...but haha we know that she'll probably meet sy in korea.
And, yes, hl is going to korea with christabel and a few other uni friends.
Come to think of it, it was rather true.
I was expecting a buffet-style dinner, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw my ex-classmates seated in a restaurant style.
Complete with candles, nice music and elegant ambience.
In fact, jiayi's place is really elegant and nice.
Then we had to wait for andee for the gift exchange...and he appeared rather late =(
Lucky deb =X
Last week, I was kept busy slacking at home.
The following pic explains it.
The best thing was that I got to meet up with christy for a long-awaited sushi feast.
Bonus: Bolt
Was debating between watching bolt and 4christmases.
The bottomline: Pigeons are dumb. Don't be too naive.
Haha!
Eat like there's endless food.
Chat like there's no tomorrow =)
This week, it was rather fun as I visited new places.
-Sunday-
It's to explore quaint, suburban town of Yew Tee.
Hmm...I wonder why, but I developed a fondness for that place even though I have never really step foot on that place.
Usually I will need to travel past the mrt station to get to school.
I think it's rather special because it's a relatively quiet place linking between the rowdy Kranji race course and the equally crowded Chua Chu Kang.
And on sunday, I finally got to visit the Yew Tee central, which is nothing like a shopping centre.
But I've got to say, the chicken cutlet noodles from the food court's taiwan stall IS serioously delicious.
I mean.. yes the cutlet is crispy, but the noodles are superb.
I have never eaten such 'QQ' noodles, so full of bite and succulent.
It's a hidden treasure I managed to uncover. lol. =D
Anyway, I was thrown off the track by the thought of those noodles.
And not to mention, I especially like the view from weiqi's 16th storey unit!
Everything on the ground, every building faraway seems so minute.
I had a sudden feeling as though I was living in the clouds.
Ok, perhaps just a hallucination.lol.
And, haha, I couldn't believe it, I tried chiku for the first time.
I mean, I have heard about the fruit, maybe more than 10 times.
I remember, in primary school, the science questions sometimes involved classifying chiku in a Venn diagram or something like that.
And, when people want to name fruits after alphabets, they'll go..
A is for Apple.
B is for Bananas.
C is for Chikus....
Don't they?
They tasted quite nice and I couldn't believe my ears when meiting said there were chiku trees growing in aj and she used them in elementz lab last time.
Haha. I am such a frog in the well.
I checked with my mum and she certified that she have never bought them before.
I asked why?
"Last time in kampong, we used to eat alot of chikus and it was free, fresh from the trees. I see no reason to pay for it now. anyway, it's rather hard to find in supermarts"
What a reason.
Mystery solved.
Oh ya, I never read chinese books unless I'm required to.
But the book by Jimmy is really nice.
I feel like re-reading it.
Thanks, wq =)
-Monday-
It's the once-in-a-school-break ktv session with lynette, christabel and rou hua.
It's also the first time I heard someone I know (rh) singing jap songs.
Hmm..so pro =)
Lynette just came back from Taiwan and Christabel is going Korea.
It's like everyone's going overseas.
Hmm...rather envious because I have never been to those two countries before.
Hmm...rather envious because I have never been to those two countries before.
Out of nowhere, I formed some warped theory. lol
My (warped) theory:
If you have never been to a country and you heard your friends talking about going to that particular country.
Level of envy: 90%
If you have been to a country and enjoy being there, and you heard your friends talking about going to that particular country.
Level of envy: 70%
If you have been to a country and did not really enjoy being there, and you heard your friends talking about going to that particular country.
Level of envy: 10%
Level of envy: 10%
-Tuesday-
Went to the library to get some books.
I managed to borrow Neil Humphreys' Final notes from an island, and the latest CSI book.
And several Ian Rankin's mysteries.
-Wednesday-
It's another rare meet-up with my xinmin friends.
I finally had a chance to eat Ajisen Ramen for the first time.
The waitress at the square2 branch was especially helpful and nice.
She even offered us iced water when she noticed we finished our iced tea.
We also bought a small but pretty bouquet of roses for suyee.
The shop owner was especially kind to explain to us each kind of flower he used.
Baby's Breath- I finally know what it's called!
Went for suyee's chinese orchestra at nyp.
The conductor is so charming! omigosh.
He even interact with the audience by asking us to clap or say 'ee-haw' whenever he points his baton at us during the song.
I especially enjoyed the Beatles's medley. and the 'ju hua tai' too!
All those never-die classics.
A 'western styled' chinese orchestra,
that's what I can say.
-Thursday-
It's the MSE gang's one-day trip to Malaysia.
