Sunday, July 08, 2007
My last update was in March and so many things transpired from than to now.
I had a change in my career and my new company flew me off to their Headquarters in California for training.
As I'm typing this, I'm 15hours behind SG time in the hotel room which will be my home for 2 months. It's been 2 weeks and I'm dreaming of satay and my steam chicken drumstick rice...gosh I can feel acid in my stomach having just typed that.
Although its cool that I'm holed up in a hotel and meals are claimable up to US65 per day, fact is I'm here alone and will be for the next couple months. Not a nice feeling. Worst part is the stupid hotel charges internet like per connection rate of USD12.95 which is like twenty plus SING dollars! And its crazy that connection time is only from noon to noon. Siao man I kpkb at them saying that I'll be here for 2 whole months (so if they know whats best for them and dont want to lose their biz, they better wise up and give in to my demands!) the best they could do for me in the end is half the connection rate to USD 6.47 which is still expensive considering I need to logon everyday.
Actually I didnt really kpkb at them, with Angmohs service is totally different from what we have in SING. Over here its like they have their Egos and their righteous Esteem and each one has got their own uniqueness which they cant wait to show. In SG , u buay song only then can whip out "What kinda attitude is this? I wanna see your Manager!" Try that with Angmohs, the Manager might jolly well join forces with their own and gobble you up.
Just yesterday I called room service and requested for a kettle to boil water duh...wah lao the lady on the receiving end was like "Kettle?????? We dont have that period" Her reply was as if its that many question marks okay. Stuff like Kettle , Iron and Hair Dryer is like the basic stuff for a 5 grade Hotel No? And I really dont understand the internet connection which die die must start from noon to noon. It doesnt make sense across all levels! Would you logon being aware that it's a per connection charge and only surf just to retrieve emails for say an hour and logoff? You would naturally maximise your connection usage and surf as much as possible right? For those who's really out to max it (like me) they stay up wee hours and just surf and download as much as possible to make it worth the deal. In the end who's at the losing end? The most I sleep-in the next day but the Hotel would have to pay for the electrical bill powering my PC up whole night and there's not the only thing that gets powered when Im up. You have the lights , the radio etc so economically stupid.
For guests who dont stay long, fine, it makes sense to charge a connection rate. Long-staying guests like myself should be charged a flat fee per week ? Anytime after I'm done with surfing I can logoff and head for bed. Ya you might still get those die-hard sufers who still logon 24hrs if they're allowed. But we're talking about long staying guests who generally might be on official business and it's my guess they would rather catch up with sleep than surf into wee morning?
On a separate note it's the weekends and I would like to take the public bus out to explore around, and it turned out those bus drivers are on strike and there are no bus services at all. I remember in Perth it used to be like that too, any little thing they're not happy with. Strike. Bus drivers went on strike, Teachers in Universities went on strike. These are amazing countries. They care too much about themselves and it's their burning desire to let the world know once they're unhappy. SG you strike , you get arrested. In the 1st place I think nobody will strike with you. The most people do is pin things like ribbons on their tops to show they buay song with something.
If I have the change, maybe I can offer some blue-white-red striped Bow to these Bus Drivers and tell them "Not happy still must drive for the greater good of innocent people made handicapped by lack of public transport. Can show protest with Bow pinned to your uniform. Your heard and your pretty".
ps: Pics have been uploaded in the flickr , will update from time to time
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Everybody has a second Home. This is mine.
My mom just walked into my room and commented that my work-station is super messy.
I beg to differ. I call it Home. Cluttered it may be but its a familiar mess and Im comfortable with it.
Know what's the most important item here? That little eye-drop solution.
Without it, I cry literally and kiss my screen when it gets bad.
Actually there's another important item that's missing in the picture...

Tadah!! Axe brand medicated oil! Cures all morning sinus, and boss driven headaches~~
Lemme see, I used to have this to my collection as well...

When its heavy days, I love to stick this right up my nose. Damn ugly I know but 老娘can afford it heheh..but it can be damn disgusting cos the tap's over-flowing and the plug has a tiny hole to let the vapour out, Im not sure if some of my insides drips into that tiny hole...maybe I would know when I feel some swirling holding it >_<"
Since I'm at it, let me find a pic of my lovely Eye Mo eye-drop

Remember my Laosai boss? Refresher: Link1 Link2
When he was still around, one day he came round my table and stopped short at his track and exclaimed with bulging eyes
Cherandy!!!
You use these?? (Pointing to my beloved items)
I nodded to which he made a beeline to his cubicle, came back and with a thud placed his own collection of Nose inhalant, Eye drops and Medicated oil and they were all king sized! Anyways that's besides the point, you know what this means??
I have become a true blue obasan liao~~~~
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Heck care liao, I just take my pouch and head out. My dept was on the 10th floor, on the way down it almost made all the stops and people were trying to get in. This gave a little edge on how serious it might be.
you from which building wan?
Sunday, March 04, 2007
I have a friend at work called hao peng you. Dont ask me why but somehow one day that term just stuck on for us and whenever we see each other down the corridor, we would go "yo hao peng you!"
Once I brought it up to him that it sounds like what chinese would term the spirits that comes from the nether world entered via the gates of Hell. But we just laught it off and its always hao peng you along the corridors. Im thinking those other colleagues who believes in such might actually slam the toilet doors shut whenever we shout out down the corridor. Dont have to come out of the toilet already. Hao peng you echos the walkway.
Recently hao peng you found a job elsewhere and though it was sad while nearing the day of his departