Back to blogging

My last post was in 2009. And now its already 2012! 3yrs! 3yrs have past just like that. I'm shocked at how time flies. Now and then, I think many things have changed. I shall start to blog again and write some interesting and entertaining stuffs.

Its never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, start whenever you want, you can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that stop you. I hope you feel things that you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.

Curious case of Benjamin Buttons

Meaningful words that enrich lives. As people trouble over the issues of the materialistic world, one the centralises on profits, gains, and money, I seek comfort to my soul. I'm not living a life I'm proud of. I'm gathering the strength to start all over again. To meet people that change my perspective, to advance beyond the nutshell I have cast for myself. To move forward.

The truth about Chinese New Year

CNY is the joyous occassion of get together. The lively music and the crowded atmosphere creates the appealing factor for a gathering. Afterall, how often relatives get to meet each other and catch up? Little children excited about their hong baos, and you get to eat the new year goodies available only once a year.

I have been through this festive season as many times as I have till this age. CNY has lost its attractive appeal to me. It's just another day. Just another average day.

Get into the mood of new year! It deserves much better than this. Hope my friends can light up the mood of new year at my place. New Year is incomplete without er shi yi dian. My tea leaves are overflowing in my cupboard. My red wine still stands. Help me solve the problem by clearing them.

Let us make merry and enjoy the goodness of life!

The best therapy to offer for one who is in the danger of depression, is to be given a talk cock therapy. Talking helps, somehow, I cannot understand as well. The patient is allowed to talk about anything, be it illogical, irrational and gibberish nonsense. It may not make sense to anyone, but the patient feels good about it. Here, the patient is most relaxed as he is not judged for the things he have said.

Subtracting the stress factor of being scrutinised for his words, a talk cock therapy is practised and tested to work.

Another round of talk cock therapy? Yes, please!

And I wonder how have you been?

I guess I have understood what's it all about.

Procrastination has done its damage.

Do I deserve a second chance to overcome my deepest fears and doubts?

My job requires me to read. This should be a pleasurable experience. But its my job. It's my work. Reading is fun no longer applies. Activities are only fun when you have the luxury to do as and when you feel like it. At the end of the day, I'm expected to deliver something out of it. To conduct booktalking, to write book reviews within a given period of time. I cannot afford to read at my own pace, I cannot mince the words and appreciate the delivery of their fantastic stories.

There is a clear distinction between interest and work. I never like to mingle the two together. It can never be. Some people can. My deepest and sincere reverence to them. When interest become work, it is no longer the same. I cannot understand the devotion and passion people have for their jobs. It seems work is all they have and all to life. I never will.

At this point of time, the dream manifests itself again and tempts me once more. I shall have a piece of land, in a quaint nice peaceful outskirts of chengdu, to lead a hard to resist idyllic life. I shall plant my crops and tea and be self-sufficient.

At times, I will invite my friends over for some tea. We can drink tea for the whole day, and the society forgets our existence. Then, when I feel like it, I shall leave my hut and travel to see the four great mountains of sichuan.

After that, I will travel further to Lu Shan and see if I can discover the true form of Lu Shan. For a poet once said that Lu Shan grandness is surreal and it mystifies itself by concealing its true nature. Perhaps I might gain some kind of enlightening of my own and write another poem which no one will hear of once i compose it. Alas, I wish the society forgets about me and I too forget about the human society.

Veronika decides to die

Paulo Coelho does it again, after "The Alchemist" that has left a lasting impression, Coelho's work with deep philosophical meaning has left me inspired and rejuvenated. Veronika, a beautiful and young women, who has everything that one could not ask for more, a good career, good parents, youth, has decided to put an end to life after finding life to be mundane and repetitive.

Veronika wants to be a pianist, but her loving mom wants her to grow up to do something else, lawyer... something that can earn more, so that she can have a comfortable life. But Veronika cannot refuse this, for her mother love her so, and she has to acede, with the moral obligation that she would hurt her mother if she refuse to. This is a inner conflict of what everyone else expects you to do and what you really want to do.

It is a sad tale, at the start the build-up to Veronika's decision to die, but things took a change when her attempt failed. Landed in a asylum, she started to love life again but only because her remaining life span is left with a couple of days.

