The best way to chase away the blues

The best way to chase away the blues

is

to

buy

shoes,

scarily high heel shoes.

FOUR INCHES!

Jasmaria and Francisco from 9West.

I have to wear them and walk around the apartment.

Falling face flat with pretty shoes would be so embarrassing!

Retail therapy is so effective.

Can't wait for autumn in Hong Kong.

I am so tired

of searching.

you are right when you say it makes a difference.

we can hear our voices, our words right by the ear piece

but we don't necessarily pay attention.

Damn ta ma de frustrating.

Have i been missed?

I have been busy...

attending jacky cheung's concert

watching Bourne Ultimatum (not very nice) and Rush Hour 3 (SUPER HILARIOUS!)

going for drinks at LKF

club hopping til the early morn

KTV-ing til the early morn

meeting up with zee who came to visit

sun tanning during the boat trip

more partying and dancing

eating sashimi 4 times in a week

going for manicure

searching for my apartment

fiddling with facebook

thinking of that somebody

missing my family

I need sleep.

最近

Skype-KTV-session-turned-emo-mo-mo-tears-well-up-in-eyes-and-fall-session

This is like, so depressing can.

你最近不说话
怎麽了为什麽
是不是有什麽事让你不快乐

听说你最近很孤单
有点乱有点慌
可是我却不能够在你的身旁

你想要的
我却不能够给你我全部
我能给的
却又不是你想要拥有的

我们不适合也不想认输
好几次我们抱着彼此都是想要哭
你常解释这样的一切都只是开始
我觉得是所有的一切早就已结束

不想再约束
不要再痛苦
下一次会有更好的情路

身外物

Maybe it's the grey skies,
the silence in the room,
the occasional pitter patter on the window panes

and this song...



that a tear or two rolled

身体和财富, 都是身外物.
都是借来, 完成短促的演出.
人类是租户, 爱却是礼物.
哪怕物归原主, 爱也不会结束.

If I could walk a thousand miles...

"A Thousand Miles"

Making my way downtown
Walking fast
Faces pass
And I'm home bound

Staring blankly ahead
Just making my way
Making my way
Through the crowd

And I need you
And I miss you
And now I wonder....

If I could fall
Into the sky
Do you think time
Would pass me by
'Cause you know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see you
Tonight

Well, those are the steps I take everyday when I go to work. 108 steps in all. considering the number of days I've stayed in HK, I guess I've walked a thousand steps on the mid level staircase.

I wish I can walk a thousand miles....

baoz is feeling emo tonight.

Coffee break - Human tetris

Hilarious! Hwee~ you go join this in Japan!

Rain rain go away....

~Rain rain go away

Come again another day

Little PoHpOh wants to play~

The rain just wouldn't stop

and there are only so many things I can do at home.

Finally decided to beat the rain and step out of the apartment to head to the gym.

My hair is still 'bleeding'.

Went facial with Fion today - at Maggie Beauty (http://www.maggiebeauty.com/)

Honestly, for HKD 250, the deep cleansing treatment is really not good - only the HK artiste who endorse it looks extremely good.

I felt like I could do a better job steaming my face, and applying mud mask on my face.

Their service was not fantastic in the first place, and the lady didn't let me know what she's putting on my face at each stage - unlike my therapists at Wellness Village Spa.

I think it's important to interact with the customer, since they're supposedly the pros - who can advise what/how I should take care of my skin. No thank-yous to comments like, 'Wah, your skin very dirty.' I know that already, that's why I'm spending $$ to pay your salary. BLEH.

So we went shopping for skincare products at Sogo CWB thereafter. Women have a tad too many beauty products to choose from - each brand claiming to do wonders to your skin and help preserve your youth.

Some good products Fion recommends:

1. Clinique Total Turnaround Visible Skin Renewer

2. Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Plus - gel-like mask to put overnight

3. Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil

Ah... if only Emperor Qin did find life's elixir.

We found good food though. XO Cai Tao Kuay. Papaya with Hashima and sago. Steamed egg white with Hashima and bird's nest. 'Tong Baig Laig'-Peanut glutinous balls.

And we did something very naughty after that.