It's the MSE gang's one-day trip to Malaysia.
Of course when we're there, we have to take advantage of the low exchange rate and go for anything that is cheaper than in Singapore.
It's the first time I watched a RM6 movie. It's sooo cheap i can't believe it.
However, the screen turned blur at several instances.
And there were only chinese and malay subtitles.
Luckily I could understand Jim Carrey.
Anyway, It's so comical that I was laughing until I was tearing.
Jim Carrey IS fantastic.
BE A YES MAN. lol.
Then, we went to the Ktv, which was more roomy than Singapore.
In fact, I think it's because Malaysia has much more land than Singapore, that's why I find
everything there is larger than Singapore, take shopping centres as a common example.
To top it off, we ended the trip by going for zhi-char style food.
I tried the fried cereal crayfish..weird combi but tasty nontheless.
I think their stir-fried baby kailan is fresher than what you can find in Singapore.
I think their stir-fried baby kailan is fresher than what you can find in Singapore.
After being to Malaysia so many times, I seriously think their veggies are fresher and tastier than Singapore's.
If Singaporean kids do not like veggies, who knows? trying them in Malaysia might just change their mind about greens.
Yea. I bought scones and egg tarts from 'Season' too.
A must-buy!
-Friday-
Paid S$6 to find out the hype about Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series.
Sometimes, it's good to be a student.
You can just flash your ez-link card to be entitled to many discounts.
Haha. The econs term is 'price discrimination'.
Anyway, next time when I graduate... everything and everywhere will be adult-priced
and the best (and cheapest) entertainment is probably renting dvds to watch at home.
Oops..i sound like NO MAN.lol.
Okay, back to Twilight.
Even though I have never read the book before, I had this feeling that the book would be much more interesting than the movie.
Ya, a bit disappointing.
I think it's rather bland and unconvincing.
However, I must say that it won't be easy to convert such books on supernatural beings into a movie. The director probably had a headache trying to find a cast of convincing vampires.lol.
Oh well, I don't even know if I would watch the second instalment of the series when it comes out.
-Saturday-
I was late for the baking session with debbie and hui ling.
When I reached deb's place, she was squeezing some coffee cream mixture onto some buns while hl was rolling some dough.
Haha. Truth be told, it was the first time I went anywhere near the oven.
Deb is so pro and skilful with the dough whereas hl and I were struggling.haha.made some really awful ones.
Anyway, Deb encouraged us and we made some nice ones. Nice ones that can be showed at the party.
Deb's mum came into the kitchen and asked us what was that (the awful-looking ones).
hl and I was, like, hmm..those are our 'creations'. I guess those were really beyond recognition =X
Haha. In the end, hl and I took our 'creations' home. 'Creations' that I'll rather not be proud of.
Aiya, too bad hl couldn't make it for the gathering due to a wedding dinner...but haha we know that she'll probably meet sy in korea.
And, yes, hl is going to korea with christabel and a few other uni friends.
Haha. Singapore is indeed very small. Two of my friends who didn't know each other earlier on ended up in the same course.
Anyway, I was late for the gathering as I had to go home to shower and change.
Mel said something like, my presence is a once-in-a-year phenomena.
Come to think of it, it was rather true.
Anyway, it would suffice for me.
I was expecting a buffet-style dinner, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw my ex-classmates seated in a restaurant style.
But it was rather nice, I might as well describe it as alfreso-dining style.
Complete with candles, nice music and elegant ambience.
In fact, jiayi's place is really elegant and nice.
No doubt it was not easy organising a pot-luck party and I thought jiayi and suelynn did a nice job =)
Then we had to wait for andee for the gift exchange...and he appeared rather late =(
I think those of us taking public transport were at the risk of missing our last buses and trains.
Perhaps it was worth it because he was up to his (un)usual antics, I think everyone present yesterday will definitely remember what he bought for the gift exchange.lol.
Lucky deb =X
Friday, December 05, 2008
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
//back from KL //
Actually our mini getaway was to my uncle's house in KL.
Oh and can you believe it, his house is so near to Zoo Negara, Malaysia's national zoo.
I mean, in Singapore, our zoo is at such a ulu place where nobody stays.
In KL, however, you can find residentials near the zoo.
According to my uncle, the animals there are underfed and malnourished, so we did not visit the zoo.
The nice part of it is that we could see giraffes walking about the back of the house. (of course there were fences)
The downside is that we could hear threatening lion roars and elephant screeches.
Not to mention the pungent smell of animal manure occasionally drifts into the house.
yucks.
lol.
Other than indulging in shopping, the highlight of the trip is going up the Petronas Twin Tower!
Actually, we just went up to the skybridge at the 41st floor. (The whole tower is about 81 storeys high)
Of course it isn't the highest in Asia already. (Taiwan's 101 building has taken over)
My mum and aunt kept saying the skybridge was swaying but I didn't feel any movement.
Perhaps it's all in their mind la.
Anyway, when the staff showed us some introductory video about the Petronas company, my sis and I felt it was so ironic.
Just one day ago, my uncle drove to a petrol station to pump his car but guess what?
The station staff said there was no petrol!
haha first time we're seeing a petrol station with no petrol for sale.
And it was not only one petrol station but the whole stretch of petrol stations.
Shell had no petrol, neither had Exon Mobil, Petronas or Berhad BHD.
It was until we reach the second Petronas station when there was finally a few pumping stations with petrol.
Later in the day when we went to this Jusco shopping centre, electricity was down when I was trying on some shoes.
The whole shopping centre was thrown into darkness save for a few dim lights in the department store.
All the other shops was in pitch darkness.
If there were dishonest people or thieves around, they could probably get a really fat loot.
As my uncle says, "Malaysia, no petrol, no electricity"
Another thing to mention is their confusing LRT systems.
At one platform, there can be two trains travelling in two different lines.
The catch is to look at the words shown on the front of the first cabin.
At first we did not know about this and caught the wrong train twice!
There was no different colour codes or whatsoever.
haha and I couldn't make any sense out of the malay words.
In Singapore, our LRT trains are colour-coded yet so many people still took the wrong one.
Are we so pampered?
By the way, the traffic conditions in KL is terrible, with jams everywhere.
Sometimes, the lights only allowed time for two cars to drive through.
I really admire the drivers there who have special adaptations abilities.
To avoid such long queues of cars, many of them skilfully did a U-turn, albeit illegally.
Anyway, knowing the kind of traffic police they have, most likely there will be no penalty.
Pedestrains are really bold to cross the roads in front of snaking queues of cars.
And the drivers are good at estimating the distance between the car and pedestrain to avoid knocking them down and at the same time move in the queue swiftly.
Overall, it's not too bad an experience, except for the fact that the bus operator cheated our feelings and money. They promised to let us alight at Kovan bus terminal but just before the Woodlands checkpoint came the annoucement that all will be getting down at woodlands checkpoint as the bus will not be going through the custom.
I bet that driver did not have a malaysian passport. (which by the way cost RM300)
That explains why we were issued new bus tickets (when we had already got on the bus) which was imprinted with RM 39 instead of the RM50 we paid.
Great. they have destroyed any evidence that we could use for lodging a complaint.
Having taken a 830pm bus, we were left stranded at wdl checkpoint at 2am.
What a nice end to the journey.
Actually our mini getaway was to my uncle's house in KL.
Oh and can you believe it, his house is so near to Zoo Negara, Malaysia's national zoo.
I mean, in Singapore, our zoo is at such a ulu place where nobody stays.
In KL, however, you can find residentials near the zoo.
According to my uncle, the animals there are underfed and malnourished, so we did not visit the zoo.
The nice part of it is that we could see giraffes walking about the back of the house. (of course there were fences)
The downside is that we could hear threatening lion roars and elephant screeches.
Not to mention the pungent smell of animal manure occasionally drifts into the house.
yucks.
lol.
Other than indulging in shopping, the highlight of the trip is going up the Petronas Twin Tower!
Actually, we just went up to the skybridge at the 41st floor. (The whole tower is about 81 storeys high)
Of course it isn't the highest in Asia already. (Taiwan's 101 building has taken over)
My mum and aunt kept saying the skybridge was swaying but I didn't feel any movement.
Perhaps it's all in their mind la.
Anyway, when the staff showed us some introductory video about the Petronas company, my sis and I felt it was so ironic.
Just one day ago, my uncle drove to a petrol station to pump his car but guess what?
The station staff said there was no petrol!
haha first time we're seeing a petrol station with no petrol for sale.
And it was not only one petrol station but the whole stretch of petrol stations.
Shell had no petrol, neither had Exon Mobil, Petronas or Berhad BHD.
It was until we reach the second Petronas station when there was finally a few pumping stations with petrol.
Later in the day when we went to this Jusco shopping centre, electricity was down when I was trying on some shoes.
The whole shopping centre was thrown into darkness save for a few dim lights in the department store.
All the other shops was in pitch darkness.
If there were dishonest people or thieves around, they could probably get a really fat loot.
As my uncle says, "Malaysia, no petrol, no electricity"
Another thing to mention is their confusing LRT systems.
At one platform, there can be two trains travelling in two different lines.
The catch is to look at the words shown on the front of the first cabin.
At first we did not know about this and caught the wrong train twice!
There was no different colour codes or whatsoever.
haha and I couldn't make any sense out of the malay words.
In Singapore, our LRT trains are colour-coded yet so many people still took the wrong one.
Are we so pampered?
By the way, the traffic conditions in KL is terrible, with jams everywhere.
Sometimes, the lights only allowed time for two cars to drive through.
I really admire the drivers there who have special adaptations abilities.
To avoid such long queues of cars, many of them skilfully did a U-turn, albeit illegally.
Anyway, knowing the kind of traffic police they have, most likely there will be no penalty.
Pedestrains are really bold to cross the roads in front of snaking queues of cars.
And the drivers are good at estimating the distance between the car and pedestrain to avoid knocking them down and at the same time move in the queue swiftly.
Overall, it's not too bad an experience, except for the fact that the bus operator cheated our feelings and money. They promised to let us alight at Kovan bus terminal but just before the Woodlands checkpoint came the annoucement that all will be getting down at woodlands checkpoint as the bus will not be going through the custom.
I bet that driver did not have a malaysian passport. (which by the way cost RM300)
That explains why we were issued new bus tickets (when we had already got on the bus) which was imprinted with RM 39 instead of the RM50 we paid.
Great. they have destroyed any evidence that we could use for lodging a complaint.
Having taken a 830pm bus, we were left stranded at wdl checkpoint at 2am.
What a nice end to the journey.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thursday, November 06, 2008
// I dunno why //
I dunno why some people want to run away from familiar stuff.
people like me.
familiar stuff like places, people and food.
I always tend to complain and feel bored when
I been to familiar places, see familiar face, eat familiar food
but when it's gone
feelings of regrets just overwhelm
why I didn't cherish it in the first place.
some people have a admirable life.
yet they still complain.
some people are worse off.
yet they still need to listen to such complains.
and pretend to empathise.
Is there fairness?
some people are born to manipulate people and use them for their own benefits.
some people are born to be used and manipulated.
Is it true?
some questions about life doesn't have an answer.
some facts of life I'll never understand.
------------------------------------------
two posts in a day that don't make any sense.
enough la, you!
I dunno why some people want to run away from familiar stuff.
people like me.
familiar stuff like places, people and food.
I always tend to complain and feel bored when
I been to familiar places, see familiar face, eat familiar food
but when it's gone
feelings of regrets just overwhelm
why I didn't cherish it in the first place.
some people have a admirable life.
yet they still complain.
some people are worse off.
yet they still need to listen to such complains.
and pretend to empathise.
Is there fairness?
some people are born to manipulate people and use them for their own benefits.
some people are born to be used and manipulated.
Is it true?
some questions about life doesn't have an answer.
some facts of life I'll never understand.
------------------------------------------
two posts in a day that don't make any sense.
enough la, you!
//whines//
next week.
econs and ms 2008.
ms 2008 the killer paper.
set by prof wang the genius.
i'll be killed.
why?
electrons.
such a small thing yet matters so much to my grades.
I dun understand why ntu doesn't give any study break.
Time. I'm lacking it.
Boo.
Still have so many chapters to go.
I'm also lacking in memory.
Think I only have 1gb the most.
how.how.
oh, I almost forgot to mention my econs mcq test.
80%
And I SUed the subject.
great huh.
but I can't slack for econs.
becuz the past year exam papers have shown it to be another difficult paper.
papers full of application qns will definitely kill me.
somemore, my memory retention power is really bad.
I forgot 70% of what I studied for the test.
I think I did the right choice to SU it after all.
next week.
econs and ms 2008.
ms 2008 the killer paper.
set by prof wang the genius.
i'll be killed.
why?
electrons.
such a small thing yet matters so much to my grades.
I dun understand why ntu doesn't give any study break.
Time. I'm lacking it.
Boo.
Still have so many chapters to go.
I'm also lacking in memory.
Think I only have 1gb the most.
how.how.
oh, I almost forgot to mention my econs mcq test.
80%
And I SUed the subject.
great huh.
but I can't slack for econs.
becuz the past year exam papers have shown it to be another difficult paper.
papers full of application qns will definitely kill me.
somemore, my memory retention power is really bad.
I forgot 70% of what I studied for the test.
I think I did the right choice to SU it after all.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
I think obama is going to win! =)
Change, we need.
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/
Change, we need.
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/
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