..... I tried to teach my mobile phone to swim yesterday.....
...... it died.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Monday, June 20, 2005
should i be worried?
My cholesterol level is off the charts. Dr Ong instructed me that when I return from China, I should go for a blood test, but even without looking at the results. I know that my cholesterol level is off the charts. I recall vividly, the last time I had my blood test, Dr Ong said, “boy, you are going to die young.”
It didn’t really bother me that much, because my cholesterol levels returned to normal when I went back to Australia. Seafood is a luxury for poor students like myself in Australia.
For the two weeks I’ve spent in Singapore and Hong Kong, the meals I have been having is nothing short of extravagant, not in a healthy way of course. The very first night in Hong Kong, for instance, we drove an hour to this rural town for seafood. The dinner included :
* Clam soup
* Steamed bamboo clam in soy sauce
* Emperoress clam with garlic
* Baked sea praying-mantis in butter
* Steamed fish
* Baked lobster
* Sea snails in Chinese wine
A dinner of such basically set the pace for the rest of the trip.
Should I be worried? I think only when I face Dr Ong when I get my blood test results. Meanwhile, thou shall not waste when presented with good food. I’ll do my exercises when I return to Melbourne.
It didn’t really bother me that much, because my cholesterol levels returned to normal when I went back to Australia. Seafood is a luxury for poor students like myself in Australia.
For the two weeks I’ve spent in Singapore and Hong Kong, the meals I have been having is nothing short of extravagant, not in a healthy way of course. The very first night in Hong Kong, for instance, we drove an hour to this rural town for seafood. The dinner included :
* Clam soup
* Steamed bamboo clam in soy sauce
* Emperoress clam with garlic
* Baked sea praying-mantis in butter
* Steamed fish
* Baked lobster
* Sea snails in Chinese wine
A dinner of such basically set the pace for the rest of the trip.
Should I be worried? I think only when I face Dr Ong when I get my blood test results. Meanwhile, thou shall not waste when presented with good food. I’ll do my exercises when I return to Melbourne.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Hong Kong Trip
Final day in Hong Kong. By the fact that I'm sitting in my dad's office, it goes to show that this isn't much of a holiday after all. I think I come to Hong Kong way too often; so much so that I'm running out of places to go.
The hotel is excellent; brand new and smacked in the middle of buzzing Mong Kok. But I can't help ignore the fact that right behind the hotel is the prime red-light district where a stroll down alleyways will reveal vices galore. I love the design of my hotel room; the basin is made of glass, the ‘wall’ that separates the bathroom and bedroom is made of glass, and there are mirrors planted everywhere in the room. Actually, it feels like a high class love hotel, but I'm not complaining too much.
The daily shopping was daunting (not not really), but my main highlight was definitely my day trip to Macau. It was raining donkeys and monkeys, but I had fun nonetheless. Getting soaked in the rain can be fun. Met up with Edith who was an absolute gem; took the day off just to show me around. She brought me to this smaller town to have my first taste of Portuguese food; which really is Chinese-Malay food cooked with olive oil. Oh portuguese tarts are fantastic!! I've tried them before, but not made to perfection like this. After which, did the tourist thing like Casino hopping but having my socks and garment wet didn't make it a terribly comfortable experience.
Gotta head back to 'work.. Meeting in 10mins – yes I need to attend meetings despite being on a 'holiday'. Can't complain though, all part of the package.
The hotel is excellent; brand new and smacked in the middle of buzzing Mong Kok. But I can't help ignore the fact that right behind the hotel is the prime red-light district where a stroll down alleyways will reveal vices galore. I love the design of my hotel room; the basin is made of glass, the ‘wall’ that separates the bathroom and bedroom is made of glass, and there are mirrors planted everywhere in the room. Actually, it feels like a high class love hotel, but I'm not complaining too much.
The daily shopping was daunting (not not really), but my main highlight was definitely my day trip to Macau. It was raining donkeys and monkeys, but I had fun nonetheless. Getting soaked in the rain can be fun. Met up with Edith who was an absolute gem; took the day off just to show me around. She brought me to this smaller town to have my first taste of Portuguese food; which really is Chinese-Malay food cooked with olive oil. Oh portuguese tarts are fantastic!! I've tried them before, but not made to perfection like this. After which, did the tourist thing like Casino hopping but having my socks and garment wet didn't make it a terribly comfortable experience.
