Extended

The plants in the apartment are going to DIE if I don't water them for another month.

But I just did. I'm not sure if I should 'pluck out' the yellow leaves?

Called home a while earlier and spoke to mum.

Mum: I was just asking your brother if he misses you.
Me: (Right, sure he does) Ma, Boss wants me to stay another month.
Mum: Huh?! what.... I was just telling him you'll be back in 5 days' time! Eh, got help me buy Sally Yeh Concert DVD not?

I miss home already.

Toasted

According to the Hong Kong Observatory: The weather is VERY (sibei) HOT - until there is a red hot warning sign.

Although it is indicated the temp is only 29deg C, it felt close to 50deg C. =faint=

One can easily get dehydrated in this weather and indeed there was a recent news report which noted that this construction worker was found unconscious at his work site - died of heat stroke.

The beads of sweat trinkling down my forehead, onto my neck and my spine and quickly finding their way through to my bum were endless.

I really wanted to jump into an ice pool. The heat was unbearable.

I feel...toasted.

'Yes Mum?'

Miss Poon's on her way back to the sunny island, carrying most of my buys from HK for me. I was worried that my luggage would be overweight with all the new items. THANKS Miss Ang AND Miss Poon for carrying my stuff home~~

Had a hearty breakfast this morning before Miss Poon left.

The owner of the cafe (and probably everyone else) thought that Miss Poon is going back to her home town (the philippines), bringing with her loads of things to distribute to her various family members.

It was HILARIOUS. I couldn't stop laughing.

and Miss Poon played along and called me 'Mum'. Hurhur.

I've sorta indicated to boss that I wouldn't mind visiting Manila... although he was slightly concerned about the safety issue... Mr Goh wasn't very keen to let me go too ("Tell boss that he cannot have you all the time, I need you too.").. but I thought it's a good chance for me to visit the place...

if any of you know any friends in manila (preferably conversant in english) and wouldn't mind spending 2-3 days doing street interviews, do let me know =) remuneration amount to be confirmed.

yawn. the cycle of sleeping for 2 hours each night is not doing my eyes and brain good.

Visitors come and go...

It's been a crazy work week, with impossible deadlines to meet and the ultimate rush to churn out a report which I personally felt was very weak.

yea, so i suffered under a different working style from the HK boss, but i survived (i guess).

It's been a week since Mr. Goh came and left. It feels surreal to see Mr. Goh and go eat and shop with him, as if we're enjoying another weekend in Singapore.

but when i sent him off at the airport, I bawled my eyes out. I thought i've got used to travelling and leaving people behind. I thought i had learnt to be independent enough to live on my own.

but that's not the case, apparently. I didn't think I could love Mr. Goh any further, but I already did. I wonder if i'd have the courage/determination/independence to nab any job which would require me to work long term overseas. -more of this thought later-

Now that the sweeties (yun and hwee) are here (again, the surreal feeling), the weekend's gonna be a blast again.

Spend 4+ hours in Mongkok new town and Argyle centre with yun this afternoon. We bought so many things that the plastic bags we were carrying gave us terrible looking marks -- as if we've been caned several times on our arms.

I haven't had such a great time shopping with yun. And on the bus ride home, we came to the conclusion that 'circumstances shape ideals'. I like the way how our conversations about people, things, led us to this conclusion. And i think it's a sensible one.

If I weren't in this circumstance, I probably would 'want' different things. more about this later.

It's great that the girls are here. We'll try to wake up in time for morning dim sum later.

baoz - aching arms, legs and eyes.

Pearl of the Orient - Hong Kong

Many comparisons between the two cities - Singapore and Hong Kong - were made previously; economically, socially, even the land/skyscape.. and now, we're gonna have a casino when macau's casinos made more bucks than those in las vegas combined.

A new colleague from Sydney joined us recently and will be relocated here for some time. She told me she loves Singapore and between the two cities, would prefer to stay here. She said it's the 'space' problem. Hong Kong appears to be too crowded for her.

