Wednesday, December 19, 2012
This morning started very poorly. When i was washing up in the bathroom, i had a hunch that my mum would ask about him. In the car on the way to the MRT, it happened:
Mum: i see he looks very young ah.
Me: Yeah, he is.
Mum: He looks boyish like How Fong (that's my nephew who is about 17 probably?)
Me: He's 21.
Mum: Huh? So young? Ju, be careful of him.
Me: Huh?
Mum: Don't waste your time lah.
Me: How can you say i'm wasting my time? We are not planning to have a family, where got waste time?
Mum: Sure got generation gap.
Me: Huh???????? But i always hang out friends who are in their 40s and even my colleagues are mostly in their 40s and we all get along perfectly well. There's no generation gap... It is fine if you want to give your opinion on him because i will listen. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and i will accept your opinion, but i also hope you will accept my choice.
Mum: i know your character very well.
Me: Okay, you say "Don't waste time.". Why? You have to give me substantial reasons on why you say that.
(She only met him very very briefly. Just a "hi aunty" type of meeting.)
Mum: i don't think it is a good idea.
Me: But you have to give me reasons! The age may look big now but after 10 years, it's not an issue anymore.
Mum: (blah blah blah... i can't remember what else she said or the conversation ended something like this when i got out of the vehicle.)
i was pretty much boiling over her comments and the lack of any reasoning at all. And so i was bitching big time to biggie. i cannot understand how an impression like this can be formed without even a proper conversation with the person.
i was also busy wondering what "character" she thought i had. And so i sms-ed her:
Me: Make a guess, what do you think i want out of this relationship?
Mum: To get a flat?
Me: Totally wrong.
Mum: cannot think of a gd reason. so what is the reason?
Me: Companionship.
Mum: Free tonite? Meet you outside n share your thought with me. Hv seminar in pm, can pick u after work.
Me: Not free. It doesn't matter. We'll talk when got chance. Nothing changes for now.
Mum: Ok
SO THAT IS WHAT MY MUM THINKS OF ME!!!!!!!!???????
i have always been joking seriously (or seriously joking) that i would like to marry someone to buy a HDB flat. i think i didn't make it clear that if that happened, the relationship would not be a romantic one - rather, it will be a transaction. i told biggie i need to submit a proposal of my plans to my mother so that she knows my ideas. i made it clear to him and myself that i am trying to remove the element of money from this relationship because i want it to be pure - just love and enjoyment. i'm perfectly fine to have us live together in my house if i can afford to pay fully for it.
To be honest, i haven't felt such disappointment in a very very very long time. To think she even claimed she knew my character. Before the sms string, i thought i was in another stage of rebellion in my life. Now i know this episode is for sure going to pull me far apart from the family once again. i don't know her anymore - not that i knew her much in the first place. Now i'm reminded so deeply of why i used to long so much to move out and that the only reason that is keeping me in is the savings on rental that is going to fund my house in the near future.
On a brighter note, we had a double date today with biggie + V! We ate at my favourite zhi char at Amoy hawker centre and the food was cheap, good and filling. Thank goodness dear's mood seemed better after the food and dessert. Rough day. i hope the little gathering turned out better than expected for him.
And i had presents from biggie and V! Biggie gave me a pair of owl socks and V gave me 2 really cute casings for my S3 - 1 owl prints and the other x'mas prints for the occasion! Awww... so sweet of both of them. :) And i gave biggie a (long-needed) floor pump packaged in a very warehouse/industrial cardboard+strap style. Practical stuff!
And just the other day, dear gave me a owl earphone jack plug that was soooooo cute! *help* Owl obsession! Owl attack!
These are the peeps who made my Tuesday~ :D
Mum: i see he looks very young ah.
Me: Yeah, he is.
Mum: He looks boyish like How Fong (that's my nephew who is about 17 probably?)
Me: He's 21.
Mum: Huh? So young? Ju, be careful of him.
Me: Huh?
Mum: Don't waste your time lah.
Me: How can you say i'm wasting my time? We are not planning to have a family, where got waste time?
Mum: Sure got generation gap.
Me: Huh???????? But i always hang out friends who are in their 40s and even my colleagues are mostly in their 40s and we all get along perfectly well. There's no generation gap... It is fine if you want to give your opinion on him because i will listen. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and i will accept your opinion, but i also hope you will accept my choice.
Mum: i know your character very well.
Me: Okay, you say "Don't waste time.". Why? You have to give me substantial reasons on why you say that.
(She only met him very very briefly. Just a "hi aunty" type of meeting.)
Mum: i don't think it is a good idea.
Me: But you have to give me reasons! The age may look big now but after 10 years, it's not an issue anymore.
Mum: (blah blah blah... i can't remember what else she said or the conversation ended something like this when i got out of the vehicle.)
i was pretty much boiling over her comments and the lack of any reasoning at all. And so i was bitching big time to biggie. i cannot understand how an impression like this can be formed without even a proper conversation with the person.
i was also busy wondering what "character" she thought i had. And so i sms-ed her:
Me: Make a guess, what do you think i want out of this relationship?
Mum: To get a flat?
Me: Totally wrong.
Mum: cannot think of a gd reason. so what is the reason?
Me: Companionship.
Mum: Free tonite? Meet you outside n share your thought with me. Hv seminar in pm, can pick u after work.
Me: Not free. It doesn't matter. We'll talk when got chance. Nothing changes for now.
Mum: Ok
SO THAT IS WHAT MY MUM THINKS OF ME!!!!!!!!???????
i have always been joking seriously (or seriously joking) that i would like to marry someone to buy a HDB flat. i think i didn't make it clear that if that happened, the relationship would not be a romantic one - rather, it will be a transaction. i told biggie i need to submit a proposal of my plans to my mother so that she knows my ideas. i made it clear to him and myself that i am trying to remove the element of money from this relationship because i want it to be pure - just love and enjoyment. i'm perfectly fine to have us live together in my house if i can afford to pay fully for it.
To be honest, i haven't felt such disappointment in a very very very long time. To think she even claimed she knew my character. Before the sms string, i thought i was in another stage of rebellion in my life. Now i know this episode is for sure going to pull me far apart from the family once again. i don't know her anymore - not that i knew her much in the first place. Now i'm reminded so deeply of why i used to long so much to move out and that the only reason that is keeping me in is the savings on rental that is going to fund my house in the near future.
On a brighter note, we had a double date today with biggie + V! We ate at my favourite zhi char at Amoy hawker centre and the food was cheap, good and filling. Thank goodness dear's mood seemed better after the food and dessert. Rough day. i hope the little gathering turned out better than expected for him.
And i had presents from biggie and V! Biggie gave me a pair of owl socks and V gave me 2 really cute casings for my S3 - 1 owl prints and the other x'mas prints for the occasion! Awww... so sweet of both of them. :) And i gave biggie a (long-needed) floor pump packaged in a very warehouse/industrial cardboard+strap style. Practical stuff!
And just the other day, dear gave me a owl earphone jack plug that was soooooo cute! *help* Owl obsession! Owl attack!
These are the peeps who made my Tuesday~ :D
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
2 more weeks and we are at the end of 2012. If the world would really end just as prophesied, i think i wouldn't have any regrets other than... not spending more time with my parents or eating a tonne of my favourite foods. i found my special someone and that made my 2012. It's coincidence and a lot of magic i think.
It's terrible that i didn't managed to fulfill my new year resolution for the year. It is quite absurd if i can reach it but it was a goal anyway. Time to think about next year's.
Perhaps the main focus of next year should be along this line:
- Spend more time with family.
- Save whatever money possible. Grow whatever possible.
- Shower dear with lots and lots of love, spend lots of time together.
That's a lot to work on... :|
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
201211272320
A special moment to remember. Sometimes when you least expect it, things happen. i feel happy!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
i just refuse to get a credit card because i know it is so hard to track credit card expenses to manage my cashflow. Even without a card, i severely overshot my spending budget for this month. i think it exceeded by about $500 bucks so far. Crap!!!! Just imagine if i spent money that belonged to the bank... Jeez.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Recently, i've been waking earlier before than my alarm. Everyone says it's a sign of age... (URGH) but i don't think so. i mean yes, i'm not getting any younger, but sleeping lesser doesn't come to you overnight.