Gotta head back to 'work.. Meeting in 10mins – yes I need to attend meetings despite being on a 'holiday'. Can't complain though, all part of the package.
Monday, June 13, 2005
procurement pleasure
They say shopping for clothes is a women’s thing and men can’t appreciate the same pleasure at least in the same wavelength. It is probably true for most things, because I, for instance, like to scout for specific items; walk in-buy-get out, all in one swift moment quicker than you can say ‘how much?’ But that is for specific items on my mind such as electronic items and various types of boy’s toys. When it comes to clothes however, the same technique of procurement just doesn’t provide the same hedonic experience.
When it comes to shopping for fashion, I do envy members of the opposite gender. There are so many more options, so many mix-and-match combinations that the possibilities are endless. That is even before you throw in the accessories that come in more shape and sizes than Star Wars merchandise.
I do miss the days when I was attached, because I had such joy shopping for my ex. Buying clothes for myself could be a chore, especially during Chinese New Year, but it would always be a pleasure to shop for women’s clothing….. erm, it sounds wrong there. All I’m saying, is men’s apparel has little variant beyond the choice of shirt, polo-T, or T-shirt, although there can be the occasion dilemma of short-sleeves versus long.
Nonetheless, single-hood has sort of introduced to me the wonderful world of shopping for myself. Once you’ve acquired the art of letting loose the purse strings, there is no turning back. Four days in Singapore and I’ve chalked up enough on my credit card to buy a Park’s handmade lightsaber (that comes with a polycarbonate LE tube, batteries not included). Lets see what I’ve purchased so far, 4 pair of pants, 2 polo-T, 1 long-sleeves shirt, 2 short-sleeves shirt, 1 pair of Adidas runners and 1 pair of Teva sandals. 30 days, can’t wait to see the bill.
…… no, it does not end there, Hong Kong trip begins tomorrow….. if money is not spent there, there is still China………. life’s tough.
When it comes to shopping for fashion, I do envy members of the opposite gender. There are so many more options, so many mix-and-match combinations that the possibilities are endless. That is even before you throw in the accessories that come in more shape and sizes than Star Wars merchandise.
I do miss the days when I was attached, because I had such joy shopping for my ex. Buying clothes for myself could be a chore, especially during Chinese New Year, but it would always be a pleasure to shop for women’s clothing….. erm, it sounds wrong there. All I’m saying, is men’s apparel has little variant beyond the choice of shirt, polo-T, or T-shirt, although there can be the occasion dilemma of short-sleeves versus long.
Nonetheless, single-hood has sort of introduced to me the wonderful world of shopping for myself. Once you’ve acquired the art of letting loose the purse strings, there is no turning back. Four days in Singapore and I’ve chalked up enough on my credit card to buy a Park’s handmade lightsaber (that comes with a polycarbonate LE tube, batteries not included). Lets see what I’ve purchased so far, 4 pair of pants, 2 polo-T, 1 long-sleeves shirt, 2 short-sleeves shirt, 1 pair of Adidas runners and 1 pair of Teva sandals. 30 days, can’t wait to see the bill.
…… no, it does not end there, Hong Kong trip begins tomorrow….. if money is not spent there, there is still China………. life’s tough.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Achilles problem
There is no rhyme or reason. No signs, no indication of cause and no suggestion on why I deserve this. My foot will swell for no apparent reason!!! Okey, not my foot, but my Achilles tendon on my right foot. This happens about twice a year and lasts for three days. My foot decided to swell yesterday, on a precious weekend! How inconsiderate, especially when I was planning to visit some Salsa joints. It is swollen, the tendon is pulling and I am walking like a limping monkey which ate too many papayas.
At least when I get a stiff neck, I know that I deserve it; typically after being too stressed at work and forgetting to do my stretches. But this Achilles problem is more than a pain in the neck to say the least. It is like having a dreaded distant relative making a surprise visit when you lease expect it and you have to entertain unwilling for three days.
