And so... In the last and final session of the TIPS course, we learnt about relationships.

There are 4 phases to a relationship and they are "Getting started", Development, Maintenance and Termination. Most of us will not have a problem with the "Getting Started" stage as it is the basis of each relationship. However, most of us might have a problem with the development and maintenance of a relationship. The development of a relationship will decide how far you regard a person (as a close friend or an acquaintance) and when you go pass that stage, it is how you maintain this relationship that determines its future.

Sometimes, I really don't know which direction each friendship is heading because you don't know how the other party is feeling or thinking and sometimes paranoia kicks in to make matters worst. Sometimes the other party seems to treat you differently compared to the past and you read it as a friendship going downhill. I guess it all depends on how much you trust this friendship and how much you treasure it that helps in the development. During the discussion at TIPS, the facilitator was saying that if somehow one starts to ignore you or becomes hostile to you all of a sudden, just let go of that friendship and end it nicely. Because there is no point holding on to it and make your life miserable just because that person doesn't seem to want to carry on with the friendship anymore. Yes, true if its an acquaintance. But then again, what if its a friend whom you really treasure a lot? Someone who has been with you through thick and thin, someone who has been your best pal for a very long time? It ain't easy letting go of this friendship if things become worst.

Oh well... I guess its time to change ourselves if our attitude and character is not helping a friendship at all. Of course, a person should not change himself just to fit in or please a someone else. However, if he is behaving like a childish idiot, its high time that he wake up his idea and change for the better (not directing this to anyone at all...). Sigh... I guess I'm holding on to friendship too tightly and I'm not giving myself any breathing space. But I seriously don't want to give up any friendship that I treasure. Oh well, like what I've said, I will just have to have faith in them and not worry... Trust in God is also important...

Anyway, Choon, Chase and I met up today for a meal before Chase enters the forbbiden land this coming Friday. We went to the Singapore Art Museum to take a look and the art pieces there are definitely intriguing and interesting. Each art piece left us deep in thought. Of course, me, being the one who is not artistically(if there is such a word) inclined, just enjoyed the beauty of the artpieces, not so much of the thinking. But its definitely an interesting trip.

Met my family at Marina Square after that. Somehow, it feels as though half of Singapore has decided to visit Suntec City today for the IT fair. Its scary to see people squeezing through the over head bridge leading to Suntec. For a moment there, I thought the bridge was going to collapse... Its so crowded that the queue started from escalator which leads to the over head bridge from City link mall (or even way before that...). Luckily there wasn't stampede or anything... muahahaha...

Alrighty, service at church today is definitely very enlightening. Great great great!!! =) Shall end here by posting a few photos taken today...

In my previous TIPS workshop session, I have learnt how to be a good listener, speaker and how to be assertive. And it was then that I realised that my smile can actually scare people.............. I was asked to show the group how I will open a conversation with a complete stranger using the skills which I've learnt. It turned out that my smile sort of intimidated the guy... haha... I've got nothing to say. Some people don't mind the smile while somewill suspect that you are up to something when you smile. I guess I am who I am and I must learn to do the right things at the right time.

Anyway, we played this message relay game during that session and the result was hilarious. This is the orignal message:

Mary's mother has 3 dogs. They are named Piggie, Winnie and Chicky. Piggie and Chicky are males while Winnie is a female. Last week, Mary took Winnie and Chicky for a walk in the park. One hour later, Mary realised that Winnie was missing.

The last person received the message as:

Mary has 3 dogs. They are named Beaky, Vicky and Chinny. Beaky and Chinny are males while Vicky is a female. One day, marry took beaky for a walk.

Hmmmmmm.... The power of communication. The lesson learnt is that we must not be afraid to ask again if we are not sure about the message we have received. If somehow, we did not listen to the message or orders given to us properly, it may give rise to many problems which we might not be able to handle.

Before leaving, I must say that I'm proud to be a MERIDIAN!!! WOOTS!! The previous batch did extremely well for the A levels! 300 plus triple A students and 80 plus 4 As students. Double the number we had for the previous batch!! Woohoo!!! So proud of my juniors =) Meridian rocks my socks! Oh well... Thinking about how my juniors did and looking through last year's college annual, it kind of made me miss my college days a lot... Sigh sigh...

I love my family to bits! There will be never ending drama with my mother's sisters around. Recently, they have been discussing about my uncle's business and that i guess that topic will stay for quite some time. Their animated speeches will never fail to crack me up. My poor cousins have to listen to the stories over and over again because my aunt will repeat the same speech to all 4 sisters... How how interesting... woot!!

Today's session with my counsellor has been a very enlightening one...

In life, whatever you do, you will definitely have a role to play. What is your role? Once you have identified your role in a particular organisation or situation, things will definitely be much better for you because you will then know what you have to do and what you should do. Not having a well defined role can cause you to burn out easily because you will then be doing stuff which you should not be doing...

Also, in whatever situation you are placed in without have a choice, you have to accept it and learn to work things out from there. One should not dwell into the bad side of things and indulge in self-pity because one cannot achieve anything out of it. It will only make you feel more depressed and this leads to health problems. There might be certain things which you will have to do which is not part of your job scope, e.g. regimental duty. Treat them as little spects of dust which you will have to do because your job and being a soldier comes together as a package.

In this world, there will be many losses. Losses in terms of a loved one, a relationship, material things and many other stuff. Whenever you lose something, you will have to fill up that void immediately and not leave it there and let it grow. Making yourself busy with work will not help because at the end of the day, once you are free, these sad thoughts will flow back again and it will be in a larger magnitude. Instead of ruminating about it, why not find a solution to it or even try to close this chapter?

Through the many phases of life, you will meet many people. Friendships are forged between some of them. Some might be transition friends and some might even be your very close friends. In the working society, people come, people go. When a friend leaves, it does not mean that your friendship ends there unless you regard the person as a transition friend (friendship made out of convenience...). If you really do treasure the friendship, keep in contact with them instead of mulling over the "loss" because the person is still living and breathing. Don't fear but trust.