---
Monday was my father's birthday and a survey of international buffets landed us at 10 at Claymore, Pan Pacific Orchard. It was $55++ per pax quoted over the phone, with the UOB pay-3-1-free promo (surprise surprise!).
i tell you, it's gotta be the best buffet i've ever had in my entire 28 years in this world. Then again, i'm not a buffet fan but that's besides the point.
i was late after work and so was the last to arrive. The first things i saw when i reached were the huge lobsters and big prawns on my housekeeper's plate. O.O i'm usually not a lobster fan but those things were huge and really fresh and sweet, plus the amount of roe was... ooolalaaaa!!!!
Not to mention the succulent oyster, mussels, prawns, sashimi...
The range was not the biggest among most international buffets but the quality was more than what most would provide. The salad bar had a total of about 8 types of dressing to cater to every palate. The cheeses were special enough for me and there were crackers, dried fruits like apricots pineapples and kiwi to go along. The Wensleydale Cranberry on crackers certainly blew me away.
There was a little menu of 5 main courses that we could order - beef, lamb, char kway teow, prawn noodle and assam laksa, all in the chef's own rendition. If i could (eat all), i would. The steak was yummy - seared to the medium rare doneness that i requested for.
The ice cream! The lemon grass with ginger ice cream was absolutely THE dessert! It sounds like a really odd flavour for ice cream but whoever executed it did it with perfection. The lemon grass blended so well with the ginger and the overall taste was not overwhelming. It wasn't too sweet and it definitely speaks to me. Add the chewy little ginger bits in it... Just thinking of this dessert drives me nuts!!!!!! The mango ice cream was also severely addictive with the bits of stuffs in it. i like the idea of offering just 2 quality ice creams with a luxurious range of 10 condiments to go along. Everyone ought to feel the joy of selecting between sliced or bits of almonds, or a sugar biscotti or waffle, or white choc bits to top the dessert.
Please pardon me for getting carried away with my ice cream story. There were a whole lot of little cakes and jellies that caught my eye. (Note: That despite not being a dessert person.) Lychee cake, durian cake, etc. They all looked special and inviting! Unfortunately i was too stuffed for anything more than a little slice.
Tea was TWG which was supposed to be fairly premium but i thought it was just average. But the service staff would do the steeping of the tea and pour it out to serve it to your table! i thought that was a really nice touch.
A big cheers to all the service staff there. They were polite and genuinely cheerful and helpful. i think the small cosy place just helps to make things more personalised instead of "mass produced".
The total bill was $194 for 4 pax and i say 9.9/10 for the overall food, service and ambience! i want to go there again soon!!!
---
Monday was my father's birthday and a survey of international buffets landed us at 10 at Claymore, Pan Pacific Orchard. It was $55++ per pax quoted over the phone, with the UOB pay-3-1-free promo (surprise surprise!).
i tell you, it's gotta be the best buffet i've ever had in my entire 28 years in this world. Then again, i'm not a buffet fan but that's besides the point.
i was late after work and so was the last to arrive. The first things i saw when i reached were the huge lobsters and big prawns on my housekeeper's plate. O.O i'm usually not a lobster fan but those things were huge and really fresh and sweet, plus the amount of roe was... ooolalaaaa!!!!
Not to mention the succulent oyster, mussels, prawns, sashimi...
The range was not the biggest among most international buffets but the quality was more than what most would provide. The salad bar had a total of about 8 types of dressing to cater to every palate. The cheeses were special enough for me and there were crackers, dried fruits like apricots pineapples and kiwi to go along. The Wensleydale Cranberry on crackers certainly blew me away.
There was a little menu of 5 main courses that we could order - beef, lamb, char kway teow, prawn noodle and assam laksa, all in the chef's own rendition. If i could (eat all), i would. The steak was yummy - seared to the medium rare doneness that i requested for.
The ice cream! The lemon grass with ginger ice cream was absolutely THE dessert! It sounds like a really odd flavour for ice cream but whoever executed it did it with perfection. The lemon grass blended so well with the ginger and the overall taste was not overwhelming. It wasn't too sweet and it definitely speaks to me. Add the chewy little ginger bits in it... Just thinking of this dessert drives me nuts!!!!!! The mango ice cream was also severely addictive with the bits of stuffs in it. i like the idea of offering just 2 quality ice creams with a luxurious range of 10 condiments to go along. Everyone ought to feel the joy of selecting between sliced or bits of almonds, or a sugar biscotti or waffle, or white choc bits to top the dessert.
Please pardon me for getting carried away with my ice cream story. There were a whole lot of little cakes and jellies that caught my eye. (Note: That despite not being a dessert person.) Lychee cake, durian cake, etc. They all looked special and inviting! Unfortunately i was too stuffed for anything more than a little slice.
Tea was TWG which was supposed to be fairly premium but i thought it was just average. But the service staff would do the steeping of the tea and pour it out to serve it to your table! i thought that was a really nice touch.
A big cheers to all the service staff there. They were polite and genuinely cheerful and helpful. i think the small cosy place just helps to make things more personalised instead of "mass produced".
The total bill was $194 for 4 pax and i say 9.9/10 for the overall food, service and ambience! i want to go there again soon!!!
Thursday, November 01, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
The past few days have become somewhat unbearable. It was yesterday when i decided to catch a movie in town that Biggie recommended that i got really emo. The tickets were sold out when i reached the box office. (Biggie says i'm stupid, why never check on my phone for the tickets before going down, or book online!)
Decided to have dinner and head back. There were so many people in town. The more people there are around me, the more hollow i feel. i just wanted to get out of that place and get out of Singapore and hide in some farm some where in the rural part of Japan and enjoy the singing of the crickets under the night sky. i will forgo my mobile phone accessibility or any fancy stuffs in my current life.
i should just get out of this place and do it. There is no more time to wait. If i really can't be the rural kid that i thought i might be, i can still return to the hectic city life that i've always known.
Anyway i became less emo when i decided to shop in NTUC Finest to get some salad ingredients for today's lunch.
Decided to have dinner and head back. There were so many people in town. The more people there are around me, the more hollow i feel. i just wanted to get out of that place and get out of Singapore and hide in some farm some where in the rural part of Japan and enjoy the singing of the crickets under the night sky. i will forgo my mobile phone accessibility or any fancy stuffs in my current life.
i should just get out of this place and do it. There is no more time to wait. If i really can't be the rural kid that i thought i might be, i can still return to the hectic city life that i've always known.
Anyway i became less emo when i decided to shop in NTUC Finest to get some salad ingredients for today's lunch.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
It's been a long time since i attended a wedding dinner without touching any alcohol. Unbelievable. Today it was Von and JJ's wedding. It's so cool that they got back together once again and have tied the knot. :)
As usual our 01S21 table would be the noisiest bunch around, yum seng the loudest and laugh brazenly like never. We were just so entertained cracking lame jokes and concocting this terrible drink for the groom - it's red wine, white wine, beer, soya sauce, chilli sauce, salt, green chilli, shark fin soup, chinese tea, fish crisp...
Love the fact that we never have to put on a pretense just so that we look like a bunch of angels. We are the devils and we're perfectly fine with that.
The guys were churning loads of ideas on how to tekan another classmate who's wedding is in a month's time. So this wedding is something like a recce... or experimentation... or warm-up... whichever you all it.
Just so cool ya...
As usual our 01S21 table would be the noisiest bunch around, yum seng the loudest and laugh brazenly like never. We were just so entertained cracking lame jokes and concocting this terrible drink for the groom - it's red wine, white wine, beer, soya sauce, chilli sauce, salt, green chilli, shark fin soup, chinese tea, fish crisp...
Love the fact that we never have to put on a pretense just so that we look like a bunch of angels. We are the devils and we're perfectly fine with that.
The guys were churning loads of ideas on how to tekan another classmate who's wedding is in a month's time. So this wedding is something like a recce... or experimentation... or warm-up... whichever you all it.
Just so cool ya...
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
i've never had a chance to enjoy Sunday brunch at the nice fancy hotels before. The problem is not so much of the price but more of the fact that Sundays are for RIDING!
And so that pretty much explains why my Sunday brunches are usually prata at the coffeeshop opposite my place, McDonalds' at KAP or minced meat noodles at Rail Mall...
i want Sunday brunch AND riding!!!
And so that pretty much explains why my Sunday brunches are usually prata at the coffeeshop opposite my place, McDonalds' at KAP or minced meat noodles at Rail Mall...
i want Sunday brunch AND riding!!!
