life's a mess

2008-10-18T18:01:00.001+08:00

YAY!!! The sister sent the "care package" on its way!!! Cant wait to try to cook chicken rice here... Man I miss blk 85 so much.....

Me being me.....

2008-10-03T21:07:00.007+08:00

Just when I thought I managed to break the curse of being me (considering that it has been relatively uneventful - by my standards- since I got here)......................

My bag got flooded.

On the day I decided to bring my laptop to school.

~!)*%#)@@^#~*@^~!

Like SERIOUSLY!!!

You have to understand this: People over here DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT, bring laptops to school (I think its coz the sch is not wireless). The only reason I brought my laptop to school is coz my prof said that he had ALOT of reading materials to transfer to us and I didnt bring a thumbdrive with me to Rome. So I figured I wld just bring my laptop and directly copy them to my computer (but in the end, he said he will upload them up on the sch website and we can download them frm there *GIAN*)

Its a miracle that my computer escaped unharmed given my luck.

However the same can't really be said for my hp. Initially my hp was safely kept in another smaller component of my bag (that was luckily high up enough not to be drowned in the pool of water). So as I was pouring out the water, I told myself to be REAL CAREFULLY. But the next thing I know, my hp slipped out of the component and right into of the cascading path of water coming out of my bag.

Thankfully the phone still works BUT the screen doesnt light up as brightly as it used to....

Sigh......

I know... I know.... I promise to TRY to blog more often...

2008-10-03T05:32:00.003+08:00

So sch officially started this week...................

Had my first day of classes yesterday and the professors seem nice enough.....

Its just that I stick out like a sore thumb in class coz of my yellow (and under-tanned - when compared to the Italians) skin. I am like a sitting duck out in the open lake during hunting season. Just shoot me.

This = looking super attentive in class AT ALL TIMES / no dozing off

Plus I don't think I have ever heard the word "Singapore" brought up so many times in the course of 24hrs and used in varying context.

Example one:
"Ah and Singapore! Although a small, small nation, it has very high PPP *proceeds to look at me and I have to beamingly nod back to show some national pride*"

Example two:
"Singapore! Do you know what this is?"

This is like only ONE class that the professors didn't mention the word "Singapore" - and thats because there were like 6 other China exchange students and I sat among them. Go figure.

And as far as making friends with the Italians in my classes go, I had the best luck today for my last class (which was a 5hr wait frm my previous class :s but I have to say it was well-worth the wait *grin*). One of the Italian girls actually came up to me during breaktime and excitedly said that she was in Singapore this summer (April-August) doing an internship. And the funniest thing was she stayed at tanah merah!!! LOL! What are the odds sia.....

Then the girl who sat next to me after the break was super nice and friendly too. She translated for me a joke that the prof made in Italian so that I wldn't be left-out without me asking her to(although I forgot immediately what the joke was after she translated).

Then at the bus-stop (after class), one of my classmates came up to talk to me. He encouraged me to practice my Italian with him after I told him that my Italian was horrible and that I needed loads of practice. I said some stuff in Italian to him and he told me (face deadpanned) that I indeed needed alot of practice.

I am determined to be able to converse fluently with my classmates in Italian at the end of my exchange!!!!!

I hope my luck keeps up coz it does feel nice to have people talking to you instead of just staring at you weirdly when you walk by (it doesn't help that my complexion is like shit now coz of the dust in Rome - not good for my self-confidence you know).

P.S. I do have photos to post BUT I still havent found a way to upload them onto my computer. Maybe, hopefully, by the end of this month? *cross fingers*

Rome is....... hot and brown

2008-09-08T21:10:00.004+08:00

Ciao!!!

This is the first time since I got to Rome that I have internet access in my room (YAY for me)!!!

BUT (there is always a BUT) there is hardly anyone online to chat with :(

Oh wells....

Went to the city centre just yesterday to see the ruins. That combine with the hot weather (which = to brown grass), makes Rome look............. brown.

Like brown walls, brown grass, brown pavement. Even the cars here are like covered in a layer of brown dust.

Maybe it will get alittle more colourful when the weather cools.... BUT then again, it will be autumn and thats when all the leaves on the trees are suppose to turn brown and fall off :s

I would post up some pics of my room BUT I smartly forgot to bring (among other things) my memory card reader... Will just have to go find someone with a built-in one on their lappy for help...

Anyway till the next blog entry then! Ciao raggazi!

One of those days....

2008-08-07T19:24:00.004+08:00

I totally sabotaged myself today.

Went down to the Italian Embassy to get my visa application settled. Was extremely happy and proud of myself that I managed to get the application right in one trip (like almost all the others applying were short of some documents on their first trip). So I merrily handed over my passport for them to process and give me my visa next week.

Then I realised (after over an hr later): I am suppose to leave for a dive trip to Redang this Friday - i.e. TOMORROW. How am I suppose to go to Malaysia WITHOUT a passport??!!@^$()@&@!!

Just shoot me.

Going diving once again...

2008-04-28T18:33:00.004+08:00

Well school's out for the summer......

And if all things go well, i will be in Rome, Italy later part of this year!!! (WOOHOO)

All determination and resolution to persevere and make sure I do not screw up my finals (and my final grade) for my mods faded away when I got the email that offered me the exchange position in Rome... (my willpower is terrible but secretly it offered me the excuse to slack :( I am so sabotaging myself)

Anyway, went to Dayang for my first dive trip of the year over the weekend. It's times like these that I wished my family was super wealthy so that I would be able to just jet off and go dive at exotic locations (with my own entire set of gear) coz after the Dayang trip, I am just itching for another dive trip to some new place. Ah wells............ I guess it will just make the experience alot more sweeter when I eventually get to go!

Here are the pictures I managed to take with my new canon power shot digital camera mummy got for me for my birthday *grin* (none underwater ones unfortunately coz I don't have an underwater casing for my cam...... yet....)

Island life... oh ya....

The sad bed I had that did not even have a blanket

but thanks to these guys, the trip was REALLY fun

and the reason why none of us were in a rush to get back to Singapore??

no (dive) trip to malaysia would be complete without a pitstop for Ramy burger!

Who knew counting fishes and corals could be such fun?!! It was all about the company and I was glad I signed up for this to clear my CIP hours haha!!

you know its time to execrise when

2008-03-06T09:55:00.002+08:00

I got called borderline obesed........ *eyes wide open*

Birthdays and what they mean.....

2008-02-25T00:17:00.002+08:00

According to Facebook, based on my birthday, this is the kind of person I am:

You are very optimistic and that's why you always enjoy life. You are gifted in entertaining others. Your friends love and trust you. You'll be the first they come to when they are in need of someone to speak their heart out. Your Love, Sometimes you fall in love just because you want to be in love, not that you really like that person. You always be seen as a sweet couple but you can't really get over your love ones from past. Your partner is usually crazy about you because you are remarkably charming and romantic.

LOL well friends, I LOVE YOU GUYS TOO!!!!!!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes.....

It was truly a day well-spent with family and friends.... *feeling the love*

Valentine's Day = Valerie's Day

2008-02-15T12:16:00.005+08:00

Well it was that time of the year again..............

A night where roses are common sight while walking down the streets, public display of affection aplenty (gag-foam-at-the-mouth) and very broke-looking males...........

AND IT'S VALERIE'S BIRTHDAY (the only reason I would venture out on a day I strain my eyeball muscles from rolling my eyes too much)!!!

Being hip and trendy, Dempsey Road was the place to be.... (of course that meant that there were couples aplenty as well.... oh well you win some you lose some)

We went to P.S Cafe - lovely, LOVELY place ( = alot, alot of couples *roll eyes*)

The gang - me, janelle, valerie (bday girl) and desiree

My white wine sangria

My main - mushroom and olive linguini *lick lips* - I will definitely be back to for this dish again... The mushroom was FANTASTIC....

Janelle's main - some pie that I can't remember the name lol... Love the pastry but the mash potato was only average

Val's main - steak (the exact name of the dish I don't remember as well *sheepish*)
The steak was very nicely done, succulent and tender *yum*

Valerie's boyfriend wanted to surprise the birthday girl with a cake, so we allowed him to come later - AFTER we were more or less done lol...

The poor dude first got lost, was all sweaty from trying to find the cafe.....

Then when he finally walked in with the cake, his thunder got stole because some guy just proposed to his girlfriend at another table near the door.... lol

Well it's the thought that counts yar.......

