My escapade to KL...

We're well into December, and the end of the year is drawing near. I kind of regretted saying that I wanted the year to end quickly; it seems a little too fast now. The thought of saying goodbye to another year just like that is... scary.

The past 3 weeks have been eventful. I guess the highlight was my trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My friends and I had a wonderful time roaming the streets and the shopping malls. KL is famous for shopping, just like Singapore. It was surprisingly accessible, with its monorail system reaching every hotspot.

The Petronas Twin Towers were a sight to behold - especially at night. We visited a deer park, too. And a significant part of our trip was learning a whole lot about Chinese Tea. We stepped into this shop specializing in Chinese Tea, and as one thing led to another, we found ourselves glued to our chairs, engrossed in what the shop owner was telling us, and the delicate way he brewed the tea leaves.

All in all, a fabulous getaway for us! I'm really grateful that our trip was a success, after all that background work and planning. It was the experience that mattered, and I'll never forget it...

Happy Thanksgiving...

This month has been pretty significant so far, hasn't it? In terms of politics, I think we've been seeing a lot of it in the news. Personally, I think I enjoyed a few memorable moments, too...

I was at Sentosa recently and boy, it was a breath of fresh air for me! It was only then that I realised how cooped up my army life was. I mean, I'm pretty sure I spend almost three quarters of my waking life in camp - per week! So you can imagine what it was like when I immersed myself in the beautiful setting of sun, sand, and sea...

It was almost like a purification of the soul. As if my soul just heaved a huge sigh of relief. I could feel myself breathing out all that unnecessary stress and just unwinding down from the hustle and bustle of mundane life.

My friends and I played a good game of frisbee, and the feeling for me was like, "My God, Oliver. When was the last time you actually played a game?" Yeah. Talk about feeling cooped up...

Anyway, I think I foresee some more events comin' up for me! We're coming to the end of the year, and the festive season is up and running. Since we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, I think we should take this time to appreciate all the good things and people in our lives. Because without them, our lives wouldn't be memorable...

"Make it simple to last your whole life long..."

Touch down! November! Things in camp have been pretty hectic, and it always happens at the end of the year. The seasons will affect different industries, that's for sure...

I like the slow life. The kind where you take your time to do things - things which you love to do. No deadlines to meet, no stress to endure; it's like a farmer's life, I guess. I remember spending a night at one of those farms in Australia and our hosts were so hospitable and so nice. But more than anything else, they were just so... happy. They had peace of mind, I tell you. They were experiencing heaven on earth...

Don't know why I suddenly brought out this topic. I guess most of us have been living fast-paced lives in our fast-paced world. Shouldn't we slow down a little? It'll do us a lot of good. The more we speed up our lives, the more impatient we become. And as a result, we get stressed up with the running of our lives.

So in order to slow down our lives, we need to simplify our lives. Make it less complicated. That's when we - almost unconsciously - stop having high expectations and start to lower them down. That's when we start being contented with the simpler things in life. Doesn't it feel so much better this way?

De-clutter your life. Simplify it. Make it less complicated. It helps...

I'm supposed to be living in the present...

October's ending soon. And I thought it'll be a very long month. October just feels long to me. But I can't wait for the end of the year!

Recently I was in town, and I saw some of the Christmas decorations in place. I guess they're still in the process of doing it, because I wasn't really impressed, haha! Anyway, whenever I see Christmas decorations, the Christmas spirit starts building up within me. Probably takes awhile to warm up, but I'll be in the mood eventually. I'm quite positive that this year's Christmas will be an enjoyable one for me.

Well, in the meantime, I can't wait for November to begin. Whenever we touch November, it's like a prelude to Christmas. That's when the festive season really begins...

October's retrospect...

What a pity. I only wrote one entry for September. Why? Because my computer was down. It's already the 1st of October...

We're now in the last quarter of the year. Everytime we arrive in October, I look back in awe at how fast the past 9 months have gone by. And I sigh...