We had a great 01S21 gathering yesterday. It was so cool that so many turned up for the lunch at Jcube Pique Nique. Most of the guys are already growing sideways and looking so different from 11 years ago in school. All the gals remain pretty much the same size. Chatted over lunch and moved over to Mac @ Science Centre to slack. We dispersed shortly after deciding to meet up again after dinner for drinks @ Wala Wala. A couple of us went into Science Centre because we missed the exhibits!!!
And so after everyone ran their errands, we met in the evening. It's just cool how we could do it because no other groups of friends i know would bother. :) Enjoyed the whole session a lot. It's still so amazing how everyone is doing stuffs that they are really passionate about. We have event organisers, emcees, IT boss, interior design boss, etc etc.
~~~
i didn't get a good rest last night. Woke up about 2-3 hours after dozing off and my stomach was hurting like mad. i thought going to the toilet might help but i was back rolling on the bed again. If there was a knife nearby, i would have stabbed myself. Then i started feeling nauseated and went back to the toilet to puke, but nothing came out. Felt more faint than ever and i thought i would just pass out. Popped 2 panadol pills and finally managed to sleep (or maybe i really passed out).
And this afternoon, my body got up as if nothing ever happened. i wonder if it's a dream... but my 2 pills were missing. i wonder what was the problem.
At least i managed to get some saddle time today. The trails were nice and dry and quite quiet. Contented.
And so after everyone ran their errands, we met in the evening. It's just cool how we could do it because no other groups of friends i know would bother. :) Enjoyed the whole session a lot. It's still so amazing how everyone is doing stuffs that they are really passionate about. We have event organisers, emcees, IT boss, interior design boss, etc etc.
~~~
i didn't get a good rest last night. Woke up about 2-3 hours after dozing off and my stomach was hurting like mad. i thought going to the toilet might help but i was back rolling on the bed again. If there was a knife nearby, i would have stabbed myself. Then i started feeling nauseated and went back to the toilet to puke, but nothing came out. Felt more faint than ever and i thought i would just pass out. Popped 2 panadol pills and finally managed to sleep (or maybe i really passed out).
And this afternoon, my body got up as if nothing ever happened. i wonder if it's a dream... but my 2 pills were missing. i wonder what was the problem.
At least i managed to get some saddle time today. The trails were nice and dry and quite quiet. Contented.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
It's a Saturday morning!!! i finally get the chance to sleep in late and slowly have my breakfast. Was all ready for a short spin but just when i reached the lift, the sky mercilessly started its onslaught. That was about an hour ago and now the rain clouds are gone, but the haze is still hanging around.
Just taking a bit of time to relish my Saturday at home. It's been many Saturdays since i had a chance to be sitting on the bed at 10.40am watching TV and writing my blog. Let me try to recall my last Sat morning at home...
15th Sep - Work & work
8th Sep - Work?
1st Sep - Germany
25th Aug - Malaysia
18th Aug - Work probably?
11th Aug - Work?
4th Aug - Off!!!! >> So i think this was the last Saturday morning i was at home.
i miss riding... i miss the pain of riding... the very very addictive feeling. It's when your legs are burning (and occasionally cramping up) and you curse and swear climbing some hills... that's the pain i have a love-hate relationship with. Also love the fact that i need absolute concentration for descending as fast as i can. Every time if my concentration cuts for a split second, i end up riding into a tree or going totally off my line.
Hokay, time to shower and meet my great ol' time friends now!
Just taking a bit of time to relish my Saturday at home. It's been many Saturdays since i had a chance to be sitting on the bed at 10.40am watching TV and writing my blog. Let me try to recall my last Sat morning at home...
15th Sep - Work & work
8th Sep - Work?
1st Sep - Germany
25th Aug - Malaysia
18th Aug - Work probably?
11th Aug - Work?
4th Aug - Off!!!! >> So i think this was the last Saturday morning i was at home.
i miss riding... i miss the pain of riding... the very very addictive feeling. It's when your legs are burning (and occasionally cramping up) and you curse and swear climbing some hills... that's the pain i have a love-hate relationship with. Also love the fact that i need absolute concentration for descending as fast as i can. Every time if my concentration cuts for a split second, i end up riding into a tree or going totally off my line.
Hokay, time to shower and meet my great ol' time friends now!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Need to ride faster!!! I'm a slow poke on the trail!!!
Managed to get a ride from J's friend on Sunday to JB for the Millipede Jamboree. My bike was only ready from a full service and a final touch up on Saturday, and i couldn't get my suspension tuned exactly the way i liked it. But the women got to start at the front and i thought i would get a pretty good chance of a decent placing.
Because we reached the starting point just before the flag-off, i didn't get to look for my colleagues and friends (or even my friend whom i promised to ride together with).
But i managed to start pretty front and after 1-2km, we hit the trails. Just a couple of hundred metres in, i saw a friend lying at the side of the trail with the bike down. She looked like she'd been there for some seconds and no one bothered to stop to help (because it is hard to be at the front and even harder to catch up once you stopped). I couldn't do much but just be there while the guys i travelled with stopped to also help contact the ride marshals to bring her out. By the time the vehicle came, it was some minutes after the 490+ riders had passed. *sigh* Just something i had to do yeah? Demoralised, but rode along anyway, not trying too hard to catch up with anyone.
The trail wasn't technical at all and it was mostly wide plantation trails with mild slopes. i think many riders were aiming for top 100 or even podium finishes. The trail was even very dry for most parts.
And my chain broke on a little slope 8km before the end.
So much for being already demoralised... But on the bright side, i brought my chain tool! i know i know... why am i carrying so many things on a 43km trail ride???!! It's just habitual!! Lots of water, nice tidbits, electrolyte tablets, tire pump, shock pump, tube, multi-tool with chain tool, levers, cable ties, patches, little wrench (for my linkages), duct tape, camera, money, handphone... something like that?
When i finished, i found out 2 other friends had crashed. One crashed out on the road just at the start and suffered a whole bunch of scrapes/bruises/swells. The other washed out on a sandy corner and had a deep cut on the knee (and eventually got 5 stitches but also a pretty good placing).
i feel sorry for those who trained so hard to do well for the race but didn't have enough luck for it. But isn't this part of riding and racing? You need not just fitness or strength to get you through, but also all the external factors to cooperate too.
Glad i did the ride though. Need to ride more!!! Itching to ride again already!!!!
Managed to get a ride from J's friend on Sunday to JB for the Millipede Jamboree. My bike was only ready from a full service and a final touch up on Saturday, and i couldn't get my suspension tuned exactly the way i liked it. But the women got to start at the front and i thought i would get a pretty good chance of a decent placing.
Because we reached the starting point just before the flag-off, i didn't get to look for my colleagues and friends (or even my friend whom i promised to ride together with).
But i managed to start pretty front and after 1-2km, we hit the trails. Just a couple of hundred metres in, i saw a friend lying at the side of the trail with the bike down. She looked like she'd been there for some seconds and no one bothered to stop to help (because it is hard to be at the front and even harder to catch up once you stopped). I couldn't do much but just be there while the guys i travelled with stopped to also help contact the ride marshals to bring her out. By the time the vehicle came, it was some minutes after the 490+ riders had passed. *sigh* Just something i had to do yeah? Demoralised, but rode along anyway, not trying too hard to catch up with anyone.
The trail wasn't technical at all and it was mostly wide plantation trails with mild slopes. i think many riders were aiming for top 100 or even podium finishes. The trail was even very dry for most parts.
And my chain broke on a little slope 8km before the end.
So much for being already demoralised... But on the bright side, i brought my chain tool! i know i know... why am i carrying so many things on a 43km trail ride???!! It's just habitual!! Lots of water, nice tidbits, electrolyte tablets, tire pump, shock pump, tube, multi-tool with chain tool, levers, cable ties, patches, little wrench (for my linkages), duct tape, camera, money, handphone... something like that?
When i finished, i found out 2 other friends had crashed. One crashed out on the road just at the start and suffered a whole bunch of scrapes/bruises/swells. The other washed out on a sandy corner and had a deep cut on the knee (and eventually got 5 stitches but also a pretty good placing).
i feel sorry for those who trained so hard to do well for the race but didn't have enough luck for it. But isn't this part of riding and racing? You need not just fitness or strength to get you through, but also all the external factors to cooperate too.