We went to all the jewelry stores along causeway bay to look at engagement rings - and erm, pretended that our bfs are going to propose - so we're checking out the designs to make sure they don't buy something we don't like. =)

So we got free lessons on how to choose a good diamond.

The diamonds and the engagement rings all start to look the same by the time we got to the third shop. =_=

Some of these rings are crazily priced - S$25k! which Eric chin said...'Imagine wat 25k can do for your marriage ...things u can buy for your new house ...much much more practical than a lousy ring that u be too scared to wear out everyday'

Haha, that's true... but diamonds are forever, and a girl's best friend too! ;) Saw from one of the store's booklets that a 75 years anniversary is known as Diamond Anniversary.

You can wear it for 75 years! 25k divide by 75 is only 333 per year and less than S$1 a day! Quite a good investment to make the love of your life happy right? *wink*

Haha, siao liao.

Typhoon Pabuk - Signal 8

Snippets of Typhoon Pabuk news

A typhoon lashed Hong Kong Friday forcing the closure of the stock market

and leaving the streets deserted,

as the Pabuk storm changed direction and headed back towards the city.

I knew something was brewing this morning, after I thought about getting a raincoat this morning - judging from the amount of rainfall and size of rain droplets as I braved through the storm to make it to work.

Fion told me that it was a signal 3 this morning, and by signal 8, we could announce a holiday for ourselves. At that time, I was still wondering how long it'd take to reach signal 8 (since still got 4, 5, 6, 7 levels to go - but apparently, it just jumps from 3 to 8).

The Hong Kong Observatory issued a level eight storm signal at 2:30 pm (0630 GMT), advising members of the public to return home immediately and closed all of the city's schools.

Well, right after lunch at the HKU, I was getting really excited. The people on the streets were informing one another that the HK Observatory would likely annouce a signal 8. The radio was announcing the same. A quick check on the HKO website confirmed the same.

"It's the first time Hong Kong hoisted a typhoon signal this year,'' HKO. "This kind of case has only happened 10 times in the past 50 years. The last time this happened was in 2000, a typhoon called Maria.''

Yipee!! A typhoon!! The last time I experienced a typhoon was about 2 yrs ago, in KaoHsiung, and I wasn't really in the 'action' - merely woke up in the hotel and informed that it was dangerous to go out. I think I would have been one of those 'kpos' who went to the shoreline to experience how strong the winds were, but considering I was travelling alone, I didn't.

This time, I'm right in the middle of the action!

It felt like a automatic drill - we packed our bags and happily left the office. Outside, you see people armed with umbrellas -

with a common intent to get home asap (and safely).

I felt the winds on my face; the flipping of my tiny umbrella. I felt the RUSH.

I smiled silly - not recognising how dangerous typhoons can be.

Trading was suspended on the stock exchange 15 minutes later.

Ferry services were suspended in the high winds, as tens of thousands (including myself) struggled to get home in the appalling conditions.

Underground stations saw severe crushing (severely understated) as the crowds tried to get home before services were suspended.

Queues to buses were loooooooooooong;
MTR gantries were monitored to prevent overcrowding.

I didn't even have room to take out my cam to snap pics.

I need to have my mini fan around and I was worried I would faint/die in the stampede (should there be one).

Concerts and public events were cancelled across the territory. I want to go Jacky's concert..... =_=

Winds of 90 kilometres (56 miles) per hour were measured in the territory, with gusts of up to 111 kph, the Observatory added.

Strong winds caused some scaffolding on buildings in the financial hub to collapse.

Hong Kong Observatory said Saturday was expected to begin with gale force winds, which would weaken later, but rain would persist throughout the weekend.

It took me 2 hours to get home - waited for 7 mini buses at Tsingyi before I finally got the chance to get up the 16-seater. Everything was calm in my neighbourhood, the shops were already closed.

The guard at the lift lobby used duct tapes to tape 'X's across the glass doors - 'in case they crack', he said.

I opened the windows the first thing I got home.

The winds were chilling on my face.

The waters were clear of boats/ships/tankers.

I was hoping to see water spouts.

I thought about the wonders of nature; and the end of the world.

Miss Xie told me she saw two perfectly arched rainbows in Miyazaki.

After the storm, things will return to normal.