The happy couple

Fellow conspirators

Well hope you had a good one, val!!

Beauty is really in the eyes of the beholder

2008-02-13T21:14:00.004+08:00

Just watched discovery channel (when I really shld have been working on my term paper due next week) and it was a programme on fat fiancees.....

Yes..... FAT FIANCEES.... While we, girls in the developed world, try our very best to lose all those love handles and what-nots for the BIG DAY, over in africa, they pile on the weight and aim to have stretchmarks! (WWHHATTT TTTHHHEEE.........) The poor bride-to-be is fed milk like every hour...... and they don't go by glasses/cups, its more like a jar!!

Ok I must clarify that the programme was specific to a particular african tribe (so I am not saying that that's the trend through out africa) but apparently that tribe is/was african royalty or something.....

So anyway, a beautiful bride is one who fills up her dress nicely...... and is refered to as a cow in a poem at their version of an engagement party.... *eyes wide open* (ok to them the cow is a prized possession, so....... in a way its kinda romantically sweet I guess???......... *doubtful look*)

The ultimate moment was when the groom/husband talked abt his bride's/wife's ideal weight..... he first mentioned some figure like 170lbs (thats roughly abt 77 kg)

BUT he ended with the number 200lbs (thats like 91kg!!!!) and smile on his face (the shy/embarrassed kind that you give when you admit to something that you secretly desire??)

*faintz*

And here I am, working my ass off at yoga class........

I hope this isnt considered plagiarism..

2008-01-13T22:53:00.000+08:00

I found this as an entry on a friend's blog (nice one jieren!).......

I found the last one cruelly funny (but brilliantly effective, if you think about it - brenda, I can totally see you doing something like that...)

ROMANCE MATHEMATICS:
Smart man + smart woman = romance
Smart man + dumb woman = affair
Dumb man + smart woman = marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy

OFFICE ARITHMETIC:
Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime

SHOPPING MATH:
A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs.
A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn’t need.

GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS:
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

HAPPINESS:
To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.

LONGEVITY:
Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die.

PROPENSITY TO CHANGE:
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, and she does.

DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE:
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

HOW TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BUGGING YOU ABOUT GETTING MARRIED:
Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, “You’re next.”
They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.

Cableski-ing vs Wakeboarding... Give me a boat pls...

2008-01-09T12:12:00.000+08:00

Finally went to try cable-ski-ing at east coast park last night. My dad thought i was weird, heading to east coast only when it rained (but it wasn't planned! I thought the rain would have stopped).

Anyway I thought cable-ski-ing wouldnt be THAT difficult, considering it isnt that much different from wakeboarding (in fact, I thought it would be easier coz you don't have cross wakes).

Boy, do I always like to overestimate myself.....

It felt like my first trip out to wakeboard all over again EXCEPT this time round, I had people looking at me from the "shore" while I fell flat on my face trying to get up *blush*

I think they felt embarassed for me as well *@**@!>?:*

And when I finally managed to get up and away, crashing out further in the "lagoon" proved to be a bitch as well. Coz I had to drag my sorry ass, plus the board, all the way back to the starting point ON FOOT. (its a big circumference to cover k!)

Now I know why its half the price to cable-ski, compared to wakeboarding!! Out on the boat, you get privacy and convenience (the boat comes ard to get you - you just need to chill-lax in the water).

So anyway, just when I thought "never mind lah, walk back then walk back lor... at least its half price, I get to save 30bucks".............................

I got summoned by the traffic police for not putting a parking coupon!!!!!!!!! It totally slipped my mind to put a parking coupon!!!!!!!!! ( I swear there is a blood clot in my brain, obstructing blood flow to my memory cells!)

Guess how much the fine was?????????

GUESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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30 BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wakeboarding anyone?

Its the holis

2007-12-01T22:48:00.000+08:00

Exams ended yesterday.... Should be happy about it and all but yet somehow I cant help but feel disappointed with myself once again coz I wasnt even close to 100%(max 50%)in mugging my ass off, so obviously cant say that I have done my best...

I HATE MYSELF

Having already anticipated that I would be in such a depressed state, I had Kelly watch the Disney film, Enchanted, with me *grin*.

Nothing cheers you up like a Disney film!

Everything is just so feel-good and uplifting.

AND it is always a HAPPY ENDING for all the good people! A nice escape from reality...

Enchanted did not disappoint me! It was a riot!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the chipmunk!!

GO WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway I declare Patrick Dempesy, aka McDreamy, the new Hugh Jackman (remember Kate and Leopold?):

McDreamy in Enchanted

Jackman in Kate and Leopold

What do you guys think???

reliving my childhood: elmo and the goo goo dolls

2007-11-05T17:28:00.000+08:00

on life and how it passes you by

2007-11-01T21:00:00.001+08:00

oh my gwad...... its been quite awhile since I last blogged.....

What can I say? Havent been in the mood to write, to keep track of my rather boring life......

Another school term is coming to its end....

I remember wishing for school to start when I was in shanghai and now I'm wishing for school to end.....

Four months have come and gone in a flash.....

And I so need another overseas adventure!!

P.S: sorry qinlei! I know I said I would blog about our conversation (which was QUITE AWHILE BACK) will do it when I'm feeling all philosophically again k! haha

sure signs that you are having a bad day

2007-10-02T14:02:00.001+08:00

You know when you are having a very bad day when

1. you wake up late for class on the day of mid-term;

2. you screwed up the mid-term;

3. feeling really stupid and depressed about a bleak future, you decide to go for yoga (coz if you are to be viewed as dumb might as well be one with a nice ass right?). BUT on the way, you hit the kerb and burst one of the front tyre;

4. so instead of getting a workout, you end up going to the car mechanic to get the tyre fixed and pigging out on beef noodles.

:(

Have fun in Europe, Gillian!!!!!!!

2007-09-09T16:27:00.000+08:00

Well just when I'm back from Shanghai, it is now my turn to send friends off for their overseas adventure!!!

How time flies........

Gillian, this is for you!!!

Fresh out of JC:

Freshies in university:

Two years on:

Don't forget us when you are having the time of your life in Europe!!!

I'm back!!!!!!!!!!

2007-08-20T02:34:00.000+08:00

I love Singapore!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And ba chor mee :)

ok time to start losing weight

Last day at work

2007-08-10T19:14:00.000+08:00

Its my last day at work and thus concluding my highly uneventful internship in shanghai.

As I sit all alone in the office that I have dragged myself to everyday for 5 days a week for the past three month and reflect, I can't help but feel bittersweet about my whole experience.

One hand, I'm so glad that I do not ever need to walk through those glass doors, walk to my desk and just waste my day away again.

But on the other hand, the lack of a sense of a job (in this case internship) well done just doesn't give me the fulfillment I was expecting when I first got on the plane in Singapore 3 months ago.

My senior manager told me although I don't see it now but when I look back at this experience in like 5 years time, it would become clear to me that I had indeed learn alot from this exposure.

I told him that its true that I don't see that I have learn a great deal at this point and he is probably right about me looking back in a few years and realising that I had indeed learnt quite abit. Yet somehow, this eats at me. I can't help but feel useless on the job. That my time here was not well spent and that there was so much more I could have done. (I mean when you travel all the way to a new place, you want to make sure that you get the most of your experience right?? Thats the whole point issit?)

It in times like these that you suddenly realise the presence of time. That every minute that we will to pass on a dull day, is another minute of our lives lost and we can do nothing to get it back. How many such minutes do we have to will away before one day we wake to find ourselves old and gray with no accomplishment to our name?

I guess this is a wake-up call.

So I guess this internship did teach me something after all...

counting down

2007-08-08T10:30:00.000+08:00

Well I can finally say see you next week to people in Singapore (YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY)!!!!!!!!!

I will leave this place I called home for the past 3 months with mixed feelings.

On one hand, I can't wait to get on that plane with the air stewardess announcing:

Welcome on board to Flight XXX, flying from Hong Kong to SINGAPORE.

Going back home to fatty, friends and ba chor mee..............

But on the other hand, I will be leaving behind Tigger, really cheap xiao long bao and VERY VERY NICE resturants (which are priced at like coffee club prices, which is considered REALLY AFFORBABLE coz it will be (at least) double the price to eat at a similar place in Singapore).

The freedom I have tasted working here makes me excited and afraid at the same time of what the future holds.

It has shown me the spoils I would be able to indulge in if I get myself a decent paying job (and of course what I would be deprived off if I get a miserable paying job).