Glad i did the ride though. Need to ride more!!! Itching to ride again already!!!!
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Since my last post, i think i have touched 3 countries - Malaysia, Switzerland and Germany.
It was a camping/hiking trip at Sungei Lembing, a place northwest of Kuantan in the state of Pahang. We were hiking and swimming up a gorge in all its majesty. The hike really sucked because the trail was teeming with hungry dancing leeches!!!!! Not one of us was spared. And i got my huge sucker at night when i was sleeping - it was busy leeching off the BLISTER ON MY FOOT!!! i only found the bugger fat and lethargic the next morning... but it was too late. My blister had already been cleaned up and on the expressway to recovery. Rainbow waterfall was beautiful but overcrowded with people. Anyway i was glad to have my waterproof Olympus and my five-finger shoes for this trip. It made the trip fun and clambering over rocks an ease.
~~~
i was really looking forward to Eurobike this year because i really wanted to check out the 650b components that manufacturers were going to launch for 2013. And of course i was just happy to be among so many beautiful bikes that i really love...
But as usual, it was a whole load of meetings and i missed out seeing many, many booths.
BUT, i got Danny MacAskill's autograph and a photo with him!!!!! Total inspiration to start trials once again. Plus i got to see Steve Peat at the Evoc booth while our supplier was showing us products... i couldn't really concentrate as i badly wanted to get his autograph before he left - which i couldn't.
i will be visiting Bangkok for a biz trip next week. Am pretty excited because it's the first time in many years that i would be going there - airport transits are not counted. It's really strange to be excited about going to BKK because most of my friends are going there on a regular basis for shopping and holiday and are longing for Japan, Taiwan, Europe, etc, whereas mine is the other way around.
~~~
A close friend "confessed" his orientation yesterday. It was a very comical conversation because he was trying to direct me to the topic by making me ask him so many questions that i couldn't think of (because i'm not a kaypoh person by nature). And so, excerpts of the conversation went something like this:
.
.
.
X (friend): If you were to choose guy or girl next, who would you choose?
Me: Errr... Guy? But then again i don't chase it. i just go for it when someone comes along.
X: On the scale of 100, how many percent guy or girl?
Me: Errrrrrrrrr.... (thinks really hard and really long)... 50-50.
.
.
.
X: Ask me some more questions!!! ...
Me: So... are you bi?
X: (long silence)....
~at the start, he said, "if you ask a question and i keep quiet, then you know it's a yes."~
Me: Hey! We're the same species!!!!
Both: (rofl!!)
Me: What's the preference?
X: 55-45
Me: 55 what...?
X: ... guys.
Me: Okay.
.
.
.
X: i've always wanted to tell you this but i just couldn't say it. You know when i always say "Can i tell you something?"...
Me: Yeah, i noticed. i figured you were either gay or bi.
X: Really, how come?
Me: It's just the mannerism and everything.
.
.
.
i thought it was really brave of him to tell me all these. It takes a whole load of courage and i think he really wanted to get it off his mind. i listened to how he described the guy he really liked and it touches my heart at the amount of love and admiration. He talked about his ex and it all sounded beautiful to me. He described the physical pain in his heart at the thought of never being able to be with him. i think i will never be able to say all these to anyone.
We figured that with unconditional love, he would be able to get through, emotionally and mentally, the issue he was facing. Deep inside, i wish him all the best (although we probably know the outcome) and i would like him to be happy and not be molded by the people and environment around him.
This long conversation had somehow made me feel a bit sad... somewhat of a longing feeling for a partner... somewhat also in hope that everyone of us has the opportunity to pursue what suits us best.
It was a camping/hiking trip at Sungei Lembing, a place northwest of Kuantan in the state of Pahang. We were hiking and swimming up a gorge in all its majesty. The hike really sucked because the trail was teeming with hungry dancing leeches!!!!! Not one of us was spared. And i got my huge sucker at night when i was sleeping - it was busy leeching off the BLISTER ON MY FOOT!!! i only found the bugger fat and lethargic the next morning... but it was too late. My blister had already been cleaned up and on the expressway to recovery. Rainbow waterfall was beautiful but overcrowded with people. Anyway i was glad to have my waterproof Olympus and my five-finger shoes for this trip. It made the trip fun and clambering over rocks an ease.
~~~
i was really looking forward to Eurobike this year because i really wanted to check out the 650b components that manufacturers were going to launch for 2013. And of course i was just happy to be among so many beautiful bikes that i really love...
But as usual, it was a whole load of meetings and i missed out seeing many, many booths.
BUT, i got Danny MacAskill's autograph and a photo with him!!!!! Total inspiration to start trials once again. Plus i got to see Steve Peat at the Evoc booth while our supplier was showing us products... i couldn't really concentrate as i badly wanted to get his autograph before he left - which i couldn't.
i will be visiting Bangkok for a biz trip next week. Am pretty excited because it's the first time in many years that i would be going there - airport transits are not counted. It's really strange to be excited about going to BKK because most of my friends are going there on a regular basis for shopping and holiday and are longing for Japan, Taiwan, Europe, etc, whereas mine is the other way around.
~~~
A close friend "confessed" his orientation yesterday. It was a very comical conversation because he was trying to direct me to the topic by making me ask him so many questions that i couldn't think of (because i'm not a kaypoh person by nature). And so, excerpts of the conversation went something like this:
.
.
.
X (friend): If you were to choose guy or girl next, who would you choose?
Me: Errr... Guy? But then again i don't chase it. i just go for it when someone comes along.
X: On the scale of 100, how many percent guy or girl?
Me: Errrrrrrrrr.... (thinks really hard and really long)... 50-50.
.
.
.
X: Ask me some more questions!!! ...
Me: So... are you bi?
X: (long silence)....
~at the start, he said, "if you ask a question and i keep quiet, then you know it's a yes."~
Me: Hey! We're the same species!!!!
Both: (rofl!!)
Me: What's the preference?
X: 55-45
Me: 55 what...?
X: ... guys.
Me: Okay.
.
.
.
X: i've always wanted to tell you this but i just couldn't say it. You know when i always say "Can i tell you something?"...
Me: Yeah, i noticed. i figured you were either gay or bi.
X: Really, how come?
Me: It's just the mannerism and everything.
.
.
.
i thought it was really brave of him to tell me all these. It takes a whole load of courage and i think he really wanted to get it off his mind. i listened to how he described the guy he really liked and it touches my heart at the amount of love and admiration. He talked about his ex and it all sounded beautiful to me. He described the physical pain in his heart at the thought of never being able to be with him. i think i will never be able to say all these to anyone.
We figured that with unconditional love, he would be able to get through, emotionally and mentally, the issue he was facing. Deep inside, i wish him all the best (although we probably know the outcome) and i would like him to be happy and not be molded by the people and environment around him.
This long conversation had somehow made me feel a bit sad... somewhat of a longing feeling for a partner... somewhat also in hope that everyone of us has the opportunity to pursue what suits us best.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Recently, my moods, behaviour and energy level have been fluctuating like mad. Suddenly emo, next moment super hyper, the next day with even more energy and riding my bike like a mad hare (by my standards) and still not depleted yet. Plus i've been laughing (read: screeching) a bit too hard at times (which includes the times i just laugh out to myself when i hear something odd on the radio or something...)
Is there something wrong with me or it's just one of those times?
i think i was just bitten by the riding bug again ever since returning from Sushi-land. Mich thinks it's the high altitudes that gave me this crazy burst of energy... but i didn't climb anything too high!
i've been riding hard the past few rides. Love the pain when i push myself to go a bit faster, a bit more and some more faster.
i cannot believe it but i was so lethargic at work today, only to have the spirit unleashed in the evening when i got onto my bike. i didn't feel super strong on the bike but the little climbs and flats went by much more smoothly today. i hope i'm not getting manic or something...
My concentration span is getting shorter and shorter... Just the other day, i was trying out some IQ test online by request of juju and i wanted to give up halfway through because i kept thinking about other stuffs and couldn't focus on it. i have to consciously force myself back to the test and that really somehow reminded me of the dreaded times in school.
i told biggie i think i need a fling - just for the company and for the fun of it. In the past weeks, i thought to myself that i just want to be with someone, just for the company and no other obligations. Although i haven't got the house thing figured out, it seems to make things much easier if i just settle it on my own rather than depending on the partner....