I have tried turning to the GP, I have tried acupuncture, I have even tried foot reflexology to no avail. At least I managed to amuse the foot reflexologist who found my predicament ‘fascinating.’ I would have shared the same sentiments if he could have found a solution rather than amusement at my expense.
Oh well, the swell has gone down and I trust that I should be up and about by tomorrow afternoon. Tony and Dennis were kind enough to keep me company on this Saturday evening which otherwise would have been unbearable; not the pain on my foot, but the feeling of wasting a precious weekend away.
You know that you with great company and great friends when the simplest things you do, like shuffling cards can get you laughing like hyenas. Wish the rest of the boys were in town because i certainly miss a good boys night out.
Will hit the pillow now, and will whisper a quick prayer before I turn in….. go away swollen foot.
At least when I get a stiff neck, I know that I deserve it; typically after being too stressed at work and forgetting to do my stretches. But this Achilles problem is more than a pain in the neck to say the least. It is like having a dreaded distant relative making a surprise visit when you lease expect it and you have to entertain unwilling for three days.
I have tried turning to the GP, I have tried acupuncture, I have even tried foot reflexology to no avail. At least I managed to amuse the foot reflexologist who found my predicament ‘fascinating.’ I would have shared the same sentiments if he could have found a solution rather than amusement at my expense.
Oh well, the swell has gone down and I trust that I should be up and about by tomorrow afternoon. Tony and Dennis were kind enough to keep me company on this Saturday evening which otherwise would have been unbearable; not the pain on my foot, but the feeling of wasting a precious weekend away.
You know that you with great company and great friends when the simplest things you do, like shuffling cards can get you laughing like hyenas. Wish the rest of the boys were in town because i certainly miss a good boys night out.
Will hit the pillow now, and will whisper a quick prayer before I turn in….. go away swollen foot.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
The Island
What is it about coming back home to Singapore? There will always be a period, usually in the first 48hrs where I will go through some form of a culture shock. The culture-shock for this trip begun at the immigration counter where I smiled and said hello to the officer but got completely ignored. It was then that I realised that I was back in Singapore; a place where time is of the essence, and efficiency supersedes social graciousness.
It didn’t take me long to re-accustom myself to the social demands of the country. When I was driving on the road on the second morning, I made an unforgivable mistake; I gave way. Perhaps I could pardon myself that I spent the last 6 months in Melbourne, but I should have known better than to bring with me the mindset of a Melbournian driver. When I gave way on the road, not only did I annoy drivers behind me, my initiative was not returned by any gesture of appreciation from the driver whom I gave way to. I felt cheated, in a way similar to serenading with a guitar beneath someone’s balcony only to be told that she doesn’t like you and you can’t sing. Okey, maybe it didn’t feel that way, and no, I have never tried serenading with a guitar, but the point is I felt stupid giving way on the road. That sensation of stupidity could have manifested into road rage if not for my continuous reminder that it was not worth it, and I was on a holiday.
The difference between life in Singapore and life in Melbourne was apparent; there was a certain sense of pessimism and negativity that consumed me in the first two days I spent there. I met up with four of my old friends. Out of the four, two told me about how they just couldn’t wait to find a job overseas and get out of the fruitless life on the island. Although they were getting a decent pay, they complained that life felt like it was going nowhere. I have to agree, the constrains in Singapore is suffocating; eight years to pay off a car loan; twice that to pay off a three-room flat; weekends are spent shopping in the Great Singapore Sale which I found to be not that great after all.
I was listening to 95.0FM, on the morning show, Glen and the Flying Dutchman were bitching about the ridiculous increase of ERP prices, and the extension of toll to include Saturdays. It was the same time when I drove my mom to Suntec for a conference, and that trip cost me $4; $2 to pay the toll and $2 to pay for entry into the CBD. It was madness. I had to pay $4 just for a 15mins trip. I can fully understand when my friends were tellingl me that they feel suffocated. Cost of living is so high, but where is the outlet? Shopping? - stuff in Hong Kong is cheaper. Food? - expensive and quality is not what it used to be. Movies? - cost $10 a movie now. The prices are escalating and the value is diminishing. I cannot pretend to appreciate what my friends are going through, and I can just reflect and feel lucky that I get to taste the life of living overseas.