All these memories that we've gathered, they're priceless. Let's not segregate them into good and bad. Let's just see them as... memories. They are the ones we have to face on our deathbed. Did you live a fulfilling life? Do you regret anything? Was it worth going through what you've gone through? Are you satisfied?

Powerful stuff, memories. Even now I look back and question why I had to go through what I've been through. They're all lessons, of course. Sometimes I wonder whether I've learned the lessons behind my experiences. It's so hard to grasp the lesson sometimes. But when you eventually get it, you'll realise that the lesson was right in front of you all along. You were just too blind to see it.

Or better yet, right now I can see the lesson behind what I'm experiencing, but I'm just too stubborn to accept it. What a feeling, really. Somebody knock me into my senses...

I wonder how October will fare. Should I be optimistic or pessimistic?

Yes or no?

Wow! It's September already! I didn't even have time to write one last post for August...

I've just completed another 1-week stay in camp. Felt like eternity, this one. But I'm glad to be back home.

Lots of planning going on recently. Things have been neither here nor there. I hate that feeling. Indecision. Why can't it be a yes or a no? Why leave things hanging in midair?

There's a transition going on. And it's taking quite awhile to settle. We need to be in the affirmative soon.

Well, I'll see how it goes. Funny thing, life...

The ebb and flow of life...

It's been a long time since I actually had a full weekend to myself. The past 8 weeks of burning my Saturdays are now over.

Well, the past week saw me getting back to business in camp. It's sort of a transition period now for everyone. We've recently taken in some new men, and so there are lots of reshuffling going on.

As we head into the Autumn season (as if we have four seasons here), it's a time for the culmination of things. A consolidation of sorts. It's a time to prepare and stock up for the Winter season, where what was once useful but now outdated, dies away.

We live through cycles in life. There's a time and place for everything, as they say. One moment you may be making a lot of money, the next moment you're not. One moment your social life is on fire, the next moment it's a lull period. We've just got to ride on the waves. When we flow like this, we flow with life...

Well, I guess I'll get down to enjoying my weekend. Tata!

The National Day Parade 2009...

IT'S OVER!!!

The National Day Parade 2009 took place last Sunday and I'm glad to say it was a success.

I think it was successful not just for our part but for everyone involved. Finally, after 8 weeks of burning our Saturdays, our hard work paid off on the actual day. All the performers were ecstatic after the show...

For me, I'm just glad I've successfully concluded a project. It was a memorable experience being involved in NDP 2009. Definitely a breather from work in camp.

Well, I guess life in the army still goes on. It's back to camp tomorrow, and I have a feeling it'll be as hectic as ever...

Wish me luck!

The Preview...

I'd recently completed my 1-week stay in camp. Yesterday was The Preview for the National Day Parade 2009. And boy, was it a blast...

Everything seemed more formal this time around, as it was not a rehearsal anymore. It was a sneak preview of the actual day. So it was a show in itself. From the emcees to the fireworks, everything was upped a notch...

But I was exhausted after recovering everything yesterday. Some friends and I went for supper after that. The feeling of being satiated after a hard day's work was worth it, haha!

Now it's a lazy Sunday for me. I'll get on with my resting...

The fifth combined rehearsal...

It was another round of Primary 5 students who attended the fifth combined rehearsal yesterday. This time I got to see most of the show from the front - or from the sidelines, to be more accurate.

The number of participants involved is amazing. I only realised this yesterday when I saw how full the stage was, because all along I was backstage. It's incredible to think that every year, so many people have to be involved in the National Day Parade. It's like half the nation's taking part, haha!

Anyway, we'll probably have two more rehearsals before the actual day itself. It seemed like a long, long road at first, but now we're more than halfway there. I'll sign off for now...

Giving and receiving...

I came across a great poem on Facebook. It's about giving and receiving...

I am a novice when it comes to receiving.
Giving has become my expertise.
But giving alone without getting,
becomes soon a fatal disease.

If the intake valve is not opened,
there's no way to maintain a supply.
There comes a point in the cycle of life,
when the out-going stream runs dry.

Straining out love from a vacuum,
is like drinking from the heart of a stone.
Try as we may, at the end of the day,
we are exhausted, frustrated, alone.

"Better to give than receive," we are taught.
Yet another truth I've learned just by living.
Only the soul with the grace to receive,
excels in the fine art of giving.

- Reverend James Forbes

Many people, including myself, think that giving is way better than receiving. When we give, we feel that we're doing something good for the other person. But when the other person wants to give, we say, "No, no, please. There's no need to."

Somebody commented on this poem, saying, "The way I look at it, sometimes receiving is a form of giving as well... Giving others the opportunity to do good as well. And you can empower them by making giving a great experience and thus they will be good givers to others..."

Well, I guess giving and receiving are the same thing. Neither one is "better" than the other. In order to give, we need to receive...

The fourth combined rehearsal...

Yet another rehearsal was carried out yesterday evening. This time the audience consisted of Primary 5 students.

Something interesting happened during yesterday's show. It started to rain towards the end of it. It didn't really bother me, but I pitied the performers. They were soaked while performing, but they still continued with the show. You know what they say, "The show must go on..." So I really commend their positive attitude.

We were released fairly early again - thank God. And I went for supper with a few friends after that. Not too bad a night, all in all...

It's one of those restful Sundays for me today. And I think I'll do just that...

The third combined rehearsal...

It was the third combined rehearsal yesterday for the National Day Parade 2009. Before that I also completed my 1-week stay in camp. So I'd been pretty busy the past few days - and still more to come...

Yesterday's rehearsal was the first to hold an audience. The place was packed with people, of course. And the show was that much more substantial. This time we had the actual emcees rehearse with us. In fact I shouldn't use the word "rehearse"; they were already running the show. It was a full-dress rehearsal for the performers, too. Costumes of all shapes and colours were donned, and more fireworks were ignited this time around.

But I think the greatest satisfaction for me yesterday was the early dismissal we got. I kept my expectations low at first, thinking that we'd probably finish rounding everything up by midnight. But lo and behold, we were dismissed a quarter past ten! Sweet, sweet satisfaction...

Well, now that another rehearsal's over, it's time for me to take it slow again. Inevitably, in a couple of days, I'll have to start running again...

The first combined rehearsal...

Wow! What a week! I guess I haven't mentioned this, but I'm involved in this year's National Day Parade.

We had our first week of preparations and yesterday was the first combined rehearsal. The place was packed with people and it was just happening. It all culminated down to the evening when all the participants involved rehearsed together.

And although it was just the first combined rehearsal, the atmosphere was ecstatic. There were even crowds gathering around the area to catch a glimpse of the performance. And I think we didn't disappoint...

Well, it's been a tiring week, but it was worth the work (and the wait). I'm taking it slow again...

Taking it easy...

Wow, it felt like such a long stay in camp. We're well into June now; I'm going to be real busy soon.

The past few days have brought out a lot of changes in camp. Changes for the worse, I dare say. I can't explain it here, of course. I just hope life improves as soon as possible.

There's this PC Show going on in town now. It'll be a mad house, I'm sure. Don't know if I'm going yet.

Today's really a take-it-easy day for me. After a whole week of staying in camp, I not only miss civilization, I need to relax a little. Well, I guess I'll get down to it now...

Fish & Co.

Tomorrow's the 1st of June. New month, new start. But not really for me. The past week produced a major shift in camp. A shift for the worse, I dare say. I'm praying it's only temporary...

I had a good time with friends yesterday. We ate at Fish & Co.. It was a long time since I ate there. I realised something about their food: You get tired of eating your meal after awhile. I don't know whether it's just me or my particular dish, but I realised that the more spoonfuls I put into my mouth, the more I didn't feel like eating anymore.

Oh what the heck, I think it's just me anyway. I don't want to go spoiling their reputation. If I remember correctly, Fish & Co. is a South African franchise - and I think they're unique. From the decor all the way down to the food.