Strange way of thinking. i have to get out of this mentality.
Is there something wrong with me or it's just one of those times?
i think i was just bitten by the riding bug again ever since returning from Sushi-land. Mich thinks it's the high altitudes that gave me this crazy burst of energy... but i didn't climb anything too high!
i've been riding hard the past few rides. Love the pain when i push myself to go a bit faster, a bit more and some more faster.
i cannot believe it but i was so lethargic at work today, only to have the spirit unleashed in the evening when i got onto my bike. i didn't feel super strong on the bike but the little climbs and flats went by much more smoothly today. i hope i'm not getting manic or something...
My concentration span is getting shorter and shorter... Just the other day, i was trying out some IQ test online by request of juju and i wanted to give up halfway through because i kept thinking about other stuffs and couldn't focus on it. i have to consciously force myself back to the test and that really somehow reminded me of the dreaded times in school.
i told biggie i think i need a fling - just for the company and for the fun of it. In the past weeks, i thought to myself that i just want to be with someone, just for the company and no other obligations. Although i haven't got the house thing figured out, it seems to make things much easier if i just settle it on my own rather than depending on the partner....
Strange way of thinking. i have to get out of this mentality.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
i just need my little space to voice out about something from my recent trip in Japan.
On the last day of my trip, i decided to be the most touristy i could and visit Tsukiji market and Shinjuku - eat sushi, buy souvenirs, look around for local produce and crawl as the world spun by. As i was strolling away from the money changer in Shinjuku, i took a good look around to see the weekday crowd moving with paces much faster than my own, to see the frowning salarymen standing by the cigarette bins having their little refuge, to see the departmental store crew arranging their products to perfection and to see the occasional (there's not much litter) cleaner wiping out the bin with pride.
It occurred to me that they were all local. Japanese.
In the streets of my own country, Singapore, there is hardly a time in this age that i see purely locals driving the country. By "drivers", i do not mean the government or the CEOs of big organisations. Perhaps it is more accurate to use "foundation" instead. What is the foundation of a country without its own people?
From young, i've been seeing certain jobs worked by only foreign workers. Construction workers are mostly Bangladeshi, domestic helpers Indonesians/Filipinos, and more recently, Filipinos in the F&B/service industry and a huge influx of Chinese from China cooking your food and cleaning the tables.
The first time i ever noticed that this wasn't normal was when i was bunking in with a friend in NZ in 2009. A house down the road was under renovation and every time i walked towards the supermarket, i would pass it and see the builders doing their thing. The first thought that shot through my mind... "Angmoh Bangla!". i am not trying to be rude or stereotypical here, but in Singapore, locals like to refer to construction workers as "bangla" because almost all of them are from Bangladeshi. "Angmoh" just means caucasian (and a direct translation from Chinese just means "red hair"). Back to the moment in NZ when i saw the builders, i was surprised/shocked. Why are there locals sweeping the floor??? i was just not used to seeing locals doing the job.
This time in Japan, i got exactly the same feeling, except this time i was more indignant. Why is Singapore so different! Why did our parents say "If you don't study, you will end up sweeping the floor or collecting rubbish..."? What is wrong with working menial jobs? What is there to be ashamed of to keep the streets of your countrymen clean? Is it degrading in some way to get rid of the cigarette butts that the stressed, highly-educated population conveniently throw beside the bin? i don't quite understand... And this frustrates me to tears.
On the occasions you see Singaporeans doing menial jobs, too many are the most heart-wrenching moments of seeing hunched Septuagenarians (read: people over 70 years of age) struggling to the next table to collect dishes for washing and packing half-eaten food into their plastic bag. They are paid miserably. We are talking about S$800 a month to support oneself and a spouse, in a society where a basic government flat costs over S$150,000, where a cheap meal of rice or noodles outside costs at least S$2.50 (without a drink), where it is probably cheaper to die than to seek medical treatment and where retirement is 62 years of age.
The thought of this is really tormenting. Visitors from overseas would ask us "Why are these old people still struggling to make a living? Doesn't the government take care of the old folks?" and I have no answer for that. My friend says "The uncle very poor thing" and I reply "Maybe not, he is fortunate to have some income.".
In the last 2 years of sudden influx of China residents into Singapore to fill up the well-underpaid positions in the F&B industry, i've found myself in countless situations where i spoke English to order some food in the restaurant, only to be given a hard stare by the Chinese server that made me feel i was speaking aliengibberish. For a moment, i would even wonder if i were in my own country...
Things seem awfully wrong to me and all i have are questions and no answers. It was just that split second in Shinjuku that brought all these to thought. The sushi that morning must have been spiked.
On the last day of my trip, i decided to be the most touristy i could and visit Tsukiji market and Shinjuku - eat sushi, buy souvenirs, look around for local produce and crawl as the world spun by. As i was strolling away from the money changer in Shinjuku, i took a good look around to see the weekday crowd moving with paces much faster than my own, to see the frowning salarymen standing by the cigarette bins having their little refuge, to see the departmental store crew arranging their products to perfection and to see the occasional (there's not much litter) cleaner wiping out the bin with pride.
It occurred to me that they were all local. Japanese.
In the streets of my own country, Singapore, there is hardly a time in this age that i see purely locals driving the country. By "drivers", i do not mean the government or the CEOs of big organisations. Perhaps it is more accurate to use "foundation" instead. What is the foundation of a country without its own people?
From young, i've been seeing certain jobs worked by only foreign workers. Construction workers are mostly Bangladeshi, domestic helpers Indonesians/Filipinos, and more recently, Filipinos in the F&B/service industry and a huge influx of Chinese from China cooking your food and cleaning the tables.
The first time i ever noticed that this wasn't normal was when i was bunking in with a friend in NZ in 2009. A house down the road was under renovation and every time i walked towards the supermarket, i would pass it and see the builders doing their thing. The first thought that shot through my mind... "Angmoh Bangla!". i am not trying to be rude or stereotypical here, but in Singapore, locals like to refer to construction workers as "bangla" because almost all of them are from Bangladeshi. "Angmoh" just means caucasian (and a direct translation from Chinese just means "red hair"). Back to the moment in NZ when i saw the builders, i was surprised/shocked. Why are there locals sweeping the floor??? i was just not used to seeing locals doing the job.
This time in Japan, i got exactly the same feeling, except this time i was more indignant. Why is Singapore so different! Why did our parents say "If you don't study, you will end up sweeping the floor or collecting rubbish..."? What is wrong with working menial jobs? What is there to be ashamed of to keep the streets of your countrymen clean? Is it degrading in some way to get rid of the cigarette butts that the stressed, highly-educated population conveniently throw beside the bin? i don't quite understand... And this frustrates me to tears.
On the occasions you see Singaporeans doing menial jobs, too many are the most heart-wrenching moments of seeing hunched Septuagenarians (read: people over 70 years of age) struggling to the next table to collect dishes for washing and packing half-eaten food into their plastic bag. They are paid miserably. We are talking about S$800 a month to support oneself and a spouse, in a society where a basic government flat costs over S$150,000, where a cheap meal of rice or noodles outside costs at least S$2.50 (without a drink), where it is probably cheaper to die than to seek medical treatment and where retirement is 62 years of age.
The thought of this is really tormenting. Visitors from overseas would ask us "Why are these old people still struggling to make a living? Doesn't the government take care of the old folks?" and I have no answer for that. My friend says "The uncle very poor thing" and I reply "Maybe not, he is fortunate to have some income.".
In the last 2 years of sudden influx of China residents into Singapore to fill up the well-underpaid positions in the F&B industry, i've found myself in countless situations where i spoke English to order some food in the restaurant, only to be given a hard stare by the Chinese server that made me feel i was speaking aliengibberish. For a moment, i would even wonder if i were in my own country...
Things seem awfully wrong to me and all i have are questions and no answers. It was just that split second in Shinjuku that brought all these to thought. The sushi that morning must have been spiked.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Today is my last day in Yakushima - an island off the south of Japan, but above Okinawa.
It's my 5th (and last) day here and I'm already missing the Japanese kampong way of living here. The YH youth hostel that we were staying in was lovely. It's a wooden house with very ample facilities. Lots of nature and bugs around. Great people who run the place.
I love the way the Japanese are able to blend in and accommodate to nature. Recycling culture is very strong. Wastage is minimised in all sorts of ways, not at the expense of comfort. And there is absolutely no trash on the 30+km of trails that we have hiked so far!!!