Its the only book after Romance of the three kingdom that I couldn't stop. I just had to finish it once i started. Although Tuesaday with Morrie, Kite Runner are excellent books as well, I have to rank this above the rest.

tml is the reopening of cck library. I like the new books and the new environment. It looks cosy and comfortable. The smell and feel of the new books is fantastic. However, i'm not looking forward to tml. Hope it will be over soon. The need to do a library tour for the MP of Hong Kah GRC, CE and director spooks me all over. All the big shots, I never liked to talk to people of high authority status. I just don't. When I was teaching, I try to siam away from the P and the VPs. Go TV and radio talk talk is no issue. Make me play solo for concert, I will be glad to. This, I just can't. They should just shoot me instead of making me go through this. Oh for Zhuang zhi's sake, save me from my greatest fear!

Adventure on Bukit Timah Road, Adams Road, PIE, Newton Circus, CTE, SLE and Ang Mo Kio Central!!!


So much for my long-winded title. I will remember this for the rest of my life, my misadvanture over the weekend. I was lucky to make it back home in one piece, after getting lost along the roads of Singapore.

There is so much thrill to getting lost and not knowing where you are, wat road next to take. Its one hell of a experience that is unforgettable. The lessons you learn from it will etched in my memory for as long as I live. Two things: always plan your route with the street directory, ask your friends for the road if not sure before setting off! Next always have a street directory with you.

For some reason, I decided to take the family car to orchard to meet a friend. Not realising what is in stored for me, I happily start the engine and get off to a smooth start. Driving is nothing, after going for go-karts, without my family's presence, i was taking a smooth cruise.

Now the whole hellish experience started when i took wrong turns, I was totally relying on my memory on the turns and roads and what nots. It turns out that i was wrong.

I took a wrong turn and ended up in adams road. Damn shit, getting to orchard was the last thing on my mind. No fucking shit idea where the hell i'm heading. Getting home is also a uncertainity.

Driving aimlessly, I had to make decisions and choices. Every turn i make, every road i ended up, every highway i'm travelling on becomes extremely crucial. Plus, the adrenaline boost comes when my fuel indicator shows that i have a quarter tank left. I have no idea how much more distance i can travel. My first time driving by myself, and coming to think about it, I was pretty brave to wanna drive on that day.

Putting myself into such a situation, I had to think fast. I was on CTE, things look bad, i'm travelling to ang mo kio, to the central instead. I figured out that I must make the nearest exit and asked for directions and get some gas. That turns out to be the right choice.

I was in a totally unfarmiliar place. I was in Ang Mo Kio central. I saw lots of coffee shops. I have to stop at one and ask for directions.

Two things, where is the petrol kiosk and what highway to get to go back to BKE?

The directions given were not exact. You have to be really observant and alert. I was told to drive straight but it turns out that the kiosk is at the other side of the road, I had to take a u-turn to get there.

Here comes Mr Bean episode, At the petrol Kiosk! The attendent alerted me that the cover of the fuel tank is locked. I saw my father pulled a lever or something before, but I had the slightest idea where it was. I started pulling everything that could be pulled. That includes the engine hood lever, which suddenly flung itself to life. Folllowed by the seat rest, which sways backwards with my weight on it. Everything else moves, except the stubborn tank cover. I could see the stare and bewilderment from the attendent, who might probably doubt if I own the car. I won't be surprised if they start whispering among themselves, with one of them hastily making his way for the phone and the next minute, the police sirens roars and i'm arrested for car theft. What could be funnier if the police officer who steps out of the car is my friend, Officer Chen? He could laugh so much that he starts rolling on the floor and give me an escort home.

That was it. I had to get home. Forget about orchard road. I was on SLE, thanks to more confirmation from other people. SLE is pretty straighforward. I just to go straight all the way, not to be fooled by any other exits that pops out unless its BKE.

The first thing I did on monday, was to get the fucking street directory. With a traumatic experience like that, I would never want to get lost again. And I'm sulky that i couldn't get to orchard. I couldn't take that kind of failure and humiliation so I shall take on the roads again one day and get to orchard. But at least, if someone ever wants to meet me at Ang Mo kio, I had no problems going there. All I have to do is to take the wrong turn at Newton round-about.

More self-discipline please!

I have to remind myself, on my blog to maintain and keep up my self-discipline. Procrastination, laziness and punctuality is my three key weaknesses. I seem to enjoy piling up my work and using MSN at work. This is damn bad. Please scold me if any of you see me online during working hours. I have work to do actually but I just can't help myself but go online and chitty chatty. This bad habit carries forward from NUS days and still manifests itself until this very day. No MSN! No MSN! No more MSN during office hours. Listen music instead if feel the urge to log on. No more MSN! Hoping that I can psycho myself with this entry.

Until recently, yes, I highlight that it was at such a late phase of life, that I have a taste and experience of what happens behind closed door, closed doors of the chitty-chatty among the lovely ladies.

One thing that I'm aware of, is of how girls talk much more than guys. The fascinating discovery of the variety of conversational topics is as great as Fleming's discovery of penicillin to me.

We guys, I mean among my guy friends, our rather constricted scope of small talk, will revolve around how Ronaldo dribbles and scores. Our faces slapped with disappoinment, as we talk about another major upset, Arsenal losing to Stoke City. Then there will be a moment of silence, as we slip down our favourite ale. Oh yes, german light brew is soothing, try brewerkz too, they have got great beer. Guys like me need a moment of silence, where we get to enjoy just being out there, in a pub, drinking. We can't talk all the time, filling every single minute, every single second. Enough of the chat, let me savour my tantalizing ale, please.

I have every reason to believe that our right hemisphere of the brain, involved in speech, is not as developed our female counter-parts. I look at the econ-mini mart auntie at the void deck next block. And she becomes my criteria to judge how gossipy a women can be. In her forties, with her black framed glasses, everything seems to be be interesting to talk about. One thing, she's got a big mouth, i mean literally, like Mo Xiao Ling. So big mouth really carries that negative connoctation, as in a big mouth person, is really "big mouthed". Everytime I see a person who fits the econ auntie, the bearing and her appearance, I can safely conclude that they are of the same class of elites.

Our dearest female counterparts possess such acute observational skills and verbal capacity to talk at such details. I admire such talents, sincerely from the bottom of my heart. Their eye catch such fine details that would have escaped my eye, and they actually remembered it. Recollecting the event itself seems like it happened a few mins ago, even if it could have been a couple of months. Ask them to write a book, I think no problem on that.

Scientists should develop that acumen too, for them to make more interesting discovery. Such fine skills could take me a life-time to perfect.

The importance of having more than one computer

As much as I thought, computers are not as incredible as it seems to be. The promise to deliver is to be not taken for granted. Computers are invented by humans, and how far can it go with that in mind? Humans make mistakes too, and we should be more forgiving to computers.

Always have a back-up, this is one valuable lesson not to be forgotten. With one desktop and a laptop, a office PC, external hardrive and a thumbdrive, things should go pretty well.

My home desktop keeps displaying the CMOS at start-up. The time and date gets reset everytime I shut down my computer. My internet browser turns nasty and mean, displaying a window saying that the certificate of the website is outdated and denies my access. When did the culture of Singaporeans reverence for certification qualification became so pervasive? Even IE 7 is demanding for certificates nowadays! I think the site only has up to O-level, that's why I can't access. That is a great insult to MSN messenger mail. It is one of the many sites that pops up the irritating obstruction.

My virus scans detects a vital software as a virus, a crime as heinous as calling a guy who just done llife-saving CPR on you a leacher.

Owing to computers, we have new job opportunities for maintainence, making sure it works all well and runs smooth.

Remember to extend your warranty on computer products to 3 yrs instead of one. Saves you lots of trouble to buy a new one every year!

The last thing I want to hear from myself is that I'm exhausted by work. I will never want work to dominate my life at this point of time. Not to say i want to slack, but exhaustion means overwork. That's not the kind of life it should be. Its a crazy mentality out there. Overwork=That's the way it should be. Tired from work=Good.

"How's work?"

"So far so good."

"Good, can give you more work."

"..........."

Next time I will say:"Wah, very stress ah.. so much work to do ah...wah i'm working to my limit. My hands r tied leh...."

I needed that kind of therapy. Feeling tired and lethargic, it was nice and worthwhile trip to east coast park. Though distant, I like the sea breeze, the beach, the sea itself and the waves. I have always enjoyed to just watch what people are doing. That's call idling, and my neighbour's cat does that all the time.

Every morning, when I just step off my house, the orange felline can be seen at the door, lying and watching me from the comfort of its mat. It observed my every movement with its rather large eyes, and it looked relaxed. Perhaps that explains the affinity and attraction I have for cats. They seem like one of the creatures which know how to slack and be lazy.

I spent half my day at east coast, loving every minute of it. I felt so much more rejuvenated and energised after that. Ever more ready to get back to work.

I abused my way with words, twist and turn it into some grandeur and magnificent. what insanity to cover up nudity as art. wa ha ha


the curvature and serpentine figure is of the rite degree to offer aesthetic pleasure.......
her pose is natural and yet evocative.
there r many modes of connecting oneself to the soul of the art. one would be via the sense of touch, that we find ourselves drawn to the richness and deptness of the masterpiece.

Hell lot of nonsense

tml morning 97.2fm radio talk show. Its with fen ying again, this time i'm more prepared, i noe what to do, and i noe how its gonna be like. My superior wants me to be media specialist. No issue, just go on and keep on trying until I got the hang of it. Surely, it gets better with more tries. Its coming fri and i'm running out of steam. I need to go to keat hong for recharging. And of course the Xiao Yao You concert! Some alcohol will just do fine to end the nite.

On beauty and appreciating beauty

What defines beauty and what not defines beauty? What is beautiful and what is ugly? This is one of the burning questions I have always habour. I cannot understand how a piece of art or visual specatacle is defined and judged upon. It is subjective, some say but then the question remains unsolved. Is it pleasing to the eye. If you find something pleasing, it is beautiful? So what makes it pleasing. John Armstrong provides some insightful claims to the notion of beauty. Well put across, John claims that beauty is recognised yet so elusive as we try to describe the beauty. So the nature of beauty may not be put across in words so easily. Maybe not.

John's work attempts to instill clarity and explainations to the notion of beauty, enabling us to appreciate beauty. His book put across certain theories proposed by the intellectuals of the past. Pythagoras, clearly impressed by numbers and figures, talks about proportion as the nature of beauty. A certain degree of curvage can be seen as beauty. Functionality can be beauty too. But no perfect theory that fits all observations.

The beauty of John's work, as I came to appreciate, is his attempt to explain subjectivity in appreciating art. Well constructed with such clarity, like a crystal clear lake that allows one to see to the bottom of things, I'm deeply impressed and satisfied with his theory. That subjectivity, the taste of arts, of why different people have different opinion of a piece of artwork, is rather based on a person's character and his perception of things. now the perception of things is not simply reduced to subjectivity, of how different people have different views on things but in terms of his trained eye for details. as he explains, Some people are sensitive, the eye captures details whereas some do not. those who can, spot the details in the object is able to capture the essence and to understand the piece. those who dont merely pass it off and cease to appreciate the work. To appreciate, one must look close enough, hard enough, look for the details: the balance and mixture of colours, the lines and curvatures, the background and the foreground. The emotion and the expression of the protraits can be expressed through the eye and the posture of the character.

With the Singapore Biennale ongoing, I'm rather keen to be on a lookout for the exhibits. Yet contemporary art is something rather new to me. The experience to this new untouched field is going to be interesting . not to say that i have become a qualified critique overnite but I can say that Armstrong's theories is good enough to me to craft some new means of appreciation. I will look forward to the surprises installed for the visitors.

Xia suay now better than xia suay when u r a lao jiao. That's what I live by. In the past, I really dread making mistakes and so avoid certain situations when I will be prone to making mistake. No use one, still the problem will surface sooner or later. Tml, I will be the speaker for a short talk. Big boss around, nvm... just go and show face, talk nonsense and speak gibberish. If I embarass myself, just take it la. At nite, go drink, get drunk, go and puke, forget everything... next day a fresh and brand new day.

Ah yah, 97.2 FM again ah.... talk cock, sing song again loh...

Y am i writing like that today, har? Crazy man!

Many a times, its the simple stories that touch the hearts. I share a story that I heard from a workshop. And this moving story touches me deeply.

Its master Professor Ueno, loves Hachiko alot. "Good Dog, Hachiko. You are the best dog in the all of Japan."

Everyday, Hachiko sees Professor Ueno off to work at the Shibuya Station and would return to the station to accompany Professor Ueno returning from work. What a smart dog Hachiko is!

But one day, Professor Ueno did not come back from work. Haciko waits and waits, only for the station master to chase him away. Hachiko comes back the next day again to wait for Professor Ueno.

Hachiko waits. Professor Ueno had died of a heart attack at work. Hachiko does not understand. All he knows is that Professor Ueno knock off at 3pm so without fail, Hachiko waits faithfully for his return.

Not even Yasuo, the young boy who takes care of Hachiko could convince Hachiko.

Now 10 yrs has past, Hachiko waits. And he died on that very spot, where he waited for Professor Ueno, at the Shibuya station.

Hachiko shows us the very gems of life: loyalty, devotion and love. So rare it is, so precious this is that it moves us deeply and touch our heart. People at the station all knew about Hachiko's tale. They decided to build a monument to commerate him. I heard that couples in Japan propose in front of Hachiko's statue. If ever I have a chance to go Japan, I must go to the Shibuya station to see for myself Hachiko's statue.

Hmmm...... wonder what r some of the stuffs i can do after work to occupy myself. I don't really like the idea of watching tv to sleep. Some kind of excercise should be good. Its not tat easy to find sports khaki nowadays. Trekking, cycling, swimming, tennis? It's tricky. This are mostly day sports. Is there something known as nite sports? Also quite boring to do sports alone loh.........