Mems with no recollection

I kinda went through some of my blog posts and while it brought back some memories, I also realised that there are many other archives that I no longer remember.

Most of the links to other blogs under DRIFTERS are also broken. I am rather surprised to find out about those that are still alive.

I once told a somebody (genuinely forgotten who it was), that it would be cool to simply continue recording events in this online diary. When we are in our 60's or 80's; when we become tech-savvy grannies; when we have nothing better to do; we will be seated in front of the computer, dressed in sheer tops and denim shorts, having a good laugh at all that we've done in the past half-century.

Well, better practise what I preach.

Today, my house got delivered a new armchair. My parents secretly bought it from IKEA on Sunday.
Sneaky.

It's cool, we never had an armchair in the house before. It has always been sofas. It was a refreshing addition, but somehow, it doesn't really look like it fit into the house decor.

Maybe it just needs some time to make friends with the rest of the furniture. Just don't let me catch them with a morning wood. whut?!

I'm old enough to make jokes like that. If you didn't understand that, you are not old enough, which means I don't know you, so shoo.

I'm watching you, Claire. 

We flew to China to look for Soo

It has been exactly a week after flying back from Shanghai and I'm still feeling post-withdrawal symptoms.

I'm kind, not weak

It's a serious misconception that kindness is something that people will and CAN take advantage of.
I don't think that's ethical. You don't go up to someone and get them to do work for you because they are kind and you know they will help you for sure. But being "too kind" is what I always hear.

"You're too kind, people will step all over you."
"You're too kind, you will lose out."
"You're too kind, people will take advantage of you."
"You're too kind, you will end up doing more work."

"Learn to reject."

The fact is, there are some truth in the above quotes but I feel that it's not something to overreact about because I do know when I should be rejecting.

My mum always thinks that I get the shorter end of the stick because I'm "too kind". Yes, that's true sometimes; but I like being kind, and helping people. The feeling afterwards is satisfying; It enriches my soul. I believe in humanity and somewhat, karma. But I don't do kind things because I hope something good in particular will happen to me, but I do hope that by living a good life, my life will be great.


Wish Of The Day: I wish people can see my that my kindness is not a weakness. And being helpful is not my Achille's heel.

我把悲伤留给自己

今天不知为什么哼起了这首歌，所以就在网上搜寻了歌词。


詞曲 陳昇
歌手 陳昇

能不能讓我　陪著妳走　即然妳說　留不住妳
回去的路　有些黑暗　擔心讓妳　一個人走

我想是因為　我不夠溫柔　不能分擔　妳的憂愁
如果這樣　說不出口　就把遺憾　放在心中

把我的悲傷　留給自己　妳的美麗　讓妳帶走
從此以後　我再沒有　快樂起來的理由
把我的悲傷　留給自己　妳的美麗　讓妳帶走
我想我可以忍住悲傷　可不可以　妳也會想起我

是不是可以　牽妳的手呢　從來沒有　這樣要求
怕妳難過　轉身就走　那就這樣吧　我會了解

把我的悲傷　留給自己　妳的美麗　讓妳帶走
從此以後　我再沒有　快樂起來的理由
我想我可以忍住悲傷　假裝生命中沒有妳
從此以後　我在這裡　日夜等待　妳的消息

能不能讓我　陪著妳走　即然妳說　留不住妳
無論妳在　天涯海角　是不是妳　偶爾會想起我
可不可以　妳也會想起我　可不可以　可不可以
可不可以

A Different Kind of Happiness

Crystal replied to my Skype messages today, and I'm so glad that I am finally speaking to her personally.

Earthquake in Nepal, And My Friend Is There

An earthquake of 7.8 magnitude occurred in Nepal on Saturday.

I didn't know about it until I woke up on late Sunday morning and my friends, Celeste, and Sangitha were talking about it in our group chat.

My friend, Crystal Ong – an avid traveller – is there in Nepal and the last I heard from her, she will be going to Kathmandu to settle her India visa. But that was last Sunday and I wanted to be more certain of her recent whereabouts so I checked her Instagram. Five days ago, she visited the White Gambu, which is in Kathmandu - exactly where the earthquake had hit.

The three of us were concerned but we did not panic. We had a few areas that we knew we had to find out so we went off contacting her friends and various organisations.

Celeste called MFA to find out more about reporting Singaporeans in Nepal.
She contacted Crystal's sister.

I contacted Crystal's closest Secondary school friends and also her brother and sister.