Despite all these, there were moments where I sensed some signs of optimism for life over here. There aren’t a whole lot of them, just bits and pieces of moments shared with family and friends. That’s it isn’t it? At the end of the day, you may be dwelling in a shit hole but it is your loved ones that make it bearable. Home is where love is, although I will miss the wine tasting, café hopping, and jazz clubbing life of Melbourne, it will be difficult to turn my back at Singapore – a suffocating island of nothingness save the people there that make it bearable.
It didn’t take me long to re-accustom myself to the social demands of the country. When I was driving on the road on the second morning, I made an unforgivable mistake; I gave way. Perhaps I could pardon myself that I spent the last 6 months in Melbourne, but I should have known better than to bring with me the mindset of a Melbournian driver. When I gave way on the road, not only did I annoy drivers behind me, my initiative was not returned by any gesture of appreciation from the driver whom I gave way to. I felt cheated, in a way similar to serenading with a guitar beneath someone’s balcony only to be told that she doesn’t like you and you can’t sing. Okey, maybe it didn’t feel that way, and no, I have never tried serenading with a guitar, but the point is I felt stupid giving way on the road. That sensation of stupidity could have manifested into road rage if not for my continuous reminder that it was not worth it, and I was on a holiday.
The difference between life in Singapore and life in Melbourne was apparent; there was a certain sense of pessimism and negativity that consumed me in the first two days I spent there. I met up with four of my old friends. Out of the four, two told me about how they just couldn’t wait to find a job overseas and get out of the fruitless life on the island. Although they were getting a decent pay, they complained that life felt like it was going nowhere. I have to agree, the constrains in Singapore is suffocating; eight years to pay off a car loan; twice that to pay off a three-room flat; weekends are spent shopping in the Great Singapore Sale which I found to be not that great after all.
I was listening to 95.0FM, on the morning show, Glen and the Flying Dutchman were bitching about the ridiculous increase of ERP prices, and the extension of toll to include Saturdays. It was the same time when I drove my mom to Suntec for a conference, and that trip cost me $4; $2 to pay the toll and $2 to pay for entry into the CBD. It was madness. I had to pay $4 just for a 15mins trip. I can fully understand when my friends were tellingl me that they feel suffocated. Cost of living is so high, but where is the outlet? Shopping? - stuff in Hong Kong is cheaper. Food? - expensive and quality is not what it used to be. Movies? - cost $10 a movie now. The prices are escalating and the value is diminishing. I cannot pretend to appreciate what my friends are going through, and I can just reflect and feel lucky that I get to taste the life of living overseas.
Despite all these, there were moments where I sensed some signs of optimism for life over here. There aren’t a whole lot of them, just bits and pieces of moments shared with family and friends. That’s it isn’t it? At the end of the day, you may be dwelling in a shit hole but it is your loved ones that make it bearable. Home is where love is, although I will miss the wine tasting, café hopping, and jazz clubbing life of Melbourne, it will be difficult to turn my back at Singapore – a suffocating island of nothingness save the people there that make it bearable.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Heard this on the radio
"What would you do, if you saw an endangered animal.... .... ....
... ... ... eating an endangered fruit?"
... ... ... eating an endangered fruit?"
Sunday, June 05, 2005
You know that you are back in Singapore when... ...
* The first sms you receive is not from family or friends, but from M1 that basically says, “We know where you are”
* You say ‘hello’ to the immigration office but he will continue to scrutinise your passport
* You walk into DFS and the aunties flank you and yell from a distance in a nasal voice “Sir looking for wine?”
* You find that children no longer walk; they wheel around on heels like hamsters on a scooter
* You walk out of the airport and you are choked by the humidity, and you perspire like a soaking sponge for the next 48hrs
* You wake in the morning and you get to say “good morning” to your mom and dad for the first time in 6 months… …
……. it is nice to be home…..
* You say ‘hello’ to the immigration office but he will continue to scrutinise your passport
* You walk into DFS and the aunties flank you and yell from a distance in a nasal voice “Sir looking for wine?”
* You find that children no longer walk; they wheel around on heels like hamsters on a scooter
* You walk out of the airport and you are choked by the humidity, and you perspire like a soaking sponge for the next 48hrs
* You wake in the morning and you get to say “good morning” to your mom and dad for the first time in 6 months… …
……. it is nice to be home…..
Thursday, June 02, 2005
End of Semester Sentiments
Seven years in Uni, the end of each semester has never failed to fill me with this sense of closure. I can’t really articulate this feeling; be it being a student or a tutor, it is a time where you feel tired, sapped from energy, yet strangely refreshed and with a mild sigh of relief glad that you have past another hurdle.
Tomorrow will be the last lesson before my students head for their exams. I do feel a little sad that i won't see them as often. I feel empathetic at the same time because I know what it is like when the exam period starts. I reminded them two weeks ago, “when you are in the examination hall, you will be in my thoughts, as I lay sun-baking on some beach in the tropics.” They probably hated me for saying that, but I do wish them well. My regret is that I still can’t get all their names right. I have too many classes to teach this semester, I remember them by face, but there are just too many Andrews and Sarahs in my tutes.
I feel tired this evening, but glad at the same time. How often can I give myself a pat on the back and say you have done well. I am very glad that I’ve managed to get most of my work out of the way. I surprise myself that I was able to develop my research instrument and write a conference paper all in a week and a half. That I guess, is the power of working with a deadline. Maybe I should be looking forward to my trip back home in two days time, but strangely I’m not. While I planned to spend 3 weeks doing absolutely nothing in Singapore, the unexpected plans keep rolling in; traveling to Hong Kong then to Beijing….. ….. my plans to not plan is in turmoil. It stresses me.
I guess that is the problem with me isn’t it? I plan too much, and dream of impossible fairy tale endings that lies eons away and I will convince myself that I can plan for such endings to be realised. This observation was revealed to me by Belle earlier today. Bless her for being so insightful and being the voice that speaks to me in ways that make my otherwise forlorn moments encouraging and purposeful. She is an absolute gem.
It is the end of the semester, perhaps a time to reflect. I know that despite my pitiful whining at times, I am a very lucky person, to be able to pursue something that I love, to be placed in a position of comfort and to be blessed by some of the most wonderful people around me that don't mind a less than perfect soul, to say the least.
It is the end of the semester.... .... a bit of a break and I know that i will find a new source of energey when the next one comes around. Bring on semester 2!
Tomorrow will be the last lesson before my students head for their exams. I do feel a little sad that i won't see them as often. I feel empathetic at the same time because I know what it is like when the exam period starts. I reminded them two weeks ago, “when you are in the examination hall, you will be in my thoughts, as I lay sun-baking on some beach in the tropics.” They probably hated me for saying that, but I do wish them well. My regret is that I still can’t get all their names right. I have too many classes to teach this semester, I remember them by face, but there are just too many Andrews and Sarahs in my tutes.
I feel tired this evening, but glad at the same time. How often can I give myself a pat on the back and say you have done well. I am very glad that I’ve managed to get most of my work out of the way. I surprise myself that I was able to develop my research instrument and write a conference paper all in a week and a half. That I guess, is the power of working with a deadline. Maybe I should be looking forward to my trip back home in two days time, but strangely I’m not. While I planned to spend 3 weeks doing absolutely nothing in Singapore, the unexpected plans keep rolling in; traveling to Hong Kong then to Beijing….. ….. my plans to not plan is in turmoil. It stresses me.
I guess that is the problem with me isn’t it? I plan too much, and dream of impossible fairy tale endings that lies eons away and I will convince myself that I can plan for such endings to be realised. This observation was revealed to me by Belle earlier today. Bless her for being so insightful and being the voice that speaks to me in ways that make my otherwise forlorn moments encouraging and purposeful. She is an absolute gem.
It is the end of the semester, perhaps a time to reflect. I know that despite my pitiful whining at times, I am a very lucky person, to be able to pursue something that I love, to be placed in a position of comfort and to be blessed by some of the most wonderful people around me that don't mind a less than perfect soul, to say the least.
It is the end of the semester.... .... a bit of a break and I know that i will find a new source of energey when the next one comes around. Bring on semester 2!
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