This is what I have learnt today. How inspiring.... =)

Chinese New Year has been interesting this year. I had my reunion dinner at home with my parents and my brother. I quiet one. Then as usual, I would go to my 4th aunt's (mother's sister) place for another round of reunion dinner before heading home to usher in the new year.

This year, my family headed to my uncle's house (mother's brother) first before proceeding to my father's side. Its really a very quiet gathering this year... But my cousin's house is very very nice! It has a great scenary of the sea and the design is great! I've taken quite a few photos at her house. Can't resist such a huge opportunity... haha... Here are a few of them...

CNY holidays are over. Wonder what other days are there for me to look forward to before I ORD. Time seems to fly if you are unaware of what you are doing and it seems to crawl when you are observing every minute and every second, waiting for that faithful day to come.... haiz... Wake up Jeremy! wake up! Its coming... its coming... Thank God I have a wonderful family and great friends to bring me through each day...

Happy valentine's day everybuddy!


I was told that i shouted and mumbled in my sleep last night... This is so freaky... For the past few nights, I was unable to sleep/sleep well at all... I'm suffering from insomnia and its kind of getting on my nerves because I seriously need to sleep... The lack of sleep is killing me... argh... Hopefully things will be better for me as each day pass..

CNY is coming! yippee!

Yet another week has passed. Nat nat and ao ao has ORDed, leaving me with these words... "Your time will come" Oh yea it will... Gotta be patient won't I?

Anyway, I bought 2 books last week when I was out with my cousins, "Asking for trouble: Tales of Saffy and Amanda" and "Table for Three: More tales of Saffy and Amanda". These 2 books are a must read!! Its extremely hilarious!!! They were the first books which actually made me laugh out loud while reading it and I just can't stop smiling while reading. Its basically the story of Jason Hahn and his oh so dramatic life with his flat mates who never fail to amaze me with their weird antics... Haha... How I wish my life will be something like that... It will never be boring (though it can get annoying sometimes...) Oh well... Its definitely a must read for people who needs humour in their life =)

I bought another 2 books yesterday while I was out with Andre. "Scribbles from the Same Island" and "Final Notes from a Great Island" by Neil Humphreys. I've only started the first one and so far its quite interesting. Woohoo! I guess most of my time will be occupied by these two books for the time being.

Andre and I went shopping for New Year clothes yesterday and it was a very fruitful one. We managed to get something despite the crowd that was there. Oh well... Chinese New Year is coming and I am so looking forward to it. Woohoo! I'm getting this cny feeling man... baking pineapple tarts again and again and again...

To end off this entry, I shall post photos of the 7 wanderers! Really miss them alot and truly regret that I did not spend much quality time with them in the past... shite me...

Dearest Mr Eric Chua. Our PE Teacher who inspire us to name ourselves the 7 wanderers...

I went shopping with my cousins yesterday. Got a new pair of shoes!! (My old one had officially disintegrated to nothingness... ) So yay!!! Also bought 2 shirts from Samuel and Kelvin, 2 books by Jason Hahn and a CD... I spent a lot yesterday... But its okay! Everything was sponsored by my dad! yippee!! It was very very crazy yesterday! Shan't type out what happened in order not to throw face....

Last night, I dreamt that I was in my grandma's home... It was new year's eve and I was like feeling all sad that no one turned up for reunion dinner since my grandmother had passed away. My brother and I were at the kitchen preparing for something and it was all weird. I told my mum about the dream and she said that we have to pay respect to my grandmother on the eve. Which explains what my brother and I were doing in the kitchen in my dream. Anyway, this I'll be going to my uncle's house on the first day of chinese new year. Shall see how different this year would be...

Nat and ao ao will be ording this week... Haiz... sad that they are leaving (lesser company you see...) but am definitely happy for them! At last, they are released from their service... haha... Oh well... I guess once dre and mi mi leaves, life at work will be more and more boring (although will still be others it will be different)... Haiz... haiz... haiz... They say that my time will come... but how long will it take for my time to come?! (looks at ORD countdown timer at sidebar...) Haiz... I need to relax... I seriously do...

I've gained 1 kg... yippee!

I want to ORD...

I love this song alot! This song is called "Butterfly" arranged and sung by a vocal a cappella group called Rajaton. But in this video, the song was sung by the Williams College Ephlats. I like the voice of the Sop solo in this video. Very nice and beautifully sung! Woots! Sweet sweet butterfly...

For the past 2 weekends, I've been trying out new recipes with my oven! I think I'm addicted to baking -_-" But it is really fun, spending time baking cakes and cookies for frens and family to eat! Its like some big charity event (so my mother said........ haha... Anyway, I tried baking pound cake and cheese cake last week. This week, i tried oreo cheesecake and chocolate chocolate chip muffins while my mum made pineapple tarts.They all came out okay. Not too bad i would say =)) Yea yea! Here are some of the photos of the things I've baked.

The muffin looks disgusting (due to my untrained hands..... =x) But its still taste alright. The light brownish colour on the top is due to the sugar I've sprinkled on the top to create a crispy top. It looks uneven because I didn't know how much would be enough... haha... I'm not very good at agarism... So yea... And Andre, it doesn't taste like peanut cake! haha...

So its almost one year since my Grandma had left us. Time has indeed passed by so quickly that it seems only weeks since it happened. Tomorrow will be some ceremony at a temple to commemorate my grandma's first death anniversary. Hopefully all will go well. Yea, although I'm a Christian, I'll still take part in the ceremony as a sign of respect for my grandmother. Its the least I can do to make up for the wrongs I've done in the past. It kinda dawn on me that this coming Chinese New Year would be so different. In the past, my family would go down to my grandmother's place for reunion dinner on new year's eve. We would just be there at Serangoon gardens, eating a sumptous dinner prepared by my grandmother. Although the whole family wasn't around, it is still great to be there because I kinda grew up there. When I was very very young, my family would go down to her place immediately and we will help with the spring cleaning (although I wasn't of much help... haha...). Then before we left, we will help place sweets and new year goodies on the large brown table beside the television. On the first day of new year, we would go back to my grandma's place in the late morning. All my aunts and uncles would be there, trying to remember whether they had given us red packets. Then they will start playing blackjack and mah jong in the afternoon while I will be in the bedroom with my other cousins, talking and stuff. That's the typical Chinese New Year for me... How will it be like for me this year? Will there even be reunion dinner with my father's side? Where will we be going on the first day of chinese new year?