At the same time, I don't want to be stuck with a sucky job in a foreign land. I mean if I work overseas, I would have to assume that most of my friends wouldn't be with me. If the work don't occupy me, I will be driven crazy by the loneliness (yes yes I can always make new friends but that takes time, doesn't it?).

Some would argue that it all depends what you want out of life and what makes you happy. But at this point of time, my wants are APLENTY (thus conflicting at times) and I haven't quite figure out what would truly make me happy.

I thought that my experience here would help shed some light on what I might want to do in the future but I will leave here with more unanswered questions than when I came.

why obnoxious people get hired

2007-08-01T11:27:00.000+08:00

I can never understand how obnoxious people get hired.........

I mean there has got to be tell-tale signs during the interview that a person is somewhat obnoxious. Like the way he/she pronounces his/her words....... or little body gestures...... or just some kind of weird vibes........

If you are experienced enough in carrying out interviews, you would be able to identify these signs.

A new manager was hired at the company I am interning at (most of you will know which company it is)

AND my goodness............... all I can say is that thankfully my internship is ending.

This guy swears ALL the time, at almost EVERY single little thing, loud enough to be heard within a 3m radius - which is sufficient coverage in an office.

Cannot find a certain file: FUCK

Having touble understanding the development model: Jesus christ

Some other thing (like cannot find a piece of paper, another email coming in regarding work): DAMN/FUCK/SHIT

Don't know what tiggered him off: went into an empty room and shouted FUCK

*all these happened within the first week on the job - when you not even THAT loaded with work *roll eyes*

In addition, he says random things off whatever he is reading out loud.

STAMP DUTY .....

IMPOSSIBLE....

5%........ (or whatever number)

So try sitting next/behind/within the 3m radius for 8hrs...............

*eyes wide open* *kill me now*

Oh and he did the funniest thing (not the haha kind of funny, but the ridiculous kind of funny) ever on his first day of work.

He asked the HR manager whether it was alright to be late for work....................................

WHO THE HELL ASK THE HR MANAGER WHETHER HE/SHE CAN BE LATE FOR WORK??

I mean which HR manager in his/her right mind (assuming they still want to keep their job) will tell you:

"oh its alright to be late for work. Come in at whatever time you feel like. Punctuality is not something we really value in our company."

(we are talking about a corporate company in China. I mean if it was the creative industry, then my point will be rather contentious-but its still in China so then again it might not be.)

PLUS there is just something about the way he pronounces his words (back comes out as BUCK, that's comes out as TZATZ, effective comes out as EFFUCTIVE), which is always accompanied by a lazy drawl.

I think he is the kind of guy that likes to pride himself on being busy - like "LOOK AT ME! I'VE GOT SO MUCH WORK TO DO. POOR ME (but secretly enjoying it coz it only means i am important)."

On the first day of work, he kept going on about how he will most probably have no time to go out for lunch and have to take dinner in the office as well in the days to come.............. *roll eyes AGAIN*

All alittle too drama for the first day of work if you ask me

What really got to us (meaning the three interns, me included of course) though was on the first day of work when we brought him out for lunch (coz all the bosses weren't around) to a really cheap place, he didnt offer to pay for our meal.

Not that we are cheapo interns on the constant look-out for the next free meal - one of the other interns is a MBA student herself mind you and has had five years working experience in taiwan.

But its the act of offering. We would have probably said "no its ok we can pay for our own meal. It so cheap anyway." And if he wasn't that sincere in his offer, he could have just left it at there and we would have be fine with it.

And even after finding out how much we were getting as interns (miserable, miserable pay), not once did he offer us (meaning all three of us) a meal, a piece of biscuit, a bun (which he buys aplenty EVERYDAY), a drop of water......
ok got to give him some credit for offering (though I sensed him being abit reluctant but maybe its just me) to give me a 1-min taxi ride to work when I met him at the train station near our workplace. I mean if he didn't, then I think he really outta be shot.

The only reason I can think of for him to get hired is coz he got a MBA. Which still barely justify why he got hired.

He doesn't appear to have much previous experience. Speaks pass-able chinese only (his spoken chinese MIGHT very well be more painful than mine), definitely has a problem typing chinese. (my intern friend had to tell him the hanyupingying for 谢谢 (thank you) TWICE and help him type an email in chinese. ok I know that my chinese standard isnt that good either BUT I am an intern! while he is a MANAGER. Different standard will need to be applied.)

So it got me wondering honestly how or should I say why these kind of people get hired. I mean everything happens for a reason.

And I came to the conclusion that these people are actually there to help us. They are there for our bosses to see that we are able to work with difficult people and that we are team players. And thus help us get promoted.

They are also there for our bosses' bosses to see that whether our bosses are capable. If they are able to manage such difficult people then obviously that will help them in getting promoted as well.

So I guess thats looking on the brighter side of things...........

*gag* THANK GOODNESS I AM GOING BACK TO SINGAPORE ALREADY

Didn't think I would blog so fast again, did you??

2007-07-25T09:44:00.000+08:00

Yes yes I'm highly bored at work (plus the bosses are STILL away)..............

Well remember my last entry where I mentioned about women wearing their heels (PLUS their ankle-length sockings) into the water at Qingdao???

In case some of you have a problem visualising such a sight, allow me to help you out:

Yes, I wasn't exaggerating one bit.

Got to give it to those ladies though, it aint easy balancing on those rocks with those heels......

Now you might be wondering why the hell are those people hanging out on rocky banks instead of the nice sandy beaches........

Allow me to enlighten you:

Just a stick?

Plus a pail?

First attempt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOHOOOOO........ we managed to catch a grand total of -drumroll- : ONE CRAB

Catch for the day

What did you think we would do with them? Eat them? When you have had Sri Lankan chilli crabs, there is no going back.........

After a hard day's work of "crabing", we found this cool "road side stall":

Really gives a new meaning to eating on the bus huh (haha I think the Singapore Government wouldn't be pleased with this.....)

Oh did I mention that Qingdao has ALOT of dragonflies (especially after the rain)???? You just can't avoid them -

Even men's best friend doesn't stick that close......

Anyway I said I would tell you about my bus ride back Qingdao right?

The bus we took was the sleeper kind - meaning instead of chairs, you get beds (well more like mattresses).

And the agent who bought the tickets for us smartly got us beds that were near the toilet (when I used the word "smartly", it can be taken both ways - you will understand what I mean soon enough). For once in my life, I welcome the smell of smoke (yes people smoked on the bus) coz it helped mask the ...... erm well...... need-I-say-more smell.

So you have double-decked beds in three rows (one row against the left window, one row against the right window and a centre row). That would mean that by right there should be two small aisles between the rows for people to walk up and down the bus.

BUT china being china and the chinese being ruthlessly profit-driven, the aisles were converted to sleeping areas as well. So for close to 3/4 of the ride, I had a complete stranger sleeping next to me, in a proximity that intruded way into my (or should I say our) personal space. All I can say is that thank god the guy wasn't smelly and didn't snore.

Going to the toilet thus became an art. Smart navigation and precise manoeuvre skills were required in order to reach the toilet safely.

Thats not the end! Just before we reached a certian checkpoint, all those sleeping on the aisles had to get off the bus and were huddled into a small van to be brought across the checkpoint (so illegal immigrate right!!!!!!!).... all these happening at 3plus in the morning.........

What a trip home huh........

yes, STILL in china

2007-07-23T15:14:00.001+08:00

Hello hello!!!

Hmm where to do I start??

Well I just got back this morning at 6am from Qingdao and its off to work at 9...........

The only reason why I dragged my lazy self out of bed and up for work is coz all my bosses are away (back in SINGAPORE to be more precised) and I can do whatever I want (in this case: BLOG) without being sneaky about it!!

Anyway here are some of the pictures that I took for my Huangshan and Qingdao trips. All the exciting pictures are in OTHER people's cameras because I've got a digital camera with a tempermental battery :l

Huangshan:

The train ride to Huangshan wasn't that bad HONESTLY...

I blame those (OLDER) china shows for giving me the impression of china trains rides as being doggy and rather dubious.

I mean the toilets were in GO-ONLY-WHEN-ABSOLUTELY-NECEDSSARY conditions but at least our sheets were clean, the cabins were well-lit and there werent any funky smell.

I guess the train ride provided a good prelude to the trip coz it turned out to be an A-W-E-S-O-M-E adventure!!!!!!!!

