Welcome to 1408, Dolphin Hotel, NYC

I've always feared hotel rooms, especially those with a musty air, weird smells, gaudy wallpaper, curtains & bed covers, oddly-placed mirrors, creaky beds and OLD toilets. I tend to get quite paranoid in hotel rooms which send creepy vibes, unless, of course, its a 5 or 6star hotel. This desirable form of accommodation is "all about creature comforts" ( I quote the Manager in 1408), so they look much less intimidating. Especially since I've spent a bomb on it, I might as well bask myself in luxury right? Nevertheless, 1408 had made me face my fears regarding 'haunted' hotel rooms. Which is perfectly fine with me, since I'm not going on a vacation trip anytime soon. :(

Overall, I thought it was an enjoyable movie! I didnt get bored for sure, though towards the end, I was willing Mike to die earlier to end the suffering i felt for him. Haha. It's definitely not your typical B grade Horror-flick, as it had a plot with more substance (subplots regarding his estranged wife and dead daughter), other than being a jerk who demanded to go into room 1408 regardless of numerous warnings. The film has Stephen King's brains/imagination to work with at the very least. The cast did a credible job too. By the way, maybe I'm kinda weird, but i saw some very very dark humour in the show as well. (I was snickering at some parts in the theatre.) Haha, alright, I wont disclose any more details, heheh. Go watch it on your own!

Our Safari Stint

The perfect remedy to a dreary school week is going on a short break.
Thats what we did- a pseudo holiday trip to the NIGHT SAFARI!
Saturday Night. The weather was cool, light drizzle.
After a car ride (courtesy of Hua), through an ULU ULU stretch of road,
we reached our destination.
I embarked on my virgin trip to the night safari. Haha.

First things first, take touristy pictures at the gantry!

This is at the entrance with some fire-blowing/eating performers in the background.

Hua is buying $2.50 Ice Mountain bottled water.

We spotted an 8bucks SugarCane juice on the menu as well.

Nice decor & ambience.

The Tram ride which we didnt take. Thank goodness we didnt!

The moon peeking out from the clouds, which peeked through the lush foliage.

I cant remember what I took in this picture.

I just like how stark it looked, a la Survivor night-videos.

Trees adorned with LOTSA food, like a premature Christmas tree.
Unfortunately, there wasnt any flying squirrels spotted.

BATS! You see them fighting over the jackfruit.
We almost stole it from them too.
You should smell the fresh Jackfruit too!

Look carefully! GIRAFFE!!! They are majestic up-close.
It's sort of hidden behind the tree, and it doesnt help that it looks like one too.

This was a spectacular view from the East Lodge, near the Giraffes.

Gosh, the picture here doesnt do it any justice.
It was out of the world, we didnt feel like we were in Singapore anymore.

Finally, a group picture!
My fellow Steve-Irwins wannabes!

Thanks to my Girlfriends for the fabulous company.
Haha. That was one hell of a 11bucks educational trip man.
We learnt how porcupines mate, how thick rhino skins are,
how much otters stink, how blind & lazy or slow some animals are,
how gorgeous lions are, how some animals have bigger eyes than brains etc.
:) I sensed Mother Earth smile last night.

Bourne kicks Bond's ass!

Bourne was mind-blowing!
I dont even like Matt Damon usually,
but he's brilliant in this series.
Kudos to the director as well.
I loved the organic/raw cinematography.
Its a really realistic & smart show.
I'm so glad that there's gonna be a forth installation!
Anyway, I hope Jason Bourne will remain as he is,
'Cause being David Webb just aint cool enough.

Curtain Call

Its a Saturday night. My lovely PCG has just called me over the telephone & sang "Happy Birthday" to me. Haha. I'm so sorry for pangsehing our long over-due BBQ get-together with them. They went through to much trouble trying to convince me to join them too. SORRY, but i love you guys anyway. That was so sweet! I almost teared & sniffed over the phone, even though it is 2 months late! Haha.

Well, earlier today, I had lunch with my FTB people at Sizzler's Suntec. Happy Belated Birthday to SAYWAI! So sorry for the slipshod birthday-gathering... It was a nightmare trying to organise something during the summer vacation & I'm guilty as charged. I've been occupied with other activities. SORRY... But it was nice catching up with the usual suspects. Unfortunately, the horrible traffic conditions & overwhelming crowd put me off totally. I got into a terrible mood, had a headache with a looming sense of dread towards school.

Summer has finally reached its end and I feel sad at its demise. It has definitely been eventful, fulfilling and fun-filled. Yet, one cant ever get enough of good times. Sigh. I wish I'm not this jaded towards school... Hopefully my perception of school might *cross fingers* might change this semester. I'm a freaking Year Two now. Seriously, after 1 year at SMU, I still dont feel anything like a self-confident person, armed with all the necessary skills, 100% ready to take on the corporate world, as marketed. Weird, huh?

As I contemplate my mixed feelings towards everything, I'm wondering if anyone else is feeling the same way I do now. I seem to have an overwhelming urge to contact you & ask you what you're doing now, but I cant or I shouldnt. Hmm... So this self-restraint of mine is rather discomforting. Otherwise, my pounding headache & my immense distaste for the impending 20th August 2007 is driving me crazy now.