I just feel really stupid. Its only when something is gone forever, that I start missing it so much. I so want to go back to my grandmother's place again. But I heard that my uncles would be selling away her place. Everything is just so different. Lately, I've been thinking about my grandmother quite alot and I don't know why... haha... Oh well... I will just have to move on won't I? I'm just glad that I am blessed with good memories which I can keep. But can I go back and relive these memories again?

What have I cooked so far? Last Saturday, I made Macaroni and cheese at home!! It's nice but then, after some time, it can be quite tiresome because its so cheesy... But I like it... Then again... Self praise is no praise. So I'll have to let my guinea pig volunteers do the testing when I see them. Here are the pics of my mac and cheese!!

I'm baking cookies now!! Not my normal chocolate chip cookies though. I'm trying something new, called the peanut butter duo chocolate chip cookie. The chocolate chips are actually milk chocolate and white chocolate striped chips (I didn't realise that until when I opened the packet...). The turn out is not bad. I've tried one or two, needs more sugar. Therefore, I'm going to bake more tomorrow!!! Anyway, here are the pics of my wonderful cookies... hehe...

I long to go back to school. I miss school. Meridian, Montfort, I miss them all.
I miss having to sit in lecture theatres with my friends, listening to lectures and trying to understand what the lecturers are saying.
I miss tutorials, where 7 of us will sit together and listen to our tutors teach.
I miss having to do homework.
I miss having to study for tests and exams.
I miss singing in both Meridian and Montfort Choir.
I miss performing in front of an audience in a choir.
I miss the times where we had to prepare for SYF.
I miss the times we had to prepare for concerts and performances.
I miss the times where I did crazy things with my frens after choir practices in Sec sch.
I miss my freedom to do what I want.

I hate this fear that is lingering within me.
I hate this feeling of nothingness within me.

I'm thankful for having people who loves me, friends, family
I'm thankful to be blessed with so many wonderful things in my life

I want my life back.

I must be patient but 11 months seems too long...

Father, give me the strength to carry on! Bless my frens, my family and I... Bless us all... Amen.

Struggling Christians who are in doubt and despair often ask in desperation:
- where is God in this situation?
- where is the reality of Christ?
- where is the wisdom that I lack?
- where is the strength that I need?
- where is the answer that I seek?

The real answer may seem shockingly simple and untrue: it’s all within you. Once you are connected to God’s unbounding resources, all good things are within your reach.

From www.lighthouse.org.sg

You've heard of the Power Rangers... You've heard of the Gransazers... Now... I'm proud to present to you....

The Seafood Pontoon Pongcrupchang Rangers!

Aren't they cute?!! From left to right, we have Bobby ao ao (as in ow ow), sandren techno, sandren copa, true sandren aude, sandren xia mi. There's Lance Corporal Paranoia too! But he is the photographer for this pic... So yea... Anyway, why are they named as the SPPR? Because the name sounds cute and catchy.... I've actually planned to type out their biodata with their individual photos here, but I need time to think man... muahahahaha....

Went blading with dre and syahmi today. To sum it all in one sentence, I suck at blading... woohoo! I need to practice more man... If not... ... ... you know? you know...

Alright, I shall carry on watching my lovely samsoon (KOREAN DRAMA!!!). Although I've watched it before on Channel U, somehow, I feel like watching it again... wahahahaha...

"Shut up Lance Corporal Paranoia!"

At last I get to access blogger and sign in to MSN. Phewy... Sigh... As usual, I don't feel like going back to work tomorrow. The feeling of not wanting to go back to work is irritating the hell out of me now... Sigh...

Just came back from my cousin's house. I stayed over at their place yesterday and boy were we crazy or what. We slept at 2+ am yesterday night because we were playing board games. At first we were playing this game called "Game of the Year" which (till now) we don't understand how the game works. We took turns to read the instructions for the game and gave up in the end because there was a much more fun game called "Mad Magazine". My cousin had been describing the game to us so excitedly a few years back and finally we get to play it together! woohoo!! Its definitely a very very crazy game. We laughed so hard and made so much noise that we woke our aunt... -.- Yea yea! definitely had a lot of fun with them around!

I met andre yesterday afternoon too! He was teaching me how to roller blade. I managed to roll all over the place and still remain intact (with no arms detached or any thing like that) thanks to andre. Its definitely very very fun to be blading all over the place!!! Oh well... Hopefully one day I can get the hang of those wheely things... hopefully... muahaha....

As for today, I've finally ran after a long break from exercising. My cousins and I went to Choa Chu Kang Stadium for a jog since they had not run for a very very long time too! Whoa... It felt great to run again. A release of negative energy! woohoo!! After that, we went to play badminton with me losing all the way... yea... I so love my family! Its always interesting to see/hear my aunts gossip with my mum, giving each other the latest updates of family business and stuff... haha... Its just so so funny! =) How thankful I am to be blessed with great friends and family!


"Let december come let december come let december come..."

Welcome to 2007! New year, new beginning, I say!

Time has past extremely quickly... Its 2007 already but I feel like its just any other ordinary day in 2006. No diff... Sigh... Oh well... Hopefully 2007 will end soon too! I want to be a civilian!!