And I get a taste of crowded Hong Kong everyday, from the moment I get off the bus, along the way to work..... and the nightmare of all nightmares, taking the MTR during peak hours. It's SO crowded, you feel like you're stuck in a billion people concert. Even the mrt crowd after national day can't be compared to this. Or perhaps it's the smaller MTR they have here...

I asked Coode (HK colleague Fion's brother) if Honkies is a derogatory term for HK people and he does not think so, though I think it's still better to stick with 'Hong Kong people'.

And Hong Kong people seem to have the misconception that Singaporeans can't speak Mandarin, or are Chinese people. A few I've spoken to were surprised that I'm a Chinese from Singapore, who can speak Cantonese, Hokkien, Mandarin and English. When I speak English (after failed attempts to communicate in Cantonese), they asked me if I'm a Hong Kong-er back from studies in Canada/Australia.

So, I've decided to not talk very much on the streets, and just blend in. Or gesticulate. Or just say, ZOU SAN (good morning), UM GOI (excuse me), DOR XHEH (thanks), ZOI KIN (bye) and GEI DOR QIN (how much). =)

Fion and Coode are such good hosts; they invited me to join them for dinner at their apartment tonight to have a taste of Hong Kong living.
And we watched HK serials back to back. :D Their place (at Tsing Yi - near airport) is a 15 min public light bus (or mini bus) ride from mine, BUT the mini bus took 30 min to come.

I think all the travelling (and the people travelling) made me feel very tired.

but I'm enjoying every moment of this.

Of unpacking and packing

It's been less than two weeks since I returned from Sydney.

and what a crazy two weeks indeed.

Had to finish up the project I did in Guangzhou and some other miscellaneous stuff.

Felt the super duper inertia to bring myself back to gym-ing, but I'm glad I did. =) Though my stamina is like shit now. Barely halfway through the class and I'm like swinging my lifeless limbs with however little energy I have left.

And I actually thought I heard him call my name - but Mr Goh said I must be so tired hallucinating... and the girls thought so too.. :( Oh well.

My luggage is still waiting at the corner of the room, waiting to be unpacked and packed.

I'm gonna live (or try to live) like a true blue HongKonger for the next one month. =))

fear or bravery?

heard over the radio the unfortunate news that Ishi has left this world.

I thought I heard it wrong,

until his pictures were all over the papers.

It's sad... he's still so young, and multi-talented indeed.

Though we're only hi-bye friends at Modernjazz, he did appear to be such a cheerful and happy-go-lucky guy, and a charmer too.

had a discussion with Mr. Goh today about this, and he commented that such people must be very brave to take their lives, that it is not easy to take your own life away.

I think NOT.

For me, bravery/courage would mean doing something you are genuinely afraid of. e.g. sky diving, eating cockroaches, and the like. The activity should not have to hurt the people around you.

I think the act is silly, and irresponsible, but who am I to say right... I'm not driven to the edge of no return yet...these people.. are probably not in the right state of mind to think logically already.

their main objective is to just .. leave everything behind?

I don't think there's anything which cannot be resolved... life is simply too precious....

Your thought of wanting to die is countered by so many other people's thoughts that want you to be still alive.

so please, cherish life, live happy, and believe... that things will get better.

Over the rainbow

Mr. Peh sent me this after a tamade busy morning, when I finally had some time to breathe. Instead, i spent some time hushing back my tears.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?

(I also saw three rainbows back in Melb)

Mayday high

heard the Mayday song they sang during the JUMP concert over 933 this morning

and I felt myself

ROCKING

to the music.


What a great day to start the day. I super love AH SHIN - the 'Gong Lang'!



And Taiwan's Rubbish truck really play ice-cream truck kind music..

And they really shouldn't kiss at the end of the MV. He looked like he's in pain.



Made a date with Mr Goh to KKKKKKKKTV this sat! I haven't K-song in months!

Will be gone to HK in two weeks time. =)) This july looks good already.

- another of my fav. 五月天 九號球 -

I'm BACK! Whoopee!

Mount Buller Hazard..... no more

the ride up to Mt Buller was nauseating.

but the view at the top makes every I-wanna-burp-and-vomit-moments worth it.

Suffered several bad falls and knocked down a few people along the way.

but.... I'm now a certified snow ski-er!

The french dude/ski-instructor was cute though his english was quite bad, but he's cool. :)

me and bro tried to make snow fairies. =) His snow fairy looked ... strange..

Woke up this morning and found a big bruise near my butt, arms and legs all aching. Today shall be rest and relax day.

Leaving for sydney on Wed morning!

Day 4 @ Cheltenham

City explore:

Took a train down to Flinders street station after lunch yesterday. Two shivering souls.

Started our own walk-about-city tour.

Found out that ...
1) city stuff are damn ex.

The same pair of nike shox the sweeties bought me cost ~A$220 (which is like S$60 more ex). Nike sports bra are priced amazingly at A$72.

Dinner was chinese. A$5.90 for rice/noodle, with two side dishes. Drinks: Freaking A$3 for green tea!!

2) my brother cannot read maps.

Me:"Should we cross the road?"

Bro:"I want to go to take a look at the State Library which this direction (opposite)...but we can cross the road and see if there's any thing to eat first."

Me:"Ok... ey, I want to take pictures at this building - further front. (cos got statues - anywhere got statues-must take pictures)"

5 minutes later.

Me:"Nin-nah-mah. This IS the State Library."

3) my heart rate accelerates and my hands turn cold whenever we play with money.

Bro changed A$100 at the Crown Casino last night, just playing Sic-Bo (which is Big-Small, or Dai-Sai). The way these people play ah... like money not money like that. A few hundred dollar chips like 5 cents to them.

We were losing... until bro 'whacked' A$50 on big.

managed to win A$15. =)

THIS MORNING:

woke up at 6am to accompany dad take newspapers and buy bread for the shop.

I felt like i walked out into a GIANT FREEZER.

Wangga pounced on me and kissed me today. Very strong dog. very very strong.
I wonder where dad gets his energy to control it.

The bakery is owned by this Vietnamese couple - very nice people. :)

Spent the rest of the morning reading the papers with a cuppa of hot cocoa and a good chat with dad and auntie rose.

It's the QUEEN's BIRTHDAY this coming monday and it's a public holiday!

Long weekend ahead!

Great Ocean Road tmr, (and maybe more of the Crown Casino)...

dad wants to bring us to Sovereign Hill to dig gold on Sunday.

and Philip island to see Mumble on on Monday.

more city exploring later today and we're gonna head to Eureka 88.
=) will be back home tonight for steamboat dinner.

day 3 @ cheltenham

Morning jog with the bro: CHILLING.

Bro woke up at 6am this morning to accompany dad to take newspapers and bread from the supplier (Vietnamese) along with Wangga. I shall attempt to wake up that early tomorrow and do the same. The weather's really fine here, chilling, and you want to fall asleep every now and then. =)

The bayside beach is COOL. Endless shoreline. Lotsa old grannies and grandaddies with their dogs.

we're the only two 'idiots' covered from head to toe, complete with gloves. Some uncles ran in their shorts and tshirts nia.

Nice people here. they greet you good mornings and it really does feel good.

a quick stop by the library and we're off to explore the city! :)

Day 2 @ Cheltenham

Me and my bro initially wanted to wake up at 7am in the morning to go for a morning jog.

BUT...

we slept til 2pm in the afternoon. 10pm to 2pm.

three more hours before sundown.

It's a CHALLENGE to bathe in winter.

but somehow, today felt warmer... even though it's supposed to be colder. :)

had a quick lunch and drove to the city.

dad drove. brother watched. hurhurrr...

their transport system in the city is amazing: cars, bikes, bicycles, trams, buses, trains.