Well, the point is we had a good time. And I think that's what matters...

One moment, please...

Ahh, Sunday. Well, another week has passed and it was not a bad week, indeed. Yesterday I caught "Night At The Museum 2". I'm glad they put in more characters this time; the storyline was well thought out.

Anyway, we're already nearing June. Whenever we arrive at June, I realise that half the year has gone by. Just like that. It's quite amazing because I'd still remember the month of January. We've actually lived through 6 months - what an achievement!

I pray the next 6 months would be just as fast. Since I'm in the army, I wouldn't mind this year vanishing in the blink of an eye. But then again, I'm supposed to appreciate every moment life brings. Because each moment is precious. And I'd really want to cherish those great moments, too...

So life still goes on for all of us. I guess we ought to appreciate it moment by moment...

Angels & Demons

And it's been yet another long time since I last wrote. I've just completed my stay in camp, so now I'm breathing in the sights and sounds of civilization once again.

I watched "Angels & Demons" yesterday. Great show, just like the book. I just love it when Ewan McGregor said that Science and Religion are one. Science has always been trying to prove the teachings of Religion. Yes, Science might be slow to understand sometimes, that's why the two don't seem to complement each other at first. But Science will catch up eventually...

Well, Religion, on the other hand, should try to embrace Science. It shouldn't demean its theories, because Science is ever progressing, ever evolving. The fact that we humans can even break down our universe and study it is an achievement in itself. The discoveries of Science are tangible, first-hand proof!

I'm not taking sides, but I really hope to see Science and Religion working hand in hand. It's always good to have the best of both worlds in your beliefs. So have faith, and await the discoveries of Science, too!

Labour Day: It's time we changed the name...

It's a Thursday night and tomorrow's a public holiday! Labour Day once again, for all of us laborious workers. Well, I think we deserve it, huh?

Funny how we get so caught up in work sometimes. As if that's the only thing in life that matters. It's especially murderous if you're not doing something you love. That's why there's that saying, "Find a job that you love, and you'll never have to work another day in you life."

So many people miss out this small but crucial step. The moment you sign up for something other than what you love, you're doomed. I'm sorry to sound so negative, but it's true. Think about it, why drag yourself to work everyday if you hate your job? Just quit, find something better - something you love!

Okay, on and on I go again. Anyway, it's a long weekend - and I'm crossing my fingers hoping that it'll stay long.

A reprieve. A reprieve is good.

The exorcist...

Once again, I report after more than 2 weeks. Although the months seem to pass one by one, time still travels at a pretty slow pace. I believe it's because when there are so many happenings in your days, you'll assume that time has been flying past. But how wrong we are...

Last week, I did my 1-week stay in camp. It was ridiculous. You know why? We played a prank - in fact many pranks - on our fellow mate who was also staying over. To summarize what happened: First, we told him stories about how haunted the place was. Secondly, we gave him a call to which he only heard deep breathing sounds (think "Darth Vader") when he answered the phone. And finally, to top it all off, one of us acted as if he was possessed by some spirit.

And you wouldn't believe this: Our brave ol' friend tried to exorcise him... and it worked!

Hahahahahahaha!

Old Changi Hospital

Just yesterday my buddies and I had a ghost story-telling session. The highlight of it was Old Changi Hospital (OCH). Many stories have been told about it, and I couldn't help noticing some similarities...

The place is probably one of the most famous - and haunted - spots for ghost trails. Although it is out-of-bounds, many people still trespass into it, hungering for some real ghostly experiences - or just plain stupid.

My friends have said that they went in groups ranging from 3 to 13 people - most of the time to satisfy the ego's idea of fun. It's amazing they haven't demolished the place yet. But I wasn't surprised when I heard that strange things happened to the people who tried to bring it down.

From all the accounts I've heard, I've come to know OCH as some kind of Hell's gate. The place is filled with earth-bound spirits! Not to mention hearing things like long corridors which never seem to end, and the staircase leading down to the mortuary only appearing to certain people.