Class gathering on 30 dec was quite okay. The number of people who turned up is more than half the class ( 16 people!). But then again, it doesn't feel class gathering-ly because everyone stayed in their own cliques as usual. The girls definitely change alot ever since they entered army. As for the guys, we just look desperate for the day to come. I'm quite sad that not everyone from my clique turned up though. Was really looking forward to see them because it has really been quite some time since we last met. But its okay. I guess there will be more chances for us to meet up in 2007!

On New year's eve, I went to catch a move with sandren. Night at the Museum is so so so funny!!! Oh my gosh! Its really a very nice show! woohoO!! We managed to see the fireworks behind the blocking trees and the tall memorial thingy. Nice fire works but the view was spoilt by the tall trees... Oh well... better than nothing.

As for today, I met up with Ting Yi and Joel. We walked around Vivocity today and we found lots of restaurants! The food there is quite expensive though. We were talking about how our taste changed as we grew up. While we were in school, fast food restaurants like Macs and KFC are like treats to us and are like places we hang out. Now that we have all graduated from JC and are doing our individual stuff, we tend to frequent expensive restaurants and stuff. Even our taste on clothes change. The way we spend money is as if money grow on trees. Wahahaha... I guess its time for us to control a little.

Hmmm... I guess I'm quite relieved that 2006 has past. Many many things happened in 2006 which has changed me emotionally and spiritually. I had to deal with a change in environment and culture after entering the army, I had to recover from my grieving of my grandmother's death, I had to deal with people who are older and of higher authority than me, I had to train myself physically to pass IPPT so that I won't have to go for recourse. Wow... Its like a roller coaster ride for me man... Somehow I feel so different (In the bad sense)... I've became more timid... Sigh... My counselling sessions definitely help but I will just have to pluck up the courage to do what I'm supposed to do because the mental block is in me and the only person who can removed that mental block is me. So I guess I'll have to work on that this year...

2006 is definitely not all bad for me... I managed to get good results for my A levels, I got into Log Branch, the place where I truly enjoyed myself in my stay in Tekong, I performed for MJChoir's concert in the alumni item, made good friends in camp, open up myself into one crazy guy with a screw loose, I passed my IPPT which means that I need not recourse, went to KOREA (SO EXCITING!!!), outings with cousins and friends, and long breaks which served as rest points for me to recover from the mental torture in camp. I've overcomed one of my mental blocks (which i still need to build on to fully recover from it), and yea, all these wonderful things that happened to me just serves as a reminder for me. That having Faith in God is really important. Throughout the year, I've been praying very hard for most of these things and God granted me with what I asked for. I'm very touched and grateful for all that I am blessed with. Faith, indeed, can move mountains!

Since this is the first day of the new year, I pray that God will bless each and every one of you out there with a wonderful new year! Put your past behind you and start anew... woohoo!!!

So poor thing... Taiwan had an earthquake, causing much disruption to the internet across most of asia. Explains why most of the websites can't load today. Oh well, will be doing duty tomorrow. Sigh sigh sigh... so sian... Hopefully all things will go well. God bless us, especially the victims of the Earthquake.

Anyway, I tried making Broccoli and Cheese yesterday because I've always wanted to try something like that. So I went shopping with my mum at Hougang Mall for ingredients. After an hour worth of hard work, the turn out is not bad (in appearance only though... )

I think I've added too much cheese. That's why it taste very meaty... hahahaha... Oh well, its Chocolate fudge cake next!! woohoo!!

Its extremely boring in camp today. No one is around. Its like a Ghost Town at Sch 2 HQ. To make matters worst, I have nothing much to do today. So i ended up staring into blank space in my office and drifted off to lala land...... Hopefully things will be better tomorrow. Argh... Can't wait for Friday to come!!! Not going to roller blade any more but its ok ; ) I shall find some other things to do. Wait for Friday to come first...

.... Let duty be over, Let duty be over, Let duty be over...

Merry Merry Christmas everyone! Christmas for me is the same as all Christmas since my mum's birthday fall on Christmas day!! So everyone in my family will come down to my house and we will celebrate Christmas and my Mum's birthday together! I baked cookies for the event with my new Oven and new Mixer. The turn out was not bad though its very thin. I guess I will have to put more flour the next time. My cousins came down to my house yesterday to help me bake the cookies and its a very fun experience =)

Anyway, I had my first ever Guard duty in the forbidden island. Its a tiring and boring experience. Shan't give the details. Sigh...

Lets see... My programme for this week will be...

Tuesday: Zoo zoo Zoo with the 3 musketeers!
Wednesday: Work.... =(
Thursday: Ops Clerk Duty
Friday: Blading with Sandren aude
Saturday: Class gathering!!!! =)))
Sunday: Countdown with cousins?
Next Monday: Lunch with S208?
Next Tuesday: Cry you a river that leads to your ocean because work starts on wednesday...

Somehow, I am having this recruit like feeling of fear in me. I don't know why... Its really irritating and I'm becoming more and more petty about thing. Sigh... Somehow, the Korea trip has made me realise how much I've been forcing myself to accept the fact that I still have 11 more months to go. 9 days away from camp made me realise how happy life can be if I don't have to be tied down with rules and regulations, the fear of being charged for any little thing you do, the fact that adults can actually be childish, unreasonable and irritating with their incessant use of expletives (be it in dialect or English). Maybe that is the working world for me? I don't know. I just can't wait for school to start, can't wait for 7 Dec 07 to come. It seems so far away from where I'm at now. I will just have to treat this 2 years as a learning experience won't I? I've become more and more stupid each day though (I just can't process what people are saying these days. Can't even solve a simple Maths problem. haiz... What's wrong with me!!!!).

Oh well... Life still goes on with or without work. Will just have to live with it won't I? Sigh...

I want to study!!!