Climbing Huangshan was a bitch to say the least but the scenery was fantastic. The view you get is like a painting: lush green trees with their elbony trunks set against the pristine blue sky. And just before dawn, the morning mist surrounds you while the cool breeze sweeps through the mountains.

But like all trips, there will be things that are bound to get to you and bring you back to reality. I salute those workers transporting goods up and down the mountain (YES all the sheets used in hotels up on the mountain, food and gas used for cooking in the resturants, drinks for the stalls, materials to construction are manually brought up and down the mountain EVERYDAY).

Its a shit way to earn money and tough luck that these guys have to earn it that way. Seeing them carrying their heavy load (its ard 100kg worth of stuff) and slowly making their long ascent up the steep steps, it really makes me appreciate how easy a life I have (and definitely makes me grumble much less about my internship pay).....

Qingdao:

Qingdao is supposed to be the "bali"/"phuket" of China.

But don't get your hopes to high up for those of you who are HUGE bali/phuket fans. You will be greatly disappointed.

To me, Qingdao is still considered a city; with its many high-rise buildings (and that includes the hotel buildings).

That relaxed, cosy, beach resort feeling is largely lacking (I really do attribute a large part of that to the high rise buildings). You see women wearing heels (with their ankle-length sockings) and men wearing work shoes going into the water. PLUS the water aint THAT clear.

But all the above is said in comparsion to bali/phuket. Looking at the place itself, it does have its redeeming factors.

The beaches have generally calm and cool (averaging aroud 23-24 degrees) water with soft, fine sand. It is the ideal getaway for families to spend a lazy day in each other's company. The calm water allows children play in the water without much supervision (well somehow it doesnt really apply to the chinese who pamper their ONLY kid like little kings and queens, refusing to let them out of their grasp, fussing over their kid's every whimper).

And Qingdao being where Tsingtao beer originated, is a beer heaven. There is a food street that goes on for miles just next to the brewery and stalls just roll barrels of beer across the street when they run out of beer.

With the average daily temperature range at 23-26 degrees, its provides a nice escape from the hot summer heat.

Oh there is still the bus ride back to Shanghai that is an experience I will never forget but I think I will save that for my next entry!!!!!

Till then!!!

Still stuck in China

2007-06-20T19:57:00.000+08:00

Well people, the internet connection at home is fixed (the wires were at the wrong ports *weak laugh*).......

BUT

I just realised that the internet connection at home goes through the China server and since China has banned blogspot AND wordpress, I am once again relegated to bidding my time in the office for a chance to blog.

Well I'm the last person in the office (once again), and I have to say its rather exciting!!! I can do ANYTHING (well ok not anything coz u never know if there are cameras).

Work has been alright, nothing too exciting but at least they are trying to give us work and make us feel like we are useful.

Havent really ventured out of Shanghai yet but will be soon!!! So there will be more interesting things to blog about then!

Since I have complained about the men spitting everywhere, I shall now tell you guys an interesting fact about the women here.

They don't like doors/curtains.

Yes, you saw it right. Coz that is the only plausible reason I can think of to explain why they don't close the doors/curtains when using the public toilets ESPECIALLY when bathing.
I have seen quite a few full monties and I am very tramutized.

I will need therapy when I get back to Singapore.

On a side note - to by Miss Kelly Chan: if you can read this entry without specs, CONGRATS to having perfect eyesight!!!!!!!!!!

2007-06-04T19:58:00.000+08:00

I'm not dead yet.

Its just that I can't seem to get connected online at home, so I just have to bid my time and wait for a chance to blog in the office.

I can't believe it. I think I am the last person in the office!!! But just before you guys think I'm overworked and all , the primary reason is coz its raining and I don't want to get my shoes wet coz I only have ONE PAIR of shoes and I don't want to have to wear wet, moist (= GROSS) shoes tmr.

Anyway, its been about a month already. Life in Shanghai has been alittle surreal so far. Its been like a long holiday. But reality has finally caught up and I realised that I wouldnt be getting on a plane and going home anytime soon.

I think the Singapore government will be so proud if they saw this but I MISS SINGAPORE!!!!

To those of you who gets triggered off by the annoying aunty that pushes pass you to get on the train , PLS DO NOT EVER COME TO SHANGHAI.

To those of you who value hygenie, DO NOT BOTHER COMING TO SHANGHAI. Spitting is a national past-time here. And people spit EVERYWHERE. (I nearly slipped on spit in a SHOPPING CENTRE so you go figure k)

But I guess the one thing good about being chinese in Shanghai is that you are never short of choices for food:

Just some of the sinful indulgence I have committed......

Alrighty time to head home!!! Till the next late night!!!!!!!!

Back in the Motherland

2007-05-12T14:28:00.000+08:00

Well its nearing the end of my first week in Shanghai........................

I wouldn"t say that I'm having a blast here but things have certainly improved from being bleak.............

Day 1: The weather reflecting my gloomy future

Day 2: Things were starting to look up ALITTLE

I love the whole atmosphere of this area: laid-back cottage style (WITHOUT the mad crowds)

PLUS the food is GOOD
(I'm talking about the House of Flour, haven't tried the rest yet)

BUT its Singapore-priced
( = cannot go too often, given my pay).

Day 6:
On the way home from a home-cooked-Singapore meal
(its good when friends and their family are in Shanghai (",) )

What really helps is that I have this view from the office

再见新加坡

2007-05-01T17:27:00.000+08:00

My initial plan was to have this entry in chinese...........

But I only got as far as the title............

I know I really shouldn't be whining about this internship, not alot of people have this opportunity to gain such exposure.

But my chinese (apparently mandarin is a colloquial term, in china its called 普通话 - how literal huh ) is SO BAD..............

So to all you people out there, zouk wed for one last drunken night on singapore soil to send me off with enough alcohol that I may bravely march off to the murky unknown and to a most-certain death.....

What I was I thinking??!!!

2007-04-22T14:27:00.000+08:00

Against all odds
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I got my internship to shanghai.

*gulp*

Wish me luck

ALOTS OF IT

Now if only I could figure out a way to smuggle fatty over there and back without her being quarantine........

One of the few horoscopes that actually makes sense

2007-04-05T16:49:00.000+08:00

Does you emerging confidence make you feel scornful of your old self? It is not an either/or proposition. Both of these facets are part of you. Have a little compassion for that past identity. After all, it is how you got here.

Now only if the whole world thinks this way.......

happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to.....

2007-03-25T23:38:00.000+08:00

I know its a day late but

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GERI!!!

For pictures go see kelly's blog!!

the little things in life

2007-03-20T15:37:00.000+08:00

I'm so proud of myself today

I actually managed to wake up for my 830AM class

AND

arrive before my prof!!!

*BEAMS*

give me a spartan man anytime

2007-03-14T01:00:00.000+08:00

Go tell the Spartans, passer-by,

That here, by Spartan law, we lie.

letters from iwo jima

2007-03-13T00:29:00.001+08:00

Went to watch letters from iwo jima yesterday. I have to say the show wasnt quite what I expected.

I went in fully prepared to be utterly depressed, as I always get from watching war shows.

However, I was caught by surprise how the movie played out. I was actually entertained (war shows don't entertain, most of the time they just gross you out with the gore).

Whether it was intentional or not, I don't know (As my friend and I were leaving, we overheard two people who emerged from the same cinema saying that they didn't find the show one bit funny and didn't understand why some people - guilty as charged - were laughing at certain parts).

Allow me to defend myself (I'll my best not to spoil the show for those of you who havent catch it).

There was the part where a disgraced officer, having realised his folly, decided to be a sucide bomber. The only problem was the location he chose, lying in wait for a passing tank, was either (a) not part of the route the americans took for their invasion of the island or (b) the americans had already past through and advanced on.

So there he lay waiting......... and waiting...... and waiting........

Smart directing from clint eastwood, where a cross fire scene with the surviving japanese soldiers desperately trying to make their way to safety jumps to the silent scene where the officer slowly sits up and yells "where are the bloody tanks?!", prompted my friend to comment "dude, the war end already lah".

Then there was the last part where one of the characters appeared with a shovel. It was supposed to be a very solemn scene but the character with his trusty shovel totally ticked me. Maybe it was the way his character was played out throughout the show which gave me the comic vibe, or maybe it was the way he importantly tucked his shovel to his side like it was a useful weapon (of course, that is debatable).

Like I said, whether clint eastwood intentionally injected humour into the show, I don't know (I haven't watched enough shows to know his directive style). But it works for me. It humanised the show and allowed me to better identify with the characters.