On a more respectful note, I believe that's where many souls still linger about, unable to go on to the other side either because they have unfinished business here on this plane, they haven't accepted their death, or they're angry at the way they died.

Whatever it is, Old Changi Hospital will still be in the must-see lists of haunted places in Singapore - probably even the first.

The facts of life (in the army)...

Okay, so we're already nearing the end of March. My days have been pretty long recently. But it's because of a couple of "happy hours" I had after camp...

It's an off day for me today, and I'm taking it nice and easy. Kind of miss the feeling of being home after all those long hours in camp. Someone once told me that when you're in the army, that's when you start to cherish home. How true...

My days in camp are very unpredictable. One day it's monotony, another day there's a major event taking place. The feeling of shock and surprise can be very draining. That's why we cherish our off days so much. "Off is like gold in the army", my friend remarked.

And then there's the big question everyone asks: "When is your ORD?" ORD stands for Operationally-Ready Date. It's the date you leave the army! What could be better than that? Everyone - well, at least most of us - look forward to our ORD. The more you count down to your ORD, the longer it feels...

So that's more or less the collective experience of being a soldier. It all boils down to your jobscope, of course. We all do different things in the army, and there are pros and cons in every vocation.

I guess I'll just be going with the flow. No use struggling upstream, huh?

To buy or not to buy?

I'm done with my 1-week stay in camp. The craziest thing in town this weekend is the IT fair, and I was crazy enough to go visit it yesterday.

I was extremely impulsive at the fair. Those low prices just made me want to grab whatever item appealed to me. Thank God I was with two other friends (who were not as impulsive as me).

Anyway, I actually had something in mind I was planning to get, but I realised it wasn't a need - it was a want. But the funny thing was that this item which I wanted to purchase - and I'm just not saying it here - was more of a long-term need. My friend managed to whip up a speech about how I should invest in it - and I was convinced at first - but in the end I'm still glad I got my priorities right. Sorry, mate...

Well, I think I had enough of asking myself "Should I buy or should I not?" yesterday. All that indecisiveness is killing me. My God, how do I even live sometimes...

Total Eclipse Of The Heart

Josh Groban & Ellen DeGeneres - Total Eclipse Of The Heart


My friend posted up this video of Josh Groban and Ellen DeGeneres singing "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" on Facebook. I thought it was not only hilarious, but Ellen could sing pretty well!

This is one song which has slipped in and out of my memory many times before. When suddenly I hear it played somewhere, I fall in love with it instantly. And then after awhile, it fades away.

Now that I've come across it again, I've decided to archive it on my blog. I've seen the original video featuring Bonnie Tyler, and I think it's one of the most ridiculous videos I've ever seen. What a shame for a benchmark song. I guess at that time when it was first released, people were awed by it.

And then I also saw Westlife's cover of it. Pretty good and modern, I must say. Quite an achievement for them to tackle such a difficult song. Too bad I've lost my interest in them, haha!

So there you go. "Total Eclipse Of The Heart". A classic, evergreen love song...

Here's to monotonous times ahead!

It's been a looong time... Wow. I stayed in camp for a week, and then I had to undergo a night exercise just yesterday. I arrived home this morning.

There's this bad thing about my camp. Maybe it's more like a bad habit, because there are people who are the cause of it. You want to know what's that?

There will never be a month where no major activities are planned.

Alright, maybe there were certain months where nothing major happened. But 90% of the time, you can be sure to look forward to something big every month - and it's usually not something we like doing, at least for us NSFs.

Why can't they give us a break?

I really hope things can slow down soon enough. I still feel stuck in this never-ending carousel which began spinning since last November. It's time to pull the brakes, people. We're in need of a monotonous month. Make that plural.

Just dropping by to say hi...

Okay, so another week has gone by. I had an eventful time with friends the past two days. Today's a Sunday, and for some reason I'm itching to get out somewhere.