Yuppie doodles! Finally, I'm back home in Sunny Singapore! How I wish I need not have to come back even though I don't really want to stay at Korea for very long. Coming back means the start of work and that can really be very frustrating... sigh... Oh well, we shall see what has happened during my week of absence tomorrow... muahaha

Anyway, I feel so relieved when I touched down at both airports because the flight experience was extremely scary. My trip from Singapore to Korea was one filled with continuous turbulance (6 hours...) which causes the whole plane to shake here and there quite often. The plane was quite small too, so it didn't help for someone who had not sat on an aeroplane for 10 years and has suddenly developed a fear for flying... My trip from Korea back to Singapore is quite alright until when the plane is about to land. It seems that the pilot does not know how to descend gradually because about a few minutes before landing, we actually felt the plane drop a few feet (everyone began to panic and all...) and it seems like we were not going to land at all........ And when the plane landed, there was quite a bump... haiz... scarrrrry...

My trip in Korea is actually quite fun, come to think of it. The tour guide is a Korean who speaks with a Chinese accent. We have a very hardworking tour guide assistant/photographer who is quite acquainted to our family. And we have a very nice and friendly Singaporean tour leader. Yea yea! On the very first day, upon arrival, we went to visit some tunnel dug by the North Koreans (they wanted to invade South Korea see...) and we went to the border between North and South Korea. The tour guide gave a very lengthy history about the separation and stuff (things learnt in Social Studies and History..) which I didn't really listen because I fell asleep... hehe... After that, we made our way to the spa resort where we experienced the lifestyle of Koreans. We stayed in a condominium whereby the apartment has a kitchen, living room and a bed room. And like all Koreans, we slept on the floor!! woots!


This is the Kitchen



This is the Dining Table




Living room




The 4 of us in our room

We went walking around and had spa and the day ended quite quickly like that.

Day 2 is skiing day!! We made our way to the ski resort and borrowed skiing gear from the shop there. Skiing is extremely fun!! (Although I didn't really ski much...) But yea, we spent the whole day at the ski resort. And we ate ice cream outside when the temperature is -2.5 degrees. How crazy is that... muahaha...

Okay... I'm actually quite lazy now, still recovering from being so so so tired... I've uploaded all the photos online!! You can start viewing the 1000 over photos taken at this link

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r46/jere87elm/Korea%20Trip/

Please press previous if you want to view the photos in chronological order... haha... Shall update more on my trip tomorrow or something... yea!!!

Yippee!! I'm flying off to Korea tonight!! So exciting... But scary at the same time... It has been a looooooooooong time since I've last sat an aeroplane and I'm feeling the jitters now... Andre should know my "What If "chant... In order not to jinx it any further, I had stopped chanting wef 12 mn this morning.

Anyway, I've only finished packing my stuff this morning and I don't even know if I had brought enough clothes to help me survive for the next 5 days (apparently today is day 1 of my holiday and I'm at Singapore!! So korea-ny here!). And my bag is filled with winter clothings.... Those clothes really take up a lot of space man! Oh well... Don't know how I'm going to survive at Korea but I shall see how things go. So exciting!!

Mr Yong, Ernest and I went to China Town for ma la huo guo (numb spicy steamboat... haha) on Friday. The soup is really very very shiok! Very nice and very spicy! I can't really take it though. was sweating throughout the whole numb spicy experience. Phewy... But its nice and it helps to clear our bowels too! haha... Had diarrhea the very next day because of the spiciness of the soup... woots!

Okay... I shall end here and prepare to fly off to koooooorea!

Woots!! Three is the best concert I have ever attended so far! The 3 choirs featured are extremely good!! Really inspired by their music. I love the compositions by Ko Matsushita especially! His songs are very dynamic, very active. It is really very very very interesting!!! Loved the songs Mihara Yassa Bushi and Tawara-tsumi-uta especially. Ko Matsushita is indeed a good composer and a great conductor. With his funny antics on stage and humbleness, he never fails to entertain the crowd. Of course, as I have mentioned many many times, I LOVE HIS COMPOSITIONS!!! Be it slow or fast, contemporary or melodies, I love it! His songs are very touching and moving man!!!! In the concert, his songs were performed by Gaia Philharmonic Choir! Very nice! Rapid Jap, unique Jap tone (obviously since they are from Japan... but love it!) ARGH!!! How i wish i have the recordings! Once again, Ko Matsushita did not fail to amaze me! Woots! I would say the triple chorus composition by Ko Matsushita, Dona Nobis Pacem, is the best of the best! The arrangement of the choir around the whole concert hall seems to bring out the effect of the song! Though the song is short, seems easy to learn (seems arh...), but the impact was great (to me at least)! I am really wowed by it!

As for the songs performed by the SYC ensemble singers, conducted by Jennifer Tham, I guess its too abstract for me (the first two songs as least). More abstract than the ones i used to perform or listen. So I was trying to figure out what the sound was like and all (makes me a little drowsy too... haha) But I love the song Laudate Dominum by Urmas Sisask. Its a latin song with a Japanese tune! Very very interesting piece of music! Overall, the choir's performance is fantastic! Love the sound, the tone, the interpretations. Very beautiful.

Lastly, the part by the Ateneo Chamber Singers, conducted by Jonathan Velasco. As the main religion in Philipines is Catholicism, the songs sang by them were mainly hymns in dialects of the filipino language. The first 2 songs are like those sang by SYC, quite abstract. But still, it is really amazing. I guess they have lots of power pact singers as their singers can really project very well! I guess the songs sang by them have the best interpretations given their abilities and all! Its like you can be really touched by the song and actually feel what the composer is trying to tell you. LOVE THE ENDINGS MAN!! THE GREAT CRESCENDOS TO THE END! WOOTS! Nice ending chords! Loved the song I Believe in particular because it is very very well done! Their soloist for You Raise Me Up was great too! woots woots!!!