Sangitha researched on the organisations that are involved in the earthquake aid, like the MFA and the Red Cross, and read up on latest updates.

It was indeed thankful that we heard Crystal had already contacted her mum this morning and we heard that she's not hurt. But for a high magnitude earthquake like this, after tremors are sure to happen and that's when more harm can be done because the area is already so messed up.

I really really hope that Crystal is safe and sound.

This is the first time I've felt so calm but yet at a loss at the same time.
We can't do anything, because Crystal is uncontactable and yet there are a lot of questions about her whereabouts and her condition now.

On the other hand I'm glad we stayed clear headed and found the best way to know that she's alright.

I hope Crystal contacts us soon.

#prayfornepal

We Will Sorely Miss You, LKY

It's barely a few minutes before Mr Lee Kuan Yew's funeral procession will begin at 12.30pm.

It is indeed amazing, how the past week was free from rain showers, allowing thousands of people to queue for hours outside the Parliament. Yet, on this fateful day, the rain pours relentlessly on the people lining the streets to witness the funeral procession.

Could there be a chance that after this downpour, we will see a rainbow? The rainbow that he told us about; the glorious rainbow that beckons; the rainbow he told us to ride.

“For the young, let me tell you the sky has turned brighter. There’s a glorious rainbow that beckons those with the spirit of adventure. And there are rich findings at the end of the rainbow. To the young and to the not-so-old, I say, look at that horizon, follow that rainbow, go ride it.” 

— Mr Lee Kuan Yew (1923 – 2015)

We Shall Remain Strong, Even Without Papa Lee

Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away on March 23, 2015. It was something we saw coming, but did not expect.

The news reports have prepared us for it. They gave us the latest updates on his deteriorating health, and complications due to infections. Due to severe pneumonia, Mr Lee was first admitted to hospital on February 5, 2015, and the following timeline ensued:

It's extremely disheartening that old age got the better of him. 

To be frank, as a young Singaporean who seldom engage myself in politics, the sadness I initially felt was only minimal.

But I've never anticipated this minimal well of emotions to multiply so dramatically during the days after his death. The papers are splashed with his pictures; tentages are available at various places for tributes; the tremendously long queue outside the Parliament; and the continuous replays of his speeches since the 1970s on television.

(This is a live update on Day 5 of Mr Lee's passing: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/live-updates-passing-of/1745228.html)

I never thought I would feel so much for a person I've never met in person before. But now, I feel it in everything I see, everything I do, and I feel his presence everywhere.

I'm not one to be disgruntled by the little annoyances in life. I appreciate Singapore as she is, because I love the secureness of this country, I love how we have to be bilingual; and I love how we can indulge in the food of different cultures.

To honour our first Prime Minister, long queues snaked from the Parliament house and the waiting time to enter ranged from 8 to 10 hours. But I was willing to wait.

Yet, I didn't manage to pay my final respects to our founding father.

Why? 

My mum disallowed me to. Due to superstitious reasons, she advised against my want. I was clearly upset, but there was no way I can go ahead without going against my conscience for I love my mother dearly.

Mr Lee had so much passion for his job, he dedicated 60 over years to building Singapore. I had to do something, no. matter. what.

So I did the unthinkable. I wrote the former Minister Mentor a letter. Addressed to his home at 38 Oxley Road, I sent it out without a second thought. 

Even though he will not read it. Not because he wished not to, but because he couldn't.

"And even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I'll get up."

— Then Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, during the 1988 National Rally.

Rest in peace, Papa Lee.

Lived The High Life In Batam

I had the pleasure to share an awesome experience in Batam with my JC friend, Nellyn.

It would have been the most awkward overseas trip ever, for I tagged along with Nellyn, her brother, and his wife. But I am thankful for their hospitality, because I never once felt out of place.

We stayed at Montigo Resorts, some say it bears resemblance to Santorini, Greece.
It was a beautiful place indeed, and in the 3 day-2 nights affair, it was a massage-swim-eat-nua-massage-swim-eat-nua routine.

Words would be a waste of time. Pictures will tell it all:

Thankful for the great getaway (Friday to Sunday) after my Statistics test on Thursday. 

Thank you Nellyn.

Driving School No More

I graduated from Comfort Driving Centre with an Honours Degree.

I will tell you more later.

The Year I Left to Fate & It Sort Of Laughed At Me

Oh my gosh, who am I kidding.
This blog has wilted. I haven't been updating it for a year!

I have lots to tell for the year of 2014: my internship, and my trip to Tianjin, and Beijing.

I will tell them all.

(to be continued)