I guess I'll post some pretty fireworks pictures. They were short-lived but gorgeous. Like summertime. Alright alright. I know, you're like enough already!!! So, get ready to feast your eyes on the glory of millions of dollars exploding in the night sky.

You watch the season pull up its own stage
And catch the last weekend
Of the last week
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced
Another sun soaked season
Fades away
-- "Stolen" by Dashboard Confessional

newly minted myspace junkie

Im having a myspace music phase right now. Its the post-Singfest syndrome. I'm checking out all the fabulous bands' myspace pages & drinking in all their musical brilliance hungrily. I experience exhilaration when they add me as a friend! Woohooo. Haha.

Sweet 20th to Huiting. <3

Goodwood Park Hotel - L' Expresso Cafe, 2.35pm to 5pm

As usual, we were too busy stuffing our faces, we forgot to take pictures of the buffet spread.
The food was pretty good. But i think Raffles still top Goodwood anyday.
One good thing about Goodwood is the extensive drinks menu!!!
We loved the exotic teas & coffees.

Ignore the two faces in the backgound and check out the pretty china used for our tea.
Hahaha.

Our sugar-coated honey cupcake birthday girl- Huiting.
Shes like shagged from pigging out.
Just like the rest of us. Haha.

Indulging in our favourite pastime- Making stupid faces at the camera.

Sween and another of her classic photo-moments.
She looks like a disgusted hamster regurgitating her food.

Yayness. Many many many group pictures.

Goodwood Park Hotel's lovely poolside greenery.

The Simpsons! (At the Cathay.)
I finally got a picture of this!
Thanks to these two who sportingly joined the family for like 10seconds.

I hardly saw much of ALONE, the Thai horror movie.
Hahahaha. I'm smart.
It's so that i can sleep in peace tonight.
Goodnight.

Hits & Misses

"I’m working on palate discipline I am. I just can’t help myself though. My favorite thing besides yummy nutritious foods is yummy sweet junk food. When I’m not drinking water and yogi tea, then I’m slurping down cappuccinos. Ice cream. Cookies. Movie popcorn. Free samples. Forget it. Food has become a totally sexual experience for me. With no gal pal around for months what else is an orally fixated boy to do. Believe me I’m sending the signals out there to find a kissing partner, but all I’m getting back is free ice cream." -- Jason Mraz wrote on http://www.jasonmraz.com/journal.php?a=pol&passedN=49.

Haha. He's adorable! Not to mention he's quite a genius with words too. Hurhur. By the way, I found his journal entries after many many many months. The bookmarked site hasnt been updated in ages & I had stupidly thought that he has stopped writing online journals.

Meanwhile this week, I've survived an unpleasant night out, Mark has turned 22, I'm done with the ZHPS preparation days in school. On top of that, Regina & Say Wai have turned 21 and 23 respectively! Thank god the weekend is here! Not that my Saturday has started on a fabulous note, since I've woken up at 11+am for nothing as the original plans were cancelled. :( This was followed by a minor series of unfortunate events, but I'm not really complaining. I just thought people would be curious as to why I'm home on (gasp!) a fine Saturday afternoon & night. Oh yeah, I have retired from being a socialite wannabe and has becoming a homebody-in-training. School's starting, dammit.

Oh, FYI, there is the Singfest fiasco now as well-the event organiser had lowered the ticket prices significantly (from 150 to 100 to 75 now), which put us early buyers at an obvious disadvantage. Its nothing but UNFAIRNESS. Well, I've made my unhappiness known to him via email and at the very least, Midas Promotion's PR guy has offered me two options. Let's hope it works out.

Since I'm on the topic of grousing about bad PR, I was so impressed with Fullerton Hotel's PR skills. Well, if you havnt found out by now, the Fullerton's Sunday afternoon High Tea buffet is a whooping 48++bucks. I was a little shocked when I found out, but I had thought the price was probably justified. Unfortunately, my girlfriends had begged me to change our reservation because poor students like us cant afford to spend $50+ on high tea. I was really disappointed for having to cancel our reservation as the staff had informed me that they were going to throw in a free 500gm birthday cake for our birthday girl (before I cancelled! So thoughtful & generous!). Morever, the Fullerton is really drop dead gorgeous. Great for photo-whores. Haha. Nevertheless, I had to cancel the reservation anyway (with much reluctance). Then, surprise surprise, the assistant manager called me personally to thank me for my feedback regarding the price. After which, she also suggested an alternative, that is to go for the chocolate buffet on Saturday. I appreciate her kind gestures, but that wouldnt do. Sigh... I was totally swept off my feet with such warm and heartfelt service.

Well, if you were wondering where we are headed to for our Sunday High Tea, its at Goodwood Park Hotel- L' Espresso cafe. Its a more reasonable 30++bucks per head, BUT I immediately noticed the difference. I had asked the staff whether they offered any birthday surprises for birthday celebrants at their dining establishment and she curtly told me that I can buy a cake from their place. Okay point noted. Enough said.