In summary, the concert is worth every single cent I have paid for! Wouldn't have missed it even if the ticket is very expensive! Ahhhh... My life is now complete! =))))))

So so tiring! Yesterday's BBQ was definitely enjoyable!! However, Miss Lim and Mrs Voo couldn't make it so we were a little sad about it. Oh well... It was extremely tiring for the organisers yesterday and on Friday because we had to prepare the food. We marinated the Chicken wings on friday and the turn out was actually not bad! We made toy swords with sausages and crab sticks too!! haha... Then we went to the market yesterday morning to get our seafood. The innards of a squid is so so disgusting. The ink is messy and the skeleton feels like drinking straws. The cooked seafood didn't turn out well because it tasted bland so its time to review our style of marinating for next year.

Anyway, Chase, choon, jan, Mr Yong and I tried to be ambassadors of Mandrain by playing the speak Chinese game. It isn't easy for all of us except Mr Yong because we were so used to speaking English with each other that sometimes we just speak in English out of excitement. Wahahaha... But it is definitely fun (and mentally tiring =X)

I am extremely excited now because I will be attending a concert by 3 choirs tomorrow at the Esplanade!! Three. A concert by SYC, Gaia Philharmonic Choir and Ateneo Chamber Singers conducted by Jennifer Tham, Ko Matsushita and Jonathan Velasco respectively. These 3 conductors are world renown conductors and I'm waiting to hear the compositions of Ko Matsushita being sung tomorrow. His compositions are very very interesting and he is the composer for next year's SYF set piece for secondary schools. One of Meridian's choice piece is composed by him too! Woots! So yea, I am very excited (Especially to be able to see him in person since I've seen Jonathan Velasco and Jennifer Tham before... hehe).

Alright, less than a week to Korea Trip!!! Can't wait Can't wait Can't wait!!

By the way, note to cab snatchers...

GOD WILL PUNISH YOU!!! Don't think that the people standing in front of you are transparent because we are not! KARMA I TELL YOU!!! Retribution!

Had an interesting chat with my counsellor today. He taught me lots of interesting ways to avoid doing work which is not under my job scope. I guess its either I continue to be a good man and help out or just push everything to everyone in charge. Oh well... He also advised me on how to keep myself warm in Korea. How nice of him =) My counsellor rocks man!! I enjoy talking to him because he really makes me think alot and also tries to make me think of solutions for my problems with him prompting here and there! He thinks in depth and provide very good solutions to my problems and I just can't thank him enough! woots!! He says he will continue to guide me till my grandma's first death anniversary. Shall see how things go after that.

Anyway, went to buy my BBQ stuff with ernest and paul just now. My image in public is totally spoilt man. I was talking so loudly and excitingly at the super market and it is really very embarassing come to think of it... wahahahaha... oh well... Its definitely fun. Miss those times where the committee members would go out and shop for stuff together. Hopefully the BBQ this sat would be a successful one! Can't wait man!!!!

Another week has past and I'm one week closer to my Korea trip!!! woohoo!! This week has past extremely fast indeed. My cousins flew off to Austrailia last Friday and they are already back in Singapore now! So fast! Soon it would be my turn.

Anyway, I went to Bugis with my other cousins (fantastic 4 grp) on wednesday to shop for clothes. It was quite a fruitful one because I bought a polo tee and a pair of jeans =). Anyway, we had our lunch at Seould Garden and as usual, our gluttony has gotten the better of us and we stayed at the restaurant for 3 whole hours. Its kind of our personalities and goal in life... "TO CONQUER ALL BUFFETS IN THE WORLD!" (Or in Singapore for that matter...) We were always the last to leave buffets or we will stay at the restaurant till our stomachs scream for help. How interesting!

While we were having lunch there, we met several perculiar bunch of people. The first was a group of tourists came into the restaurant for lunch. They would queue up in extremely straight lines to get their food and drinks (not that it is wrong...) and will push people away (with force) if someone tries to get near the drink counter... -.-" Then, they are very particular in their seating arrangement. 6 people surrounded a table instead of the usual 4 even though there are 2 perfectly empty seats on the table beside them. Hmmmm... oh well...

The next group of people is a bunch of girls from this particular secondary school. I suspect that they are from a choir since they were holding original choir scores! Anyway, these large group of girls would crowd around the ice cream corner, preventing people from getting near it. Its like a human wall I tell you... In the words of sephiroth V1.05/Porcupine fish, "I feel so threatened"... We were just so intimidated. And they were quite inconsiderate too as they did not close the ice cream freezer thingy after they left. Tsk tsk tsk... Want all the ice cream to melt... Drop ice cream all over the place too... Tsk tsk tsk...

Alright, the last group of people is this group of 4 who stayed at Seoul garden for like half an hour only? Its like paying, money to come into the restaurant to have a drink and a bowl of ice cream and that's it. So interesting.

Oh well... I guess I should not complain so much. Why should I even care if they are like that? I can't control them and I have no right to tell them what to do... So yea... Just some interesting things I saw... muahahaha... The power of seating in a restaurant for 3 whole hours!

And since I forgot to change the battery in my digi cam, we manage to take only 1 photo before the thing shuts off. Darn, our cam whoring opportunity was diminished just like that. Anyway. here's the one miserable photo we took...

We were actually practicing how to self-take photos so that we won't have a difficult time in Korea! =)

Went out with the two girls today again to shop shop shop. However, this time, it is more of window shopping than actual shopping because the we have not mend the hole in our pockets created last Saturday. Muahaha... So we are still kinda broke. We had our lunch at Fish & Co today though. Quite a nice place for fish and chips! We had a small talk about the times we had when my grandmother were still around, the stuff we did at my grandmother's place and all. Kinda miss those times. I especially regret not joining my cousins in looking after my grandmother over the weekends at her place. It was really funny listening to the crazy stuff they do when they stayed over at my grandma's place and my grandma's reactions towards the stuff they did. Oh well... I guess we will have keep all these good times and memories in our hearts as we move on with our lives.

Anyway, we went around shopping for shampoo and shower gel to bring overseas since the girls will be leaving this Friday to the land down under. Since we were on a extremely tight budget, we went to carrefour to search for our stuff. Then, we made our way to the Mc Cafe at Marina Square. As we were resting our legs, our dear Lyn was trying to see if the cotton buds were drop out if she overturns the container. And this is what happened...

So malu!!! Luckily we manage to salvage all the cotton buds (all except 1 where the cotton came off the stick =X.. we threw that away) . And its still clean and usable!! Woots! So we made our way to esplanade to get ourselves out of the malu incident.

Along the way, we were possessed by the camwhore spirit. So we begin taking pictures along the walkway to satisfy our need for self-praise.

Then, we went to the Esplanade rooftop to see the river view and stuff. I find that place quite relaxing. The cool breeze caressing your face and the wonderful semi-beautiful river view with the tall buildings as a backdrop. How nice...

Stayed there for quite some time, taking artistic pictures and self-obsessed photos. We tried to practice how we should take photos when the girls go to Aussie while I go to Korea since we promised each other that we will leave a space in the picture so that we can superimpose our faces in. The result...

And yea... many people were looking at us because we were rather crazy when taking those photos... haha... How interesting... Tried squeezing the merlion and crushing the highway too! But we failed... Oh well... Shall try the next time.

On our way back to Marina square, we saw this art exhibit. Its quite interesting as all the animal paintings and figurines have a lion's mane in it. As we walk towards the beginning of the exhibition, we came across this phrase...

Cute right? "A temper of mine kills... Fire hose reel" haha... What an interesting day today... Especially when i didn't receive any calls from office at all!! It's all God's blessing! =)

Alright... Today has been quite an "exciting" day as I am on leave!!! Everything went so well for me man (except for problems at camp).

In the morning, as soon as I stepped on the train platform, my train arrived. And everytime I need to change a train, the train will be right there waiting for me. At ICA building, the moment I stepped in the waiting area, its my turn to change my passport photo. My journey home was so smooth that it only took me 1 and a half hours to get my passport photo changed (travelling time and shopping time at Compass point included). So cool! Then, when I was feeling so troubled over the items which have been made but not ready for collection until someone wants to do something which could cost the company, the company told me that the cards were ready. And when I went down to collect something for diarrheo man, I found the place so quickly that both my mother and I were so amazed since we don't even have an inkling on how to get there. So cool!! Its all God's blessings man! =)

Oh well, my day was kind of flooded with phone calls from camp regarding some things which I shan't say nor complain about (have complained enough already...). All I can say is "GOD WILL PUNISH YOU MAN!" *Tries to regain composure* Ya... So that's that.

I bought Princess Hours DVD yesterday at Compass point (Sharing money with my dear Cousin... hehe) and I've spent my day watching it. You might think that I would have completed 5 episodes of the show by now since I'm on leave but nooooooooo... God so forbid that I only completed watching 2 because I was interrupted by phone calls from camp. So I just forget about it and went digging for old photos of my family. Hehe... and I've realised that my cousins and I were so so so so so so so so so so CUTE when we were young!!! OH MY GOSH!!! Its the cheek pinching kinda feeling lar! Can't stand it man... So here are a few of the photos...

This pic was taken 10 years ago! We look so CUTE!!! (at the same time, geeky with our shorts pulled up so high... wah liew... what were we thinking!) And 10 years later, we will be flying away to some other country together!! So cool!!

This was taken with my brother in bangkok! So cute hor? my brother has long arms... haha...

My brother and I with my mi mi yan... hehehehehe...

Matching shirts!!! I am like part of their family man... woots!

Lastly, a photo of me! When I just moved to where I am living now. 3 years old only!!!

Alright... That's all for now... I'm enjoying all the funny photos I've dug out this afternoon! Will scan more interesting ones into my com!!

Mai dong xi chi dong xi mai dong xi chi dong xi...

Went shopping with my cousins yesterday. Interesting outing it was. I manage to get my very own jacket to keep me warm in Korea!!! The perfect one... woots! So happy!! I've burnt a big hole in my pocket though. Spent about $180 on food and clothes yesterday. Can really feel the hole in my pocket now (more than half my salary[or allowance, so they call it...]) Oh well... need to scrimp and save for the rest of this month now.

Anyway, it was a really embarassing day yesterday. Everywhere my cousins and I went, people will laugh at us (make us look so sua gu... wah liew...) Firstly, we went to Cathay Cineleisure to buy tickets for Material Girls. At the counter, the girl laughed at us for being indecisive on where to sit. Also, we were laughing at her because we didn't know she was actually waiting for us to pay her. (She looks as if she is busy doing something to accept my money ok!) sigh... We went to Cafe Cartel for lunch after the movie. At the restaurant, the waitress was made confused by us because we were standing around our table since the girls can't decide which side to sit on... -.-
After lunch, we went around window shopping/shopping for clothes. Whichever store we entered, the salesperson will march towards us asking us if we need help. Even when we say we don't, they lingered around us (as if we want to steal their stuff... *roll eyes*). But then again, I guess its because we dropped quite a lot of things along the way and my cousin went round trying most of the stuff there. haha... But, why can't we try on the stuff there if we were interested in buying? =p When we went to Imperial Palace (whateva the name is lar...) at Marina Square for dinner, the waiteresses and managers there can't be bothered to serve us (either they were too busy serving the adults standing behind us or ate too much glass as we grew up) and we were really pissed about it. We then went to Secret Recipe for our dessert (cheesecake... yummilicious!). The waiter was trying very hard not to laugh at us because he had to snatch the menu away from my cousin.

So we practically became clowns wherever we went yesterday. How nice... -.- But its really fun and funny lar... Can't stand it.. .woots! we rock! Alright, will be on leave this coming tuesday and wednesday. Will have to go and change my passport photo on tuesday if not I will not be able to go Korea and film my own Korean Drama... (so exciting!!!!)

