whilst in beijing, i visited this national park where the tombs of the Ming Emperors rest. The park was littered with these really funky signs.
 

Nokia Kicked the Bucket

..... I tried to teach my mobile phone to swim yesterday.....

...... it died.

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.

Before... ... 

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.

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.