Of course there are alot of other thought-evoking scenes I took away from the show but I don't want to ramble. Watch the show yourself and discover the subtle details. Its movies like this one that makes me willing to part with my money that contribute to the luxury lifestyle that hollywood stars can afford.

In dedication to my tree trunk's grassy shoes

2007-02-28T21:34:00.000+08:00

My GREEN "not so surprise" party

2007-02-27T12:02:00.000+08:00

Well my not-so-surprise 21st birthday party happened yesterday.

I realised that surprise parties only work for people with(a majority of) punctual friends. Unfortunately, I do not belong to that group. Hahaha I guess its a classic example of birds of the same feathers flock together......

Still I would like to give a shout-out to all those who came: thanks for making the effort to turning up (and at least staying for awhile)!!! Sorry I was all over the place, hope you guys managed to entertain yourselves!!!

To those who didn't know/didn't get a formal invitation to the party, I'm so

SORRY!!! Coz I didn't know the details of the party it was kinda hard to just mass invite and i didnt know who were invited already!!!! Will make up for it (somehow)!!!

A really big hug (plus kiss *muacks*) to the masterminds and fellow accomplices behind Project Fatty - you know who you guys are!!!

(I realised that I have only a fraction of whatever LITTLE pictures that were taken - as usual - so people out there with pictures, pls send to me!)

its all in the voice?

2007-02-16T00:12:00.000+08:00

Worthy quote

2007-02-10T22:23:00.000+08:00

Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing; a confusion of the real with the ideal never goes unpunished.

Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Bali... Its all in the pictures

2007-02-07T23:28:00.001+08:00

its a men's world?

2007-02-07T20:17:00.000+08:00

my msn nick:

guys, pls work hard and earn lots of money so that the woman you love wouldnt be subjected to the horrid working world

Responses (all from guys):

girls, then please learn to cook and clean

girls, please work hard and find a guy that will rather work their balls off to pay for your MIU MIU and not see you

ladies, please work hard and earn lots of money so that the guy you love wouldnt be subjected to the horrid working world

Yet another unproductive day

2007-01-30T17:57:00.000+08:00

I am horrible!!!!!!!

I'm suppose to be working on my outline for one of my THREE term papers today which is actually due today but my prof so kindly extended the dateline to thurs :)

And what do I do with the extra time???? (which I so desperately needed coz I only really started on my outline YESTERDAY)

I spent the day:

1. changing my blogskin (which I have to say I'm very pleased with!)

2. surfing other people's blogs

instead of heading down to the National Library (which was the original plan) to work on my paper.

:l

Ok I realised I'm turning into a whiner and looking back on my past entries, I realised my entries these days arent as entertaining as the previous ones!!

So in an attempt to up the entertainment value of my blog, here are some videos that I found (two were from pei ling's blog, thanks girl! haha) that I totally love and I think you guys will too!!

Enjoy!

Also check out http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=21380

2007-01-29T20:10:00.000+08:00

Well the past few weeks have been interesting..........

First there was helping kelly move into her new house.....

Found some hidden "secrets" that should remain hidden (or revealed to only REALLY close friends to laugh really hard at and then QUICKLY be kept in storage again)...

Then there was a childhood friend's 21st birthday party. My my how time flies. The below picture was taken at MY 9th birthday party 12 years ago. He is the little "botak" boy in blue.

And 12 years later????

Alittle taller with abit more hair BUT still the same!!!

Muahahaha Happy Birthday, Alfred!!!

(well chances are he wouldnt see this EVER coz he doesnt know about this blog lol.... that is unless my sis tells his sis to tell him to check it out..... haha yea its a long connection)

2007-01-20T10:26:00.000+08:00

Canto drama's advice on how to behave with your guy:

Throw yourself at him while feigning shyness

Rain rain go away, come again another day?

2007-01-12T21:36:00.000+08:00

Its raining............................. AGAIN.....................

I know its crazy to say this

BUT

I actually do love to walk in the rain (its of course nicer with an umbrella).

I love the fresh, cool air blowing against my face.

And when I do get caught in the rain, I love the feeling of raindrops beating on my face and then just slipping away, washing away whatever that was there.

However I have to admit that on such days, I do sometimes wish to have someone who I can cuddle up with, who will put a protective arm around my shoulders and keep me warm.

Maybe its coz I get cold easily. (haha yes yes, I know you are going "yar right")

And plus the fact that I don't particularly like being cold.

I mean if I like the cold, I wouldn't be wishing to be warm (and therefore I wouldnt need someone to cuddle up with to keep warm).

RIGHT?

2007-01-11T22:30:00.000+08:00

Well school has started and I have to say that it hasn't been all that bad.

I mean this sem's modules require me to do well so I'm a tad nervous and worried. After today's classes, I realised I can't afford to slack too much and be lazy and not do my readings.

But somehow at this very moment I feel that its a do-able task. Like its a fresh start to wipe away my HORRID results of last sem.

Maybe it has something to do with reformating my computer! (haha I know the link might be ABIT off) Its like a sign, you know. A new start. A fresh start.

Like even the laptop is in "new" working condition!!!

Hopefully this will last throughout the semester!!!

2006-12-28T18:08:00.000+08:00

An old friend messaged me out of the blue two days ago (yes if you are smart enough, you would have figured out that this is a SPECIAL friend for I wouldnt have brought it up otherwise).

You know how you will have a certain significant person at different phrases of your life? Well this friend was mine during my jc days.

So with the messages, a trip down memory lane was taken. I guess I will always have a soft spot for him because

1. back then, I was fresh out of an all-girls school where I had ZERO contact with the male species for 4 yrs(not counting my dad of course) so he was kinda my first encounter with the male species since primary school (it definitely didnt hurt that he was actually good-looking)

2. in a way, he influenced the person that I am today. And when a guy does that, I guess its a little hard to simply just forget about him even when the feelings of like isnt there anymore

3. most importantly perhaps is that we never really started anything. I think he suspected I liked him and flirted while I gave away just enough to keep the flirting coming (haha I know I'm shameless). But we left it as just that. And you know what? Its perfect. No bad fights or ugly fallouts.

Those were fun times and its funny to look back and see how life has since changed.

He is no longer the one that I secretly wish to bump into or causes me to constantly check my phone to see if he messages or want to call up and tell abt that amusing/funny thing that just happened to me or want to know everything about like how his day went or cant get out of my head.

But its was good while it lasted.

2006-12-21T23:13:00.000+08:00

In the corporate world, there is no such thing as a bad leader. Just the wrong person for the position.

Solution?

They get fired and someone else takes the spot.

But what do you when this happens domestically? How do you "fire" that person from that position?

You can't.

You just have to suffer under the bad leadership (now this exist) and pray like hell that you make it in life and earn lots of money and move out.

2006-12-21T13:19:00.000+08:00

Alright I know it has been a MIGHTY long time since I last blogged....

To be honest, there hasn't been much to blog about.... Life has been.........

well just that : dotting along

Had a few plans for these hols:

1. Go to Cebu (F.Y.I : its in the Philippines) for diving. - But in the end didnt go coz the mummy refused to pay for the trip (coz there was the bali one - of which I STILL don't have all the pictures)

2. Lose weight. - But I'm still ....... Let's just say that its still approximately the same number (or could be ABIT more to the right side of the weighing scale, havent had the courage to step on to find out)

Well actually thats all I had planned. I somehow thought that people would ask me out to fill up the time in between. But I have restorted to working at my sis's freezer-of -an office instead. But the pay is GOOD and i'm gaining work experience to put on resume blah blah blah..... (yes dont need to rub it in : there is NO ONE who wants to go out with me)

Cheers to my " FABULOUS" life

2006-11-16T00:07:00.000+08:00

Its one of those nights that the world makes you feel awefully small and helpless.

Why do I say that?

Well for one, I have just barely over a week left to study for my finals and lets just say that I'll be praying very hard for divine help.

But the main reason was coz of an article in the Straits Times I read while I had to answer nature's call. The title of the article: Fallout from nuke test: Pyongyang faces famine. It was basically about how humanitarian aid dropped following an international outcry after Pyongyang carried out a nuclear test in Oct. And as such, Pyongyang is faced with a possible famine in the coming winter months.

I mean no government is prefect, but this nuclear test decision by the North Korean government seriously takes the cake. Did you know that 15% of North Korea's GDP is channelled to the military, even in times of famine??????