I've finally attended life activity after so many weeks of marshall duty and what not. My physical fitness has definitely dropped a lot after I've passed IPPT. Bad bad bad... Oh well, shall try to train more whenever possible. My whole body is aching here and there now since I have not been exercising for sooooooo long. Terrible terrible. I'll be doing marshall duty tomorrow again......... Anyway, I've learnt how to play DOTA in camp this week but I am super duper lousy in it (I'm never good at this kind of games you know...). Although I have been playing at home from time to time but yea, I'm still lousy at it. ha! So yea... Shall train whenever possible? =X
I've been in a rather cranky mood since Saturday because I am super duper tired. I don't even know why I am tired.... I've been sleeping (using my precious power of sleeping unknowingly...) everywhere I go. How irritating! And I woke up early today, thinking that there is choir practice at Montfort. But when I reached Montfort, I was told that practice was cancelled. Then I met the teacher in charge on the way to the staff room and to my horror, I found out there will not be practice on any of the days I have taken leave! How am I suppose to help them if they have such a blur president who give me wrong info? The practice schedule is even on the consent form lar! Haiyo... Bad bad bad... Haiz...

The A levels have officially begun and my friends are very nervous about it. Have been helping Chase with his Biology but don't know if he is confident about his Bio paper tomorrow. Sigh... So fast so fast. Its their turn now to sit for the A levels. One year has passed in a blink of an eye. I just can't wait for my turn to ORD. Sometimes it feels as if December 07 will come very soon but then again, it is definitely very very far away. I have not even served 1 year of NS.. boohoohoo... Wonder what will life be like after all my friends ORD-ed. Sigh...

Anyway, my aunts and cousins came over yesterday to view photos of my mother's China trip and my aunt's nepal trip. Both China and Nepal have very very beautiful scenaries!! Got Mountain mountain and lake lake, got waterfall waterfall and cloud cloud... So nice... However, I guess I'm not into those places because all they do is visit places with beautiful scenaries. It can be kinda boring for me. Oh well, can't wait for my Korea trip!! My cousins and I will be filming our own Korean drama and I shall embark on my toilet project! woots~! haha.. It's gonna be fun with my cousins around since we are such cam whores and we always do crazy things when we are together! Futhermore, the 4 of us will be sharing 2 rooms!! So exciting! Can't wait man...

By the way, I've just realised that older people says the funniest things. My mother brought back a siak liu (promegranate in Teochew) from China and we were suppose to eat it yesterday. Suddenly, my mother ask us young ones what is siak liu in English but we don't know. Then, my aunt (who is not very proficient in the English Language) said the following:

"I angry already. I angry already. I angry university. University no teach things one. No say i want say."
Oh my gosh! You should hear how she spoke it man. It was really very funny. Anyway, its like somehow old people expect us to know what every fruit in the world is named. Even my mother expect me to name some weird exotic fruit or plant she brings back just because I study biology. I don't see a link. I only know how to name plant or human parts... Not fruits... Oh well... Because of that uproar about us not knowing the name of the fruit, we went to search (painstakingly, mind you) what the fruit is called. haha... Anyway, its really cute seeing my aunts converse in English. Especially when they struggle to find words to say. Its really very funny, not that I want to be mean or anything but yea! Woots!

This video is so touching... The song is very very nice and touching too! Its not sung by the orignal singer though... But its still very nice! Here's the song "Why" originally sung by Nichole Nordeman.

Oh man... My house is like a dumpster now. Since my mother has flown to China yesterday, things has been flying all over the place. The living room looks like a pigsty and the kitchen looks like the haven for lizards. Gosh... And I will be maid for the next week as it seems that only I care about the state of the house. So it will be clean clean clean, mop mop mop, wipe wipe wipe and vacuum vacuum vacuum for me. Woots! how exciting...

Alright, yesterday's family day was quite quiet... I was expecting the whole grandstand at the parade square to be filled with people but it turned out that only 1/4 or less people were there. And there were specks of people here and there on the parade square, patronising the store. How interesting... I spent less than an hour at the parade square before making my way back to the office where I watch TV and sleep =X Gotta catch up on my beauty sleep since I had to wake up early yesterday morning... haha...

Oh well, SYF would be coming and I wonder how Montfort Chorale will do this time. They might not be able to take part SYF if they don't have any new members next year. This is just so pathetic. The school doesn't seem to even care about the survival of the choir now judging by the way they are dealing with the intake problem. I know conscription isn't the best idea but I guess we should at least give this people a trial period of like 1 month before they make the decision whether they want to continue with choir. It really won't help by going around telling others how the choir can earn you CCA points or whatever other things that can boost their results. Even if we want to tell the new sec 1s what we have been doing, we can't because there is nothing to boast about. They can bring up stuff from 1997 to 2003 maybe, but, those were things that has happened a very long time ago. They may boast about the bronze they got two years back but judging by their standard now, they might not even get a COP if you ask me. The seniors have been trying to help them sort out their problems but they just won't listen. Everyone in the choir now is just so divided. Even the committee isn't what its used to be. How to help the choir like that... If only the others and I have time to go back and help them. At least help them with sectionals or advise them on the planning of activities. If only there is time... Sian-ness... Oh well, hopefully things will turn out better as time passes (hopefully.......)

As for Meridian Choir, they will be going to malacca for exchange in December!! So exciting! haha... Hopefully they have mastered or at least complete learning their choice pieces. Mr Kwei's style would be making us learn the set piece within a day and then we would perform the set piece in front of him at the end of the day. If it does not reach his expectations, we will have to go back and re-learn/touch up the piece and perform in front of him again. Until it reaches his expectation, then we can go. It can be stressful but then I guess he just wants us to minimise learning time and maximise interpretation time. Woots! he rocks my socks! Alright, the alumni might be having another performance at the end of this year! Can't wait man! So exciting!

Okay, looks like I have quite a few activities lined up for me in November and December. Weekly choir pract with Montfort Chorale, Meridian BBQ/Chalet, MCA BBQ, KOREA TRIP, CHRISTMAS, Meridian alumni performance!! woots! so happy! I guess I will end here...

"Sawadee Sawadee Sawadeekap! Chulalongkong University!"