And you will get the rainbows, if the sun does shine.

I hate biscuits

Nobody should think that I want people to feel sorry for me because I am alone in Hong Kong.

I AM NOT ALONE IN HK. I only miss people at home.

I HATE SWEEPING MATTERS UNDER THE RUG.

I HATE RUDE PEOPLE.

I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DO THINGS BECAUSE IT IS THEIR "DUTY AND SERVICE". This shouldn't be the case for those who matter.

And yes, nobody can be a jerk, not even for 5 minutes.

Look past the box of biscuits. That's not the issue. It's only a deadly trigger.

Happy birthday, Singapore =)

This must be my favourite NDP song.
Whenever I am feeling low
I look around me and I know
There's a place that will stay within me
Wherever I may choose to go
I will always recall the city
Know every street and shore
Sail down the river which brings us life
Winding through my Singapore

Chorus:
This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where that river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone, for this is where I know it's home

When there are troubles to go through
We'll find a way to start anew
There is comfort in the knowledge
That home's about its people too
So we'll build our dreams together
Just like we've done before
Just like the river which brings us life
There'll always be Singapore

I want to be home

Is it natural to feel low after the highs?

This must be the 'lowest' day in months.

It's those days

when you think in circles;

when you can't lift your heart and spirit;

when every breath translates close to tears;

when you doubt and question,

but can't find the answers

when you really need to have faith

when you need a hug

when you need a personality test to

Get to know yourself better

Your view on yourself: You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for: You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship: You prefer to get to know a person very well before deciding whether you will commit to the relationship.

The seriousness of your love: You like to flirt and behave seductively. The opposite sex finds this very attractive, and that's why you'll always have admirers hanging off your arms. But how serious are you about choosing someone to be in a relationship with?

Your views on education: Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you: You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success: You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.

What are you most afraid of: You are concerned about your image and the way others see you. This means that you try very hard to be accepted by other people. It's time for you to believe in who you are, not what you wear.

Who is your true self: You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues.

Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

Really?

The Real You
Here is the analysis:
You've got great self-confidence and you're full of charm. Most guys who get to know you will be attracted to you. You are far from sweet and proper; your intriguing personality fascinates them. Most guys find it easy to fall for a girl like you.

You really care about other people's feelings and are quite serious about the issues that affect your life. You are sincere, and your concern for the well-being of others makes many people want to be your friend.

You are a bright, cheerful and bubbly person. You are thoughtful and considerate, and like to have fun. Everybody feels comfortable around you because of your pleasant nature. When you walk into a room, people's eyes are likely to be drawn to you because of your charm.

Your peers think of you as a fun person, but sometimes you can be a little irresponsible. You can be somewhat childish, and can try to ignore the fact that you will one day need to really grow up and be a mature adult! Perhaps you could start reading good books; they might help you look at the world in a different light. You do want to be taken seriously, right?

I'm reading "Sophie's world" now.

Your boyfriend believes that you are a strong and independent person. Your confidence and cheerfulness make you an attractive person to be around, but sometimes you need to pay more attention to what other people, including your boyfriend, are thinking.

Really?

How self-reassuring.

give me wings

I wish.. I can fly home with a pair of wings right now.

I wish I wouldn't feel so helpless ... and disappointed.

There should be someone to protect me.

All it takes is some effort.

It's in the little things you do, or not do.

The second time in two weeks you left without saying goodbye.

What is wrong with me.

Lamma Island 070804

Fion and AJ kindly invited me to join them for a day of hiking/basking under the sun 0n Lamma Island. =)

BRIEF INTRO:
Lamma Island (南丫島), is also known as Pok Liu Chau (博寮洲). It is the third largest island in Hong Kong and part of the Islands District, Hong Kong. Situated at the southwest of Hong Kong Island, it has a total area of 13.55 square kilometres and an estimated population of 6,000.

And it is NOT the island where the Lammas stay, Miss Zee.

It's actually the hometown of Mr Chow Yun Fat.

(He grew up in the village of Tung O in Yung Shue Wan.

His family still operates a seafood/pigeon restaurant called "Shau Kee" in the main village, but we didn't go there.)