I'm like thinking why has there been no revolt??? Why havent the ordinary people of Korea stood up for themselves??? And then I get my answer in a subsequent paragraph: About 40% of children under 6 yrs old are chronically malnourished while a third of mothers are malnourished and anaemic. The ordinary people dont have the energy(literally), thats why.

I'm taking democracy this term and we learn all about types of government (totalitrian, sultanism, blah, blah, blah), parliament, institutionalization, legislature (blah, blah, blah) ........ And to be honest, I dont understand what all that means half the time (and of course I'm not implying that North Korea will be better off with a democratic government. I'll leave that arguement to the many political scientisits out there who know these stuff alot better) and it makes the government out to be just this THING ( an object, nothing more ) BUT I do know this:

A government is made up of human beings.

So how the hell can any government in the world be so blind to the suffering of its people??? I mean I'm still taking my econs degree but doesnt channelling 15% of GDP to the military just seem to be a LITTLE allocative inefficient when practically half the nation is starving????

Its sad. Honestly. Many lives lost and ruined under the hands of just a few.

And I can see the rationale behind the dip in aid. Not that its the IDEAL decision to make but I can understand why it was made (or even do I dare say it: why it HAD to be made). But its frustrating. Why should a few million people pay with their lives for a decision that they had no part in?? How many lives will it need to take to for a few to develop a conscience and some common sense to make the right decisions......... And as outsiders, do we necessarily have to make such a choice and hope that the dire consequences will drive the desired change? Can we take such a gamble? By making such a choice can we still say we have a conscience?

These are tough questions to which I dont have answers to.......

This is turning out to be a depressing night........

2006-11-14T16:17:00.000+08:00

well the term is coming to an end.....................

which means exams are just round the corner.............

I'm quite screwed..........

Ok i'm quite lazy to write on more stuff.......

2006-10-30T22:23:00.000+08:00

I make a horrid political scientist.

2006-10-24T20:38:00.000+08:00

Why is it so hard to let go.....

2006-10-23T22:49:00.000+08:00

Its hari raya eve and most people would be out, making merry and having fun......

But me...........

I'm stuck at home, working on my project (which I was already working on the night before) while my (MUCH) older sister - she didnt even know that clubs started having ladies nights and her favourite club is ( should be was) centro (which closed down TWO YEARS ago) - is out clubbing.........

As miss kelly chan said: "whoever said uni life is fun ought to be shot"

2006-10-15T18:08:00.000+08:00

I got asked this qns three consecutive days - What kind of guy you like?

Weirdly enough, I found myself not really knowing how to respond to the qns. So I went home and thought long and hard about it. And my ans is as simple as this:

I want a guy who lets me hold the remote control

2006-10-14T00:21:00.000+08:00

Well its friday of break week...........

which means school's starting on monday and my break week past SUPER uneventfully........

My bali trip totally killed this week for me... No matter what I did this week, it simply couldn't be compared to the week spent in bali....

Sigh........

In fact, bali kinda killed school PERIOD............

The company on the bali trip was awesome though!

Ryanlamer lived up to his name, daryl was a tad unlucky ( sprained ankle even before diving started, running out of air and thus didn't catch the mola mola, sore throat - ok that one almost all of us got it towards the end of the trip), mary was the resident pharmacist, angie was my atm (i'll pay u back soon! I promise!) and rommie, sherwin was the manual washing machine, jeremy aka xiao hei was my koko crunch/doughnut partner and jess was my personal camera woman (haha ok she was kind enough to help me take photo on her cam coz i smartly didnt bring mine)

Diving in bali was a totally different experience too. I mean the water was C-O-L-D yet in a strangely fantastic way. Maybe it was coz we knew that we were able to see the manta and mola BECAUSE it was cold that made it awesome (ok I hope that made sense). The corals were B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Everything just seemed so much more alive and vibrant (compared to malaysia) underwater.

Oh did I mention that the water was like crystal clear??? Its like we were at 20 over metres close to 30m and you look up and you are able to see the surface as if you were only at 5m???

Sigh....... typing all these just makes me miss bali even more!!!!!!!!!!

Crap

I need another adventure trip SOON...

P.S Photos will be up soon once I get all of them

2006-10-03T21:43:00.000+08:00

i'm back from bali!!!!!!!

It was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Will blog more about it at a later date coz this week is BADDDD

the price I have to pay for enjoying life..........

2006-09-26T22:58:00.000+08:00

Leaving for bali tomorrow..............

I should be excited........................

I mean I guess I am to some extent........................

But
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can't help worrying
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MID-TERMS are a mjaor bummer (I have THREE the week I get back.... just kill me now....)

Oh and there is just the little issue of me going there myself (coz everyone else left today and I can't leave today coz i still have lesson tmr)......

Sigh........

2006-09-22T11:03:00.000+08:00

Well this post is written after two straight nights of clubbing, so if my language is less than perfect.............................. give me a break k?

Have been spending quite abit of time around people these days and today is the first time in weeks since I had some alone time with myself.

I love to just spend the whole day at home alone (and of course miss fatty is included even though i say alone ), doing random things, being myself. Its a habit probably developed from years of being left alone while the parents went to work.

But I think I have grown so accustom to being alone that I guard myself against people. I'm terrified of meeting people for the first time( I know you are saying "yar RIGHT" but its true). I mean first there is the awarkard part of trying to make conversation. If that turns out fine, there is the second awarkard meeting of whether the person will acknowlegde you.

I guess it does hurt alittle when people don't acknowledge you. Maybe thats what I'm really afraid of, being hurt. People can be cruel ( me included). And it sucks when they hurt you, because they make you feel like a fool for believing that they were your friend, that they really cared about you, that you actually opened up to them only to be ridiculed. Its like a slap in your face, telling you that you are not good enough as a person ( as if we don't get enough of that in school... ok this doesnt apply to all you smarties out there).

I guess there is a reason why they say that your closest friends in life are made during primary/secondary school. Coz we havent learnt to be mean and cruel yet.

A friend told me recently that it was getting alot harder to make friends and open up to people. I totally agree with her. But we cannot jolly well hole ourselves at home ALL the time right?

So there can be only one solution: Develop really thick skin and be mean and cruel back! ( haha ok I don't really mean the last part)

To getting drunk and giving a ratsass to what the world thinks of you!!!!!!!!

2006-09-15T12:29:00.000+08:00

Eugene, I blame you for turning brenda into a serial molestor.

2006-09-08T17:10:00.000+08:00

Today is just one of those days that everything that can go wrong, does..... and everything that should go right, doesn't...........

First: The fins that I have patiently waited for two WHOLE, long months finally came. Just that they are in the wrong size.

Second: Spent the whole afternoon cleaning up the living room coz some contractor came to drill some hole in the wall. Only to have fatty decide it was too clean for her liking and pee-ed all over the floor within five minutes when I was finally done.

Third: It looks like its going to rain and i'm suppose to go play tennis ltr.

ok whatever.................

2006-09-05T09:57:00.000+08:00

I'm sick

And I think my medication makes me alittle high (i'm becoming a drug addict!)

Everything is abit weird in school now, even the trip to the doctor was weird. I went into the doctor's office:

he: How are you today?

me: Sick

he: I thought you were chinese.

The funniest part was it took me like 2 seconds to understand what he said. (HEY i'm sick ok cut me some slack)

Anyway it's only the 3rd week of school and already I feel like I'm falling behind.........

I must do something about it. I was way too slack last year, can't let it repeat again. I need to find myself a study buddy.

2006-08-29T17:38:00.000+08:00

I dont believe it!!!!!!! I think they blocked MSN!!!!!!!!!!!

IN SCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The world is in its end days ............... We are all going to die.........................

2006-08-25T17:15:00.000+08:00

What happens in the club stays in the club

Yes everyone should adopt this policy.

2006-08-19T18:58:00.000+08:00

Today is NOT a good day and definitely not a good way to end the holidays and start the school term...............................................................

What happened?????

Simple. I scratched my dad's car.

And its a PATCH.

And the patch is GREEN. (my dad's car is black)
*personally i think the green is nice. I mean since it's scratched might as well be a colour I like right?

And because I was too obsessed with trying to "rub" the PATCH of scratch off, I forgot to lock the car door.

KILL ME NOW (my dad is out getting dinner now. PLEASE let dinner be GOOD)

2006-08-03T13:15:00.000+08:00

I just realised that my last few entries have been done on my sis's mac.............