Well, it looks like the next two weeks will be somewhat packed for me. Firstly it's because I'll have to stay in camp for one week again. Secondly it's because of something which I'm forbidden to say due to confidential reasons. I hate to sigh like that but here it goes anyway: sigh...

I'll see how it goes, then. Let's hope the rest of February will be an enjoyable one...

Colours Of The Wind

You know, there's something about Disney that we can all relate to. Something so deep within us, we sometimes don't realise it exists. Especially for adults, they usually just shun anything to do with Disney, thinking that it's all kids stuff.

But it's the kids who know better. It's the kids who realise that special something deep down within us. Because their carefree minds are a lot less influenced from the troubles of society, they easily connect to their deepest selves - the core of their being.

And that is what we should all do: Connect to our core. Our true selves.

Just last Christmas I happened to watch Disney's "Pocahontas" on television. And when it came to the part where "Colours Of The Wind" played, it struck some nerve in me. As I listened to the lyrics and absorbed its grand melody, I had chills and I started to tear. Seriously. I couldn't remember the last time anything affected me so deeply. This is one powerful song which speaks volumes. Whoever wrote the words to this song has truly connected to their deepest selves...

I just had to dedicate a post to "Colours Of The Wind". Just reading the lyrics can stir something deep within you. I've highlighted the parts where I felt so moved by the words...

Colours Of The Wind


You think you own whatever land you land on
The earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name

You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon?
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain?
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind?

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sunsweet berries of the earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

How high does a sycamore grow?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white, or copper-skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain
Need to paint with all the colours of the wind

You can own the earth and still
All you own is earth until
You can paint with all the colours of the wind

I've always respected and have been awed by the teachings of native cultures. Most people think that in today's modern society, the native teachings of old don't apply.

But it's the natives who know better.

It's the natives who know better...

"This is home, truly, where I know I must be..."

Why, it's already the 31st of January. Shocking. Tomorrow's February. February of 2009. One month down, just like that...

You'll probably be bored hearing me say that I was busy the past few weeks. But that's the truth. I didn't even have time to write an entry for Chinese New Year. I had a slightly longer stay in camp as compared to previous stay-ins. On top of that, we had to work over-time for 3 consecutive days.

Now that the chaos seems to be over, I'm glad to be back home, enjoying a peaceful weekend. You can't imagine the feeling I felt when I finally returned to my sanctuary.

I hope February brings with it a much more settled feeling to everyone. Sometimes you can underestimate the feeling of being home...

2-0-0-9

Red carpet? Check.

Spotlights? Check.

Paparazzi? Check.

"Ladies and gentlemen... please welcome... 2-0-0-9!!!"

*Applause*

*Continued applause*

*Applause fades*

2009 speaks, "Thank you, thank you! Thank you for that wonderful welcome. Ah, it's great to be here. I'm glad to see all of you.

"I hope my predecessor, 2008, didn't give you a hard time?"

*Crowd stirs*

"What's that? It did? Ah yes... I did hear about those terrible events. Economic crisis, earthquakes, Mumbai attacks... Regrettable, indeed...

"But hold your horses, ladies and gentlemen! 2009 has come! 2008 is no more!

"I promise you... I promise you that I will give you a year you won't regret. I will take away your troubles, and give you joy like never before. I will be your most favourite year of all!"

*Cheering and applause*

~ The End ~

Alright, ignore what you've just read. That probably has to be the lamest start to an entry. I ran out of ideas, okay?

Anyway, I know it's pretty late to be welcoming the new year when it has already started 2 weeks ago. And boy, have I been busy with stuff...

I have to stay over in camp a lot this month. Long story. Nevertheless, things have been pretty smooth thus far. In fact they've been better than average...

Well, just thought I'd update my blog with the first post of 2009. Oh, come to think of it, Chinese New Year is just around the corner. A little too soon, huh? I haven't even settled down yet...

Since I'm really out of words now, I shall end here. I'll try to find another time when I have something more meaningful to say. Until then, cherio!