Got our tickets to the Great Ocean Road from the travel agent- we're going there this Saturday! Dad wouldn't let bro drive cos he didn't trust his driving skills... haha... ok.. more like the roads here are so much different from Singapore's.

Had dinner at KFC's - which also serves better chicken than at home.

A quick walk around the city, Yarra river, the tourist office and Federation Square.

The long drive back home made me sleepy.

and the library is closing in 10 minutes.

Oh, my dad has a German Shepherd called Wangga. It's HUGE. 3/4 of my height. face much bigger than mine.

Will upload more pictures when I get the chance to. =)

hello from melbourne

me and bro movie-marathoned the entire night.

Blood diamond.

Charlotte's web.

Happy feet.

we tried our hands on the interactive games too. but my fingers cramped after hitting the same button (to shoot) for 5 minutes.

It's cooooold in melbourne. when we breathe (out), there are mists.

dad's place is a good 45min-1hour drive away from the airport. Cheltenham. Southern side.

slept for a good 3 hour until my bro (literally) dragged me out of bed.

the lib is just round the corner from where dad's place is.

I thought my tooth was terribly aching, but it turned out that it's my (metal) hairband which is causing me all the agony.

must be the cold. all metals (hairband and braces) are contracting.

gtg. laters.

Gone for THREE WEEKS!

All my are packed, I'm ready to go....




I'm standing here outside your



I hate to wake you up to say




But the is breakin'; it's early morn




The 's waiting

He's blowin his horn

Already I'm so lonesome

I could die ...







So
me


and for me



Tell me that you'll for me


like you'll never let me go




cause I'm leavin' on a

On board to Melbourne and Sydney ...

Oh babe, I'll be home soon... :))


Ciao!

五月天 JUMP 離開地球表面 新加坡演唱會2007

IT WAS A BLAST!!

I think it was really a fantastic concert...wished we were nearer to the front stage though. Cos from where we were ($90) seats, mayday is tiny. Like 3cm tall only. I like it that they tried to stick with their theme - of jumping off the surface of the Earth and several of the songs they chose had something to do about Earth and people and flying out of this world kinda stuff.
And I liked the big screens behind them - which occasionally flashes words/quotes which fall in with the songs they were performing. Ma sha played the piano (bottom left pic) and sang 'Yellow'... which was nice... but not fantastic... or probably cos I'm biased.... cos
I'M IN LURRRRRVE WITH 阿信.
I WANT TO BE HIS FRIEND!!!
NO....I WANT HIM TO BE MINE! Though he 'tsoot-chway' a few times with the lyrics, he's still sooooo adorable. It brought back memories of how I've chanced upon their FREE-for-all concert at Fisherman's Wharf at Taipei on my first business trip alone. How 阿信 had sang 纯真 and how I had called Mr Goh and cried and cried and cried when he sang...."在无声之中你拉起了我的手.......我怎麽感觉整个黑夜在震动.......耳朵里我听到了心跳的节奏.........星星在闪烁....你会怎麽说.

你已经有他就不应该再有我.....世界的纯真此刻为你有迷惑......我想我应该轻轻放开你的手.....我却没有力气这麽做...."

Everybody went mad when they sang 恋爱ing . We were also made to repeat L-O-V-E like a zillion times, with moves similar to YMCA. Good tactic for them to catch their breath and drink water while the fans shout our lungs out.

I've very much wanted to post video clips of snippets of the concert (but i'm taking eons to upload them) cos you hear them, hear the fans and hear us in harmony.

Strangely, when a whole group of people sing together, they can actually sing in tune and it sounds wonderful, almost angelic. =)

Made a date with mich to catch Jay's concert together... and of cos, the next Mayday concert. ;)

Aside: Told mr goh that I'm in love with Ashin. His response: ok lor. you see if Ashin will come fetch you home lor. =_=

Hong Kong then - Day Three (Part One)

Wx started the day by taking some artistic shots with his bombastic SLR:
This is the building we stayed in: Sincere House. Breakfast!! Set 1, Set 2, Set 3... let you choose! and it's DAMN cheap. Less than S$5.Very nice Bor-Lor-Bao!Mr Goh says the wanton is as big as my nose and the bao is MUCH bigger than my mouth. One of the things I wanted to try in HK is to take their mini bus, which you so often see on the roads and in the HK drama serials:

I only managed to take... a photo with it. = ) I suppose that half counts.

FIRST STOP: NGONG PING 360 degrees.
DAMN A LOT of (chinese) people queueing EARLY in the morning. And it was FREEZING - strong winds strong winds and strong winds. Even colder than at the peak. Brrrrrr....

View from the top. For the first ten minutes, we were going Oohh-ing and Ahh-ing at the views...
until the ride turned out to be painfully LONG (5.7km, ~30 min ride).... and they keep playing this song, over and over and over and over and over again, until we reach Ngong Ping Village (another tourist trap)
So we made Mr Goh pole dance in the cable car, or rather, he started dancing in the cable car


Ngong Ping Village:

Nothing much to do at the village... other than.. taking pictures of/with the Buddha and breathing the FRESH air. Tourist souvenirs, as usual, are expensive. One of the few interesting things is probably the toilet sign. And we had HOT Vitasoy, which was good.I just wanted to get out of the place AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, cos our next stop was the DISNEYLAND!

I've always wanted to do splits like that....

Create Your Own PaloozaHead - Visit Lollapalooza.com

Hong Kong then - Day Two (Part 2)

The following is a series of photo/video of how we went absolutely CRAZY in Madame Tussauds:

AT THE ENTRANCE:



=THE CELEBRITIES=
Yea.. so what if you're taller than Aaron, Mr Goh... work on those pecs. work it, work it.


He got Ayumi... I got Jay (albeit the uglier version...)


Since it's the xmas season... some of the wax figures had santa claus hats (may I add.. silly santa claus hats) and... WHERE GOT BOOBS SO BIG ONE!

The Diva with the Andy Laus.


Everyone wanted a pic with Monroe, except Mr Goh...

=THE HISTORICAL AND NATIONAL HEROES=
Our brush with the royalty, and Mr Goh (pretending to be wax as well).

Can you spot me in the painting? Mr Goh getting buddy buddy with MM Lee.


So what if you're the president eh?


SAFE LANDING IN HONG KONG!


=THE STAR PLAYERS=
YAO MING! Even armpit hair also have! And mr Goh attempting to intercept... air?



THE SUMO-GONE-WRONG:



=THE ONES WITH THE VOICES=


=AND THE ONE WITH THE NOSE=
Mr Goh's vest damn match Jackie's. He can join Jackie in the 'Fei Hu Dui'. keke.


Naturally, we went up to the 'Shan Deng' - it was FREEEEEEEZING.




The 'Yeh-Geng' - night scene from Victoria Peak


DINNER @ TSUI WAH RESTAURANT
The one with the Greens is Ox's tongue which JZ had... I had a bite and it's just chewy... but the thought of frenching an ox.... Erh... I'll stick with my beef horfun. Mr Goh had steak the WHOLE DAY.


OUR MOMENTS AT LAN KWAI FONG

Drinks at this pub... (i think is called Fong). Had a really goood time catching with Steph, talking about work, bosses, our over-the-edge work-travel experiences. How we learnt to be more independent and try not to fall into traps when travelling alone...
She's the one I worked with on my first desk-bound report, as well as the first on my first overseas project. I remember sharing a 'Smelly toufu' along the streets in taipei with her. And I finally told her that I cried every night during that trip cos I missed home sooo much.

'You should have told me!' she said. Yea, I should have told her. :)


Our ride back to Kowloon - 'Guorh Hoi' / crossing the sea


To be continued...