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.

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. =_=