PG was saying that there is nowhere else in the world other than Japan where an unregulated mountain hut would be that clean. I am shocked but I totally agree. It was a very pleasant hut that we stayed in on the mountains.
The buses/trains are frighteningly on the dot as usual.. I don't know how they do it.
Great weather so far - we managed to get past all the rainy bits especially during our hikes!
That's all for now!
It's my 5th (and last) day here and I'm already missing the Japanese kampong way of living here. The YH youth hostel that we were staying in was lovely. It's a wooden house with very ample facilities. Lots of nature and bugs around. Great people who run the place.
I love the way the Japanese are able to blend in and accommodate to nature. Recycling culture is very strong. Wastage is minimised in all sorts of ways, not at the expense of comfort. And there is absolutely no trash on the 30+km of trails that we have hiked so far!!!
PG was saying that there is nowhere else in the world other than Japan where an unregulated mountain hut would be that clean. I am shocked but I totally agree. It was a very pleasant hut that we stayed in on the mountains.
The buses/trains are frighteningly on the dot as usual.. I don't know how they do it.
Great weather so far - we managed to get past all the rainy bits especially during our hikes!
That's all for now!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Japan
After 6 years of waiting, I'M FINALLY GOING TO JAPAN!!!!! I cannot believe it!! I'm so excited about my trip!!! I didn't really think it was gonna happen!!!
It all started with me casually saying that I wanna check out Yakushima. PG said she had thought of visiting that place too but she's been flying everywhere in the past 2 years (she's a full-time holiday-er) and said she's broke.
I have been planning for a trip for July or August and was intending to climb Mt Fuji (it's the climbing season), but the lack of training made me somewhat apprehensive.
When PG sms-ed me last week about her confirmed dates in Yakushima, I told myself "mai tu liao" - no more delaying. I will meet her on those days there.
The problem was that I have to be in office on the 21st. My bosses will also be out of office a few days from 29th. I like to go on holidays but I don't like to leave my colleagues struggling with the day-to-day stuffs because of insufficient people. My boss was reluctant to let me off for more than a week when I asked him initially but the next day, he told me to just go ahead with whatever I was planning.
And so... I AM PLANNING!!!
SUSHI-LAND!!!! Here I come!!!!!!!!
Now I just need to put in some last minute training for my hikes......
It all started with me casually saying that I wanna check out Yakushima. PG said she had thought of visiting that place too but she's been flying everywhere in the past 2 years (she's a full-time holiday-er) and said she's broke.
I have been planning for a trip for July or August and was intending to climb Mt Fuji (it's the climbing season), but the lack of training made me somewhat apprehensive.
When PG sms-ed me last week about her confirmed dates in Yakushima, I told myself "mai tu liao" - no more delaying. I will meet her on those days there.
The problem was that I have to be in office on the 21st. My bosses will also be out of office a few days from 29th. I like to go on holidays but I don't like to leave my colleagues struggling with the day-to-day stuffs because of insufficient people. My boss was reluctant to let me off for more than a week when I asked him initially but the next day, he told me to just go ahead with whatever I was planning.
And so... I AM PLANNING!!!
SUSHI-LAND!!!! Here I come!!!!!!!!
Now I just need to put in some last minute training for my hikes......
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Saturday, June 02, 2012
i was just out for a Thai steamboat/hotplate BBQ dinner with a friend and his friend. The food was pretty good, the portion was sufficient and we had an airy seat outside. After that we headed for drinks at Beer Market where they were having a duo (guitar + vocalist) live.
We weren't particularly impressed by the singing nor the beer we ordered, but i was entertained by the duo because it's just fascinating how musicians coordinate and communicate with each other. What irked me the most was that the two friends i was with, one on the left and one on the right, were on their mobile phones right from the moment we stepped into the place.
i know facebook is more interesting than the live performance. i also know facebook has 200 million girls more pretty/attractive/social than me or a friend live sitting in front of you. i now also know that facebook is what people revolve around, claiming that it connects people more than ever before.
It sure feels good to be tagged by a friend on your check-in place, but it totally sucks when i'm at a loss at how to respond to the non-existent soul of a friend beside you. i either start reading the news on my phone or start messaging other friends, just to "join the crowd".
i've had friends who go out with me but are totally occupied with playing the latest game on their mobile, and conveniently say that they are stuck to it. Why don't they just stay at home and play then? Is there any reason at all to "meet up"?
What i also know is that i will try to hang around less with friends or people who prefer to keep their attention on their mobile phones more than the real interaction with real people.
Just ranting...
We weren't particularly impressed by the singing nor the beer we ordered, but i was entertained by the duo because it's just fascinating how musicians coordinate and communicate with each other. What irked me the most was that the two friends i was with, one on the left and one on the right, were on their mobile phones right from the moment we stepped into the place.
i know facebook is more interesting than the live performance. i also know facebook has 200 million girls more pretty/attractive/social than me or a friend live sitting in front of you. i now also know that facebook is what people revolve around, claiming that it connects people more than ever before.
It sure feels good to be tagged by a friend on your check-in place, but it totally sucks when i'm at a loss at how to respond to the non-existent soul of a friend beside you. i either start reading the news on my phone or start messaging other friends, just to "join the crowd".
i've had friends who go out with me but are totally occupied with playing the latest game on their mobile, and conveniently say that they are stuck to it. Why don't they just stay at home and play then? Is there any reason at all to "meet up"?
What i also know is that i will try to hang around less with friends or people who prefer to keep their attention on their mobile phones more than the real interaction with real people.
Just ranting...
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
My boss is very, very bad. He forwards me an email + website link from a Thailand customer, and follows up with me with a bbm that says, "Are you prepared to go Chiangmai for X-biking? I will plan you for that if you are keen.".
I AM NOT KEEN!!! I AM EXTREMELY INTERESTED AND ALL OUT TO GO!!!!!!!
And now i'm too excited to sleep...
*tearing my hair off!!!*
I AM NOT KEEN!!! I AM EXTREMELY INTERESTED AND ALL OUT TO GO!!!!!!!
And now i'm too excited to sleep...
*tearing my hair off!!!*
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
i finally got down to buying a waterproof/shockproof camera so that all the exciting moments in my life will be captured in all weather conditions!!! Although i was on such a teeny weeny budget, i managed to find a camera below the amount at the shop. It's an orange Olympus TG-310!! There are not many models of waterproof compacts in the market, and with my budget, it didn't take long for me to make the choice. The shop was left only with orange but it's a nice and cheery colour, so why not!
Now it's happily connected to the electrical supply for its first charge. Looking forward to trying it out!
Now it's happily connected to the electrical supply for its first charge. Looking forward to trying it out!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
The Big Bomb mtb jamboree in Skudai Malaysia last Sunday was great - because i finished it!!!
It was super duper muddy. i got the wrong tires on my bike and was busy sliding & slinking around for a good quarter of the 55km trail. It was super hot and despite having enough electrolyte drinks and salty peanuts during the ride, my thighs were twitching and the muscles were pulling even before i reached the half-point. It didn't help that i got lost and had to ride an extra (approximately) 5km just to get to correct checkpoint for my missing sticker. (So that makes it about 60km total?)
During the first quarter, i didn't think i would finish the ride. With no training, i was suffering quite a bit although my fitness wasn't as bad as i'd thought. At least i made it up 90% of the climbs... the 10% were just to avoid a full cramp-up. Many cool riders along the way, encouraging and friendly. Great marshals at the waterpoints too! There were lots of students roped in to help out at the event and they looked genuinely enjoying themselves, cheering the riders, feeding the riders and doing whatever they could to support us. In Singapore, you will only get grumpy kids if they were to stand around in a palm plantation from 8am on a Sunday morning.
Blazing hot... i'm still recovering from my sunburn as i'm typing this. Honestly the trail wasn't the most exciting but the mud was challenging and it made the distance a torture too.
My colleague Jud finished the race as Champion!!! Power guy... no aching the next day (i asked him...) and still looking so fresh.
i appreciate my customer who invited me to join their car to the race location. It was good to have gone with their group where i also happened to know 2 of the guys from about 10 years ago when i just started riding.
We had paper-wrapped herbal chicken at a restaurant after the race and it was awesome!
Anyway no pix of the trail because i was cursing, swearing and dying while riding... i even swore i wouldn't ride for the next 2 weeks, but yesterday i was already feeling a bit of withdrawal symptoms (of non-riding) even though i was aching slightly and quite fatigued... My body just doesn't remember the pain!!!
Pix courtesy of Ah Bong:
Relieved & proud of myself at the end point with my trusty steed! It's a tank (13kg?) for my weight (52kg without riding load) but it's got me through the torture. :)
Finisher's medal 178!! (Actually mine was in the car and this one is Jud's champion medal... which is why i was holding it like this..) Think i missed the prize position for women's category by maybe 1 or 2 riders, but it doesn't really matter too bad coz i just wanted to have fun.Pic courtesy of helpful guy + Wilson's camera:
Our grouppo! 5 riders, 5 bikes, lots of water/clothes/barang barang, 1 Subaru. Enjoyed it!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Two days ago, I was on my way cycling to work when I passed by the Victoria St wholesale market. My mind was just reading blankly the outline of the words that had been removed from the concrete slab in front of the market when it suddenly hit me that the place was already barricated and on the way to destruction.
I know the place is destined for bigger and more profit-generating projects, but it really came to me as a big shock, just like how every other day I notice more old buildings halfway through the demolition process.
Singapore will soon no longer be the place I hold memories to. It's change for the better (I think that's the intention...) But I'm the person who lives in the past and nostalgia and all.
I know the place is destined for bigger and more profit-generating projects, but it really came to me as a big shock, just like how every other day I notice more old buildings halfway through the demolition process.
Singapore will soon no longer be the place I hold memories to. It's change for the better (I think that's the intention...) But I'm the person who lives in the past and nostalgia and all.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Muay thai is a really, really tough sport. For the past 1.5 months, I have been attending the classes at the community club and each and every workout squeezes all the sweat and muscle out of me.
We start off each session with a 10-minute jog, followed by 10 minutes of skipping. Then it's 15 push-ups and 15 sit-ups. Guys and gals, all the same. This already is close to killing me (and some guys). Then we do shadow-boxing and pad work.
I am so bad with my hands and legs, I still can't get it right after so many classes. Gosh. But I do enjoy the torture of my arms and legs burning after the repetitions of 1s, 2s, uppercuts, hooks, kicks, etc. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
I'm wondering if I should sign up for the next 8 sessions. Afterall, I need some training for my Japan cycling/hiking trip in July/Aug.
We start off each session with a 10-minute jog, followed by 10 minutes of skipping. Then it's 15 push-ups and 15 sit-ups. Guys and gals, all the same. This already is close to killing me (and some guys). Then we do shadow-boxing and pad work.
I am so bad with my hands and legs, I still can't get it right after so many classes. Gosh. But I do enjoy the torture of my arms and legs burning after the repetitions of 1s, 2s, uppercuts, hooks, kicks, etc. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
I'm wondering if I should sign up for the next 8 sessions. Afterall, I need some training for my Japan cycling/hiking trip in July/Aug.
My father was just telling me yesterday he went to the A&E because there was blood in his excretion. He said he didn't want to go to the polyclinic because they would probably ask him to take medicine and monitor the condition, and if it didn't go well, then the referral to a specialist, which would take a total of at least 2-3 weeks.
I don't know but I feel ashamed of his behaviour. It looks selfish to me, taking up A&E resources that would be more crucial to other lives, when the polyclinic will also be able to diagnose. Anyway it's piles.
He said he fell from a stool yesterday and toppled my bikes while closing the storeroom window. He said his back and dunnowhat was injured, and if there was any damage, he will "make good" the item. I said okay.
I feel sad to think of all these. Here is a person I know I can never be able to take care physically, mentally and emotionally. Prolonging life is crucial to him. What is my solution?
I don't know but I feel ashamed of his behaviour. It looks selfish to me, taking up A&E resources that would be more crucial to other lives, when the polyclinic will also be able to diagnose. Anyway it's piles.
He said he fell from a stool yesterday and toppled my bikes while closing the storeroom window. He said his back and dunnowhat was injured, and if there was any damage, he will "make good" the item. I said okay.
I feel sad to think of all these. Here is a person I know I can never be able to take care physically, mentally and emotionally. Prolonging life is crucial to him. What is my solution?
Monday, March 12, 2012
After 2 weeks of crazy hectic schedule, I'm going to be back in office. Although a colleague left last week, we will be able to manage. Hopefully not too many heart attacks and overly exciting stuffs.
Must get the sales moving too. Since our folks' travel schedule for the month is crazy, the few left in office have to drive it.
Last week, we were at Taipei show and were running around for meetings like mad hares. But I enjoyed meeting up with some suppliers whom I meet only once or twice a year, and also putting faces to names I communicate with on emails.
We managed to find time on the second day of our trip to hunt down this book store that I saw online. It's such a lovely shop, quaint and full of special books and unique stationery and antiques. The area around there was really chill too, with the Haji Lane style shops in the small lanes. For all that getting lost and the distance I made my boss and my colleague (who is a national rider who shouldn't be wasting his legs on walking like this) walk, we were all really happy and wow-ed by the place. *phew*
This is the place to check out:
VVG Something 好樣本事
台北市忠孝東路4段181巷40弄13號
Tel: (02) 2773 1358
Sun-Thu 1200-2100, Fri-Sat 1200-2200
We had time in the evenings to visit the night markets for food and shopping.
A supplier brought us up yang ming shan for dinner, wanting to share the city view from above. However, it was foggy and drizzling... :( but the local food at the cozy restaurant was tasty... :)
During the whole trip, I was busy hunting for stuffs that my parents and friends added to my shopping list. 90% achieved!
But I felt exhausted during this trip. On the 4 days before the trip, there was the OCBC cycle event where we had our booth. On the morning just before we were scheduled to fly, it was all rushing to handover stuffs and tying up loose ends.
Yesterday, I met up with someone we haven't met for years and for whatever reason, it ended up as a drinking session and I had a few drops too much, resulting in a slightly hanged Monday morning. I promise myself never to drink so much again. Bad for the wallet. And I do funny things.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Universal Studios Singapore
My first time there last Friday! Mich got her hands on some free tickets and we all (4 of us) took half a day off from work to meet up and attack the place. However, we only managed to reach the place at 4pm... And it closes at 7pm.
We took the really scary roller coaster rides Human and Cyclon. I think my heart floated and flew around too much for my comfort.
There was Frankenstein outside the photo shop strangling tourists (who were being voluntarily strangled).
We took the Transformer ride that supposedly was just opened 2-3 months back. (We queued for over half an hour.) Saw spiderweb in one of the exhibits.
We went to see Shrek 4D to get air sprayed on our necks, water on our faces and feathers tickling our legs.
I thought the service crew in general could have been better. They somewhat lack the energy and enthusiasm for this sort of place. Plus the really odd accent of the announcements... They are Singaporean and I am Singaporean and I cannot understand what they were talking about.
But I guess what made it all fun was our group and the fact that it was weekday off-peak where we didn't have to queue for most of the rides.
The food at the Malaysia food street was good and very affordable too. Had wanton mee and cuttlefish + kang kong. K bought some chinese pastries to share and I thought those were very yummy too.
There was also fireworks at 9pm. PG reckoned the 2 hours between the closing time and fireworks was to "encourage" visitors to eat at the restaurants and browse merchandise.
Parking was $23+ from 4-10pm - sharing by 4 of us made it fairly reasonable.
:)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
i am totally bushed.
Sun: Rode the railway track + ate at Bollywood veggies + went Novena Sq to collect race pack - 74km.
Mon (am): Rode to work in the morning - 27km. Caught in the downpour around the 20km mark.
Mon (pm): My first time muay thai class - 4km bicycle commuting, 10-minute run, pushups, skipping (a lot a lot), sit-ups, learn punches - felt like half my life was gone.
Tue: Rode to work in the morning - 27km. Rode to town to meet Mich for vday singles' dinner, then rode home - another 27km.
Now, i feel like i cannot even ride another 1cm more. But you wait and see, by tomorrow, i'll start missing riding again.
i have to say dinner tonight was really good. We wanted to eat at Lau Pa Sat but i suggested Amoy food centre instead (because i quite miss the zhi char there). Mich and i, 5 dishes. Stir-fried beef hor fun, fried bee hoon in gravy, prawn rolls, sweet potato leaves and fish head with bittergourd and black bean. 2 drinks each to fill the spaces in the stomach. She said there was this uncle who was looking at our dishes of food... Our dishes fully occupied the 4-seater table.