Took a bus to Aberdeen (香港仔) to catch the ferry to Yung Shue Wan

The weather was perfect - Blue skies white clouds. As the boat sped towards Yung Shue Wan, I felt as if my thoughts/worries were left in the trail of water and gone within seconds. Fion said she enjoys going back to nature instead of hustling bustling with the crowds at Causeway Bay during weekends. I couldn't agree more - the shopping crowd here on weekends is MADNESS (though you'd probably feel more accomplished if you managed to find a good bargain).

My 'job' for the day was to take arty farty pictures. Here are some of my favourites:
As with any island, the main form of transportation is by foot or bicycles.
Sun-dried fish-I-don't-know-the-name-of
Veiled view of the pier
Sun down
The island restaurants and holiday houses "渡假屋"

These 3 has got to be my favourites:

THIRD

SECOND

I'm not quite the 'sunset' person but this was beautiful. =)

FIRST

SHADOWS

Perhaps how the old lady carried on and walked the path alone made me love this picture even more.

Apart from fishes and bicycles, this island has also A LOT of:
GREENS

DOGS

And it's also littered with tiny retail stores

The statues of the mini buddhas are actually candles... but we were thinking... HOW BLASPHEMOUS! You start by burning ITS head off!

Conveniently located halfway through the nature walk is this 豆腐花 stall - tended by this granny and her love.

HK people have a habit of putting the orangey sugar on top - it actually gives some texture to the silky smooth 豆腐花. YUM.

Their mosquitoes are also commando-trained... can still stick to your skin and suck your blood even when you're walking! I've got ... one.. two.. three... four.. bites even though I've got this!

Mosquitoes are not the only dangerous creatures on the island....

At the end of the day... tired and sticky...wanted to snap the man behind me in this pic....

He was bouncing like Tigger.

I love this pic Fion took for me!

Very got the 'FEEL' ah.....

Dinner was at Aberdeen - with more ferry rides.

Don't you think their public housing look like our HDB flats too?

Can't wait for the '出海' trip on 25th! Yay!

I love pretty boys

When I was ten,

I loved him

followed by him after watching Meteor Garden....

and him...

and then him....
and more recently him... (watched 男儿本色 in Hong Kong - damn nice show)

Been on a movie/drama serial marathon til late nights every night - the current one I'm watching made me want to go back to school again

And made me fall in love.... with Quan



How can there be such pretty boys on Earth??

MR GOH: NO! THERE CAN'T BE SUCH PRETTY BOYS ON EARTH!!


I'm starting to see the pattern of the 'type' of boys I love - pretty, si wen/gentlemanly, specky, sunshine smile and makes me want to 'mother' them.

They all fall under the same mould.

So if you're a pretty boy, I might just fall in love with you! =)

time for bed!

Rubbed the wrong way....

As if the super enthusiastic male at the bodycombat class wasn't scary enough (he was there again tonight), other things severely grossed/freaked me out.

okay, so the super enthu guy was matched with a super enthu girl tonight. Both punching so hard, they can kill each other on the spot. And the super enthu girl knew ALL the steps... so much so she can be the instructor herself. Scary girl.

And then, halfway through the class, I thought I saw the instructor have a hard-on. HOW CAN LIKE THAT?!?!?!
And he'll say things like, oh, oh, give me one more, give me a hug, urgh urgh urgh... those kinda stuff.
TA MA DE UNPRO!

Okay, I know my J back in SG does make noises too, but it DOES NOT sound SE QING okay...

And after class... the other H-O guy was working out at the weights area again, same painful-going-through-hell expression as he pulled with all his might.

And... when I went into the sauna, this lady was rubbing and rubbing herself and arching and making tiny moans. I really buay tahan, and just as I was going to walk out, this obasan walked in and man... gravity takes a heavy toll on women!!!

And to end my hair-raising experience tonight, the white FF towel was stained red patches here and there after I tossed my hair with it.

so PAI SAY.

I wish I won't have nightmares tonight.

the red head on a grey day

It finally rained today. =)


and I finally got my red head and a new crop. =)

Such an exciting chapter has begun!