I really do like typing on a mac.... (haha ok abit out of point)

Shit. Should have asked my mummy to get a mac instead of an IBM. Didnt know that mac was cheaper..... oh wells......

Anyway went to east coast park with kelly and (apparently its HER friend and not mine as well so I cant use OUR friend) weixuan yesterday on impulse. haha and coz it was an impulse trip, I was of course not properly attired. While the two of them rode bikes, poor me had to rollerblade behind them coz I was in skirt ( a SHORT denmin skirt to be exact).

My goodness...................................................

First of all, the blades were rented and they were like SUPER worn out and at times felt like they were going to fall off my feet. Second of all, since it has been a long time since I have actively bladed or cycled for that matter, I kinda forgot how fast bikes went and how fast (worn out) blades had to go to keep up with bikes.

And as we all know how unfit I have become, it was quite the challenge to keep up. ( haha but i made kelly chan pull me up slope with her bike coz it was just too unglamourous to try to do it in a skirt. THINK LEGS OPEN AND ARMS PUMPING REAL HARD - not a pretty sight in skirt.)

Anyway the day ended pretty well with my parents coming to get me and me managing to convince my mummy to share half of the fee to join amore ( i really need to do something abt my fitness)!!! :)

AMORE here I come!!!!!!

2006-07-30T21:21:00.000+08:00

okok i know it has been a NONG, NONG time since I blogged.

Have been kinda busy and lazy to update my blog....................

Well where do I start???

Went to tinggi (again), got pissed drunk and vomitted for the first time (not an experience I want to relive), helped out for econs orientation camp ( I have to admit the yr 1 guys are NOT TOO BAD...) , going for a shoot tmr ( desiree, you owe me... haha)...........

I'm getting pretty good at SUMMARY man (why was this not the case in secondary sch and jc???)

2006-07-16T20:00:00.000+08:00

Well I have been relief teaching for the past week at Henry Park Primary School.

My goodness.................................................

They are SUPER HYPER!!!!!

Now I finally understood what my teachers meant when they say we "DROWNED" them out. Can u imagine a class of 30plus excited students speaking at the same time??? Like who do you pay attention to???? All of them are vying for your attention!! *shake head*

But I have to say, looking back at them brought back alot of memories
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there are still the super smarties in class who finish papers abnormally fast, then there are the class clowns that makes the class so lively, the girls who behave all "grown-up" , the boylish, cute boys that have the potential to become real heartbreakers in the future, the in-class gossips of who-likes-who and the accompanying silly confessions that becomes so hard to express with age, the excitement generated when you say the magical words " you can do whatever you want" , the favourite lesson- PE..............

I miss those innocent, childish days...............

2006-07-08T22:04:00.000+08:00

Drove out with my mum for the first time for dinner tonight...................

It wasnt too bad....................

Until on the way home
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This car in front of me braked to a stop suddenly (and although i had kept a distance, I was going quite fast) So out of my mouth, the words " that driver is a f**ker lah" flew.

OOOOOPPPPPPSSSSSS

2006-07-07T03:33:00.000+08:00

I managed to irritate miss kelly chan the moment I see her online after not having heard from her like in a week??? ( she was off shopping in Hong Kong) haha....

The reason?

Coz I commented that I don't really believe in monogamy (in support of another friend's view of which miss kelly chan didn't agreed with). I do believe that a person is capable of loving two people at the same time. So I mean monogamy kinda loses its purpose, doesnt it?

Why? Because I believe that some lovers are just not destine to be together.

And you know what?

It doesn't mean that they will stop loving everyone else all together just coz they couldn't be with each other. (oh please, no one is that noble. We all have our weak moments.)

People move on. We learn to love another.

Thats how we managed to survive all these centuries.

And when we do move on, it doesnt mean either that we will forget that one true love we had. We keep the memories in our hearts.

Don't get what I'm trying to say? ( well I have never been too fantastic at expressing myself with words)

Please watch the movie THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (it gets a little draggy but the ending is where my point is made). It is one love story that truly manages to capture the realism of love.

P.S (to kelly): I know the case we were talking abt is slightly different, but this is what I mean when I said that I don't believe in monogamy.... So don't get so annoyed k :)

2006-06-30T11:41:00.000+08:00

I'm a horrible driver!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost killed my friends last night lah!!!!!!!!!

FIRST

I was changing from the outer most right lane to the centre lane (the road along Little India MRT station after you come out of ECP and pass bugis going towards newton).

Then this white car on the outer most left lane decided to change into the centre lane AT THE SAME TIME!

So me being a much less experienced driver (the white car was driven by an uncle), of course had to give way to him.

As I have said, me being the much less experienced driver of course got flushed. I veered back into my lane alittle too enthusiastically and well.......... I mounted the the centre divider!!!!

My goodness! My heart just stopped coz I was POSITIVE that I had scratched my dad's car along the metal divider!!!!!!!!!!!

At the next traffic light, I stuck my head out of the window to check the damage. I saw NOTHING!!! haha not a scratch!!!!!!!!! wah!!!!! freaking lucky!!!!!!!!

SECOND

Just when I thought that things couldn't get any worse, on the way home, I exited the wrong exit on PIE.

I was supposed to turn into PIE (Changi Airport) but I was in the lane that turned into PIE (Upper Serangoon Road) instead.

Ok so never mind, I kinda knew the way back in to PIE coz my dad used to send miss kelly chan back (miss kelly chan used to stay in that area until she moved to somewhere even further). But I made the mistake of listening to my friend in the car, giving me directions.

Then at the traffic junction just after exiting PIE, I heard him say:

".... got green turning arrow..." (coz he told me to turn right)

And so happens, as I was reaching the traffic light, it turned red. But me, having heard what I thought my friend said, continued on. WAH all the cars started moving off (there was no green turning arrows) and of course you could hear "BBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKK"

I almost killed my friends lah!!!!!!!

Man............... I'm so traumatized by the whole epsoide....................

But after a good night's sleep, I woke up feeling much better. I mean people do stupid things on the road ALL THE TIME!!!!!

Ok I know this is NOT an excuse for me to be a reckless driver but I can't let ONE bad driving experience keep me off the road right? ( I mean that is as good as flushing the money I spent learing how to drive down the drain)

Lesson learnt:

1. Always see for yourself the conditions on the road. Don't take for granted what your friends tell you.

2. Take your time to change lanes. Very most if you missed your turn, just go one big round (just remember to pump petrol to make up for it so your dad wouldn't get so pissed)

Anyway, another reason that made me feel much better today is this:

2006-06-30T11:39:00.000+08:00

I woke up and found that fatty had lay claim to my mambo bag...... haha

She never fails to cheer me up!!!!!

I LOVE YOU, FATTY!!!!!!!!!!

2006-06-28T17:48:00.000+08:00

they blocked e-messenger!!!!!!

And I got no one to blame except myself!!!!! the stupid window popped up when the IT guy was just next to me!! Then he was like " I thought I blocked MSN already....."

When I came back from lunch, the URL to e-messenger was BLOCKED!!!!!!!!

Then i was just eating a packet of rasins and I was almost done with it when
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I saw a worm crawling inside!!!!!!!!!!!!! (yes the yellow, translucent kind)

this is really not my day!!!!!!!!!

2006-06-27T21:09:00.000+08:00

Well I still can't find my bluetooth device.........................

I have to resort to "selling" pictures off people's friendster profiles................

Where is my freaking bluetooth device?????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway just came back from my trip to tinggi. Of course it was a totally different experience (how could it be the same without the gang - angie, jeremy, ah bao, joe, michelle, jack, vincent, william....). But nonetheless very fun :) ......

I was almost struck by lightening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to uncle thomas, we were on the jetty when suddenly the entire sky lit up!!!!!!!!!

Wah the first thing I did was to fall flat on the floor ( together with f**k coming out of my mouth) I seriously thought the lightening was going to struck us!

Then from where we were, we saw a bolt of lightening cut across the sky and struck a tree on the beach!!! A little fire started!!!!!!!! My goodness........

2006-06-16T00:03:00.000+08:00

I'm freaking annoyed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't find my bluetooth device that allows me to transfer pictures from my phone to my com!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blogging without pictures is just not fun.................. So people, please hope that I find that stupid device soon. If not, this entry will be stagnant at this very spot for a NONG, NONG time.....

2006-06-10T21:54:00.000+08:00

I passed my driving test!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( FINALLY... its about time man)

And (thats not all...)