EVERYTHING WAS YUMMY!!!!! The tastes were really authentic and each dish was done how it should be. My favourite was the fish head. It's my first time trying deep fried fish head stir fried with the bittergourd and black bean - a truly cantonese style dish. The fried bee hoon still tastes like how it was 2.5 years ago when i still worked at Amoy St. The taste is correct. The slightly charred bits, the gravy, the chicken, the smell, everything.
Of course we finished everything.
i'm so glad i've been exercising for the past few days. My appetite is huge now and i can eat all i want without putting on anything. i know my body will ache like crazy tomorrow and i will have trouble crawling out of bed because of the stiff muscles, but it's all worth it for the food.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Yesterday I was at Tangs looking for ideas for a sound system in my room. The Bose ones looked good and sounded good, but my idea was to have radio and possibly DVD player, which the set didn't come with.
And so I roamed around... And found out that Tangs is truly a dangerous place.
I saw a really nice simple leather wallet. $120+
I saw this really, really cute little stuffed owl stitched up in leather. It came with a strap so you could hang it from your bag. $66
I saw a shirt from Desigual. Lovely pattern that reminds me of Japan. $120+
I saw too many beautiful bags, mostly for afterwork gym clothes type. $400+
I saw so many useful and modern teapot sets, french presses and cups. Especially the Bodum ones. $assortedhighend
In the end, I got only a set of Victorinox nail clippers. $20. Just to make myself happy.
Sooooooo dangerous!!!!
And so I roamed around... And found out that Tangs is truly a dangerous place.
I saw a really nice simple leather wallet. $120+
I saw this really, really cute little stuffed owl stitched up in leather. It came with a strap so you could hang it from your bag. $66
I saw a shirt from Desigual. Lovely pattern that reminds me of Japan. $120+
I saw too many beautiful bags, mostly for afterwork gym clothes type. $400+
I saw so many useful and modern teapot sets, french presses and cups. Especially the Bodum ones. $assortedhighend
In the end, I got only a set of Victorinox nail clippers. $20. Just to make myself happy.
Sooooooo dangerous!!!!
Friday, February 03, 2012
i've been feeling troubled of late. There has been so much work in office and we can are all chasing after the backlog instead of doing the "forward" things.
i've been thinking a lot on how to attain my resolution. It's really tough. And i'm asking myself, is it really necessary? Will it make be any happier? Perhaps not. But i need a goal to keep myself going.
i thought of moving to some rural place and becoming a self-sustaining farmer. i wonder how it feels like to eliminate the element of money from my life. This is really perplexing because i thought it would be good to have some passive income while i did that... but it's too ironical.
i think i've landed on the wrong planet, living the wrong life. Even after 27.5 years, i still feel alien here. The life and everything just feels wrong. i wish i have the courage to end it all.
i think i'm losing the will to do anything. Everything seems too intimidating. i feel so old and haggard, as if my body has been through 50 years of nonsense. My memory has been failing on me - i'm not sure if this is a defense mechanism of my brain, or that it's just the way it is. i've been relying heavily on notes/messages/scribbles/organisation/calendars/watches to make up for it, just for life to function and for me to look normal.
i'm so tired. i'm going to bed.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I thought I could enjoy a lovely night on my own, sit in a corner of the cafe to have dinner and have a bit of time with my new book 1Q84... when boss asked me if I could accompany our customer for dinner.
It went pretty well. I brought her to Chinatown and we ate at the food centre. We walked around at the stalls selling the CNY stuffs. Then we took a bus to the hotel. And my customer said there was a good cold beancurd nearby, so we headed there (and I knew where it was coz it's famous).
We were halfway done and a lady asked if she could share our little table, which was no problem at all.
When we were about done, I noticed that the lady was reading the exact same book I was planning to read tonight - the book that was still in my bag. I could recognise it from the bulk and one of the characters' names.
"I've got the exact same book in my bag." I pointed out to her.
And we started discussing about the author, his works, the movie based on one his works, and another author with a similar style. She asked if I had a favourite Murakami title. I told her I didn't - I just enjoyed his writing style and his narratives.
She had started collecting books (i.e. owning 2 copies of the same book) about a year ago and she had both the UK and the US print of this book.
It was a really little interesting coincidence and a nice chat. We exchanged names and parted.
This gave me a warm feeling.. I never had the chance to discuss a book with anyone before. Everyone I know doesn't read my genre of books.
I feel I'm not alone in this world - at least for the moment.
It went pretty well. I brought her to Chinatown and we ate at the food centre. We walked around at the stalls selling the CNY stuffs. Then we took a bus to the hotel. And my customer said there was a good cold beancurd nearby, so we headed there (and I knew where it was coz it's famous).
We were halfway done and a lady asked if she could share our little table, which was no problem at all.
When we were about done, I noticed that the lady was reading the exact same book I was planning to read tonight - the book that was still in my bag. I could recognise it from the bulk and one of the characters' names.
"I've got the exact same book in my bag." I pointed out to her.
And we started discussing about the author, his works, the movie based on one his works, and another author with a similar style. She asked if I had a favourite Murakami title. I told her I didn't - I just enjoyed his writing style and his narratives.
She had started collecting books (i.e. owning 2 copies of the same book) about a year ago and she had both the UK and the US print of this book.
It was a really little interesting coincidence and a nice chat. We exchanged names and parted.
This gave me a warm feeling.. I never had the chance to discuss a book with anyone before. Everyone I know doesn't read my genre of books.
I feel I'm not alone in this world - at least for the moment.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
A gloom hangs over my head on this first working day of 2012... The work is neverending... And I don't feel satisfied enough with what I've achieved in a day. My resolution of saving up 30k for 2012 seems to be stepping farther and farther away...
I feel demoralised already...
Well, at least I'm looking a bit forward to going to the M'sia office on Friday for 5 days to help out with their stock taking. Chill with beers and smokes at night. Away from this horrid city that I'm supposed to call home.
I pity the kindergarten kids who have to undergo qualifying tests for tuition classes. I read in the news about it today. Perhaps it's a good thing I was born 28 years ago.
I remember my parents used to tell me that on my first day in nursery, I walked around the class offering tissue paper to my other crying counterparts. The teacher punished me by making me stand outside the classroom.
Nowadays, people keep questioning how much we care for others in the society, in everyday lives and in everyday situations. Why do people stand aside and not offer help to those in need (immediate or otherwise)? I wonder why......
I guess some things are just better left alone, as what I have learnt from my experience in school.
I feel demoralised already...
Well, at least I'm looking a bit forward to going to the M'sia office on Friday for 5 days to help out with their stock taking. Chill with beers and smokes at night. Away from this horrid city that I'm supposed to call home.
I pity the kindergarten kids who have to undergo qualifying tests for tuition classes. I read in the news about it today. Perhaps it's a good thing I was born 28 years ago.
I remember my parents used to tell me that on my first day in nursery, I walked around the class offering tissue paper to my other crying counterparts. The teacher punished me by making me stand outside the classroom.
Nowadays, people keep questioning how much we care for others in the society, in everyday lives and in everyday situations. Why do people stand aside and not offer help to those in need (immediate or otherwise)? I wonder why......
I guess some things are just better left alone, as what I have learnt from my experience in school.
Monday, January 02, 2012
Singapore is no longer the place i can live in. Places which hold childhood and teenhood memories are disappearing.
- Jurong Entertainment Centre is gone. Replaced by another building due to open this month.
- Jurong East Bus Interchange is closed and will be gone in no time. Not sure if a new interchange is going to be in the same place.
- The old Bt Timah Fire Station is closed. "No trespassing sign" by SLA is on the gate. There goes the really chill restaurant that i like so much... and the retro cluster of buildings.
- Old School @ Mt Sophia will most probably be flattened in 6 months. The private cinema Sinema has just been closed a couple of weeks ago. This used to be the compound of Methodist Girls' School (primary & secondary) for over a hundred years. Given that this is Singapore where eradication of historical monuments to make way for more profitable properties is a "necessity", petitions don't usually make it through.
These are just a few places that are changed in the past 1-2 months. Of course there are many, many more and it will take a hell out of me to accept these changes... at least for now.
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