I remember when I first heard the news of Miss Xie getting past the interviews at the Jap embassy and the position to work in JPN for a year, I was so excited!!! In fact, excited is an understatement. I was exhilarated, and my heart raced so fast that my tears uncontrollably rolled down my cheeks. And they felt warm.

That was during the steamboat dinner at mich's place.

So the big day has finally arrived. All the luggages packed... but feelings?

Heard from the sweeties that this morning's send off at the airport was a teary one. Wish I was there, but..nonetheless, hope my presence was felt!

Distance is indeed a barrier. It was not until this HK secondment that I slowly learnt to let go... of certain things/persons. My previous trips hadn't been this long and hadn't made me miss so many precious moments with the ones I love.

You cannot participate in the lives of others if you're not physically there, if you can't share the same experience at the same time. Even as you retold each other's experience, something will still be missing? So you just learn to let go and let the other person(s) enjoy doing something else and wish they have a good time. I guess the ones at home now would be feeling the same about me too.

We can only look very much forward to the times we'll spend together again, and smile as we think about such thoughts.

=) Miss Xie, Ganbatte!!

FF - here and there

The couch potato lifestyle is not doing good.

When I've got nothing to do after work/dinner, I get glued to the couch with a whole bag of snacks within an arm's reach. I realised how much I miss eating potato chips (BBQ, spicy, tomato, even got Mongkok Sausage flavour!). I can eat a pack every night. A true blue potato eating potatoes.

The feeling when I hit the gym after a month of stagnation felt good.

And the guys in the combat class today were two extremes.

This pair of guy friends (Asian and caucasian) were first timers to the class, standing behind me. And their combat stance/moves were hilarious. Machiam monkeys learning how to punch. Keke.

And then there was this group of guys (late 30s, early 40s) who were punching SO HARD they look like they were going to kill somebody. Is it that stressful at work in HK???

and when I was at the weights corner, this guy was using the cable weights machine. Each time he pulled the weights, his face squeezed damn damn tight and he grinded his teeth. I wanted to laugh but thought it'd be mean... he's probably pulling half his body weight. And... I thought I noticed he had a hard-on =_= Guys should NOT wear tiny shorts to workout.

Anyway, obviously my fitness level fell (again) - don't know how I'm gonna manage to complete the SHAPE run in early sept.

Noticed a few differences btn the FF in SG, and the FF in HK.

1) obviously... the HK instructors were not as entertaining as the one at home.
2) they refused to let me take another towel - "one person one set only." =_= So I didn't cover myself in the sauna today. Muahahahaaaaa
3) No mirrors in the changing rooms!
4) No plastic bags for the dirty workout attire - environmentally friendly, which is good.
5) Instead of encouraging members to workout and use the stairs, they have elevators and escalators (the club is 3-storeys high)
6) A lot more workout equipment, but the studio is not big.
7) Much much bigger beverage/resting area.

Going to Lamma Island for some hiking adventure tmr!

Simpsonize yourself

Everyone's been telling me to go watch the simpsons.

but maybe they should come and watch me?

Insomnia ... and the window with a view

Have been sleeping past 2am for the past week and struggling to wake up at 730.

I have to stop myself from imagining things every time i close my eyes.

I'm seriously THANKFUL that when I opened the scary mail, Miss Poon was with me and it was broad daylight. =) I'll never forget how we both SCREEEEEEEAMMMMMMMED and SLAMMED back onto the couch.

The last time I received such a mail was when I was still staying in Hall One. My heart leapt out of my mouth and i cried and cried and cried. Can't remember if Mr Goh was with me then.

but now, no one else is with me.

Came home last night and saw the most beautiful sky.
The photo really doesn't do justice to the evening sky.

And since I can't go to sleep, I shall introduce my HK nest.

This is what I see everyday when I open my eyes (while still in bed).


The view from .... the extreme left bottom (the pool-by Day and Night):



.... the left (Tsing Ma bridge-by Day and Night):



... the middle (another suspension bridge):


.... and the right (Lido pier/beach, and further the HK Gold Coast-can't be seen from here):


...and a fast frame video (observe the clouds):


It's nice to be staying in the true blue residential/neighbourhood area in the New Territories.

And I love the view from the apartment. Mr Goh said it'll be nice if we can have a similar view in the future. =) I agree too.