I got to drive on 3 expressways in one night 5 days after passing ALL BY MYSELF *beams*

Anyway, to kelly - my name is so much cooler than yours lah

jasmin
interj. casual greeting."Jasmin, dude." "Jasmin."

2006-06-02T20:29:00.000+08:00

I have gossip to tell.....................................

But now is not the time to say...........................

Muahahahahahaha..........................

2006-05-31T21:50:00.000+08:00

work wasn't that bad today...........

Calling up the embassies wasnt as trumatizing as I thought it would be (trust me I was REALLY dreading work because of this. I was even contemplating quiting to avoid calling them up.)

Just as I thought that the day was turning out much better than expected
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Of course something had to happen

and of course it had to do with computers.............

all the information that I got from the embassies disappeared!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The stupid excel programme just suddenly decided that it had to shut down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And smart me didn't save as I went along......

So everything disappeared!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm too upset to continue blogging anymore...........

* heartache*

2006-05-28T12:29:00.000+08:00

ok peepies i know its been awhile.............

BUT

the sad truth is that there is really not much to blog about.

The reason?

I have started work.

My nice gorgerous tan from diving is fading, lunch hour is the most exciting part of the day, and from 3pm I become incapable of doing anything productive except msn to countdown until I knock off.

And you know what? I just heard that at my workplace, they are going to block msn from 1st June onwards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

Its time to find a new job...................

Anyway met up with my diving friends at the mind cafe last night. First, we played jenga. And I am proud to announce that I did not have to do any forfeit!!! (yay!!! my luck is changing)

But the real fun begun when we played taboo. Vincent tickled (oh tickle was one of the words haha) me so bad that I almost cried from laughing.

Background: Vincent and Jack were one team. Vincent was suppose to guess the word which was Tom Hanks.

Jack: the da Vinci Code's lead actor

Vincent: ok

Muahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!! Vincent, you are damn hilarious..............

2006-05-15T22:32:00.000+08:00

I'm back!!!!!!!!!!! Tinggi was fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok the journey from Singapore to Tinggi was miserable. This was because customs was a nightmare! People were cutting queues, babies and kids were screaming and the queue that I was in was hardly moving..................

That was not the worst part!!!!!!!!!! The worst part was the ferry ride to the island.

By the time we reached the pier to take the ferry to telok tinggi, it was like 1 am. And it was freaking cold because smart me didnt bring a jacket ( I mean seriously i was going on a diving trip to a topical island. It didnt occur to me that I would be cold). Throughout the whole boat ride, I was freezing my butt off!!!

When we finally reached telok tinggi at 4am, all I wanted to do was to get into bed.

In the morning (ok technically, when we reached it was morning) when the sun was up, this was what greeted me
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2006-05-15T22:31:00.000+08:00

crystal clear water

2006-05-15T22:25:00.000+08:00

the island life

2006-05-15T22:22:00.000+08:00

the jetty

2006-05-15T22:20:00.000+08:00

night view from the boat

2006-05-15T22:19:00.000+08:00

one of the dive sites

2006-05-15T22:16:00.000+08:00

Other than diving, we did some trekking!!!! I was off to see my very first waterfall!!!!

View from the top...............

2006-05-15T22:14:00.000+08:00

finally!!! the waterfall...............

2006-05-15T22:11:00.000+08:00

the two hot babes!!! muahaha
(ok i dont look good in this picture
but thats not the point =p )

2006-05-15T22:07:00.000+08:00

the gang

2006-05-15T21:57:00.000+08:00

Finally on the last day, after NINE dives, the bus ride back to Singapore was the perfect opportunity to get some rest................

BUT

the bus ride was so bumpy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have pictures to prove it k!!!! could hardly get a focused shot!!!!!!!!

2006-05-15T21:48:00.000+08:00

BUT there were those who still managed to sleep......... Our cheeky dive masters went round and started taking pictures of these unsuspecting "victims"
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eugene

2006-05-15T21:46:00.000+08:00

Ryan (dive master) and michelle (my roomie)

2006-05-15T21:44:00.000+08:00

thomas (instructor and owner of sunny cove)...

2006-05-15T21:31:00.000+08:00

people who made the trip all the more fun!!!!
Back row(left): vincent, jack, baoshun, jeremey,
angie
Front row(left): I forgot her name!! (opps),
william(instructor), grace (dive master),
me, eugene

I miss diving already!!!!!!!!!!

2006-05-10T21:34:00.000+08:00

I'm leaving for tinggi tmr!!!!!!!!!!

So if anything happens to me over there, for example

if my tank runs out of air ( its air ok pple? Not oxygen! AIR )................

OR

I get entangled in some seaweed.....................

OR

the boat went back to shore without me (this apparently happened to someone on a smux trip before) ....................

this will be my last entry.....................................

EVER..........................................

In case you havent figured it out yet, I'm heading to tinggi on a diving trip (i'm not going with smux)!

Wish me luck people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally some excitement during my summer break!!!!

2006-04-30T23:16:00.000+08:00

I spent the whole afternoon today watching a walk to remember on youtube.........

This show is super nice and sweet and sappy and ultra sad and always makes me cry when I watch it. (yes I was crying all afternoon to my computer screen)

So I decided that EVERY GUY should watch this movie once in their lives so that they will learn how to LOVE a girl/woman.

And since i'm so freaking bored these days, my goal is to make sure that as many guys watch it as possible!!!!!!

my first victim:

king yau says:
didnt watch it la... going to watch this kinda movie with a few guys is damn gay

king yau says:
u got the dvd ah

jasmin says:
its on youtube

jasmin says:
actually

jasmin says:
yar its a typical couples movie

jasmin says:
or single girls movie

jasmin says:
haha

jasmin says:
actually guys SHOULD watch this kind of movie

jasmin says:
that way you all learn all the right moves!!!!!!!!

king yau says:
okok i'll suggest it to my frens

king yau says:
then we beg steal borrow the dvd n watch together

jasmin says:
GOOD

2006-04-28T19:39:00.000+08:00

Realised that it was looking a little orange tonight so I went out into my balcony and saw this
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just thought I would share it with you all........ It looks alot better "live" though

2006-04-27T22:36:00.000+08:00

My cedar friends are wild!!!!!!

I went clubbing with them last night and they got me freaking high/drunk.

( I don't really know whether one is considered drunk when I was fully aware of what I was talking abt when I spoke but I couldn't control the words that came out.)

The flaming lamborghini did me in. (we had others besides that, so go figure how far gone I was)

Of course that led to alot of funny things coming out of my mouth. (thankfully vomit was not one of them)

One such funny case that tickled dear kelly so much:

I was dancing with my friends and this guy next to me dancing with his friend turned to me -

he: My friend wants to dance with you.

me: I can't remember what I said but it wasn't a NO

some adjustment of position by that friend to end up dancing next to me ltr....

me: You want to dance with me?

guy's friend: Yar you dance quite well

me: Shut up and dance

Anyway I found the ultimate cure for hangovers!!!!!!!!!!

Minced pork noodles

I'm serious!! I had a bowl before heading home and I feel almost normal today.........

P.S : a shout-out to my supper buddy for getting me home!! thanks pal!!!! And to my cedar friends : i LOVE you girls!!!! *big muacks*

2006-04-21T21:11:00.000+08:00

I finally wakeboarded today after having survived this sem of school without wakeboarding at all.

It felt so good!!!!!!!

The wind blowing in my hair, the sun beaming down on my face..........

Thats the life man.........

But since I have not wakeboarded (or remotely exercising for that matter) for months, I almost died.

Trying to hold on to a handle that is attached to a speeding boat is no joke man!!! And me being me, couldn't really control what I was trying to do. I ended up jumping over the wake (and of course I didn't make it) when all I wanted was to cross it (there is a difference k : cross= glide, jump= in the air).

But things got better but my goodness I'm really getting old lah......... After awhile, I was like just being dragged by the boat. Thank goodness I ate quite alot before we started if not I would have never made it!!!!!

Anyway some pictures for those of you who have never been on a boat......

2006-04-21T21:07:00.000+08:00

view of the evening sky

2006-04-21T21:04:00.000+08:00

the boys in my boat
and yes I was the only girl

2006-04-21T20:59:00.000+08:00

And when we finally returned back to shore
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rain, rain go away, come again
another day.......

Our timing couldn't have been more perfect. Well that ended off a really tiring BUT super fun wakeboarding session.

I am so going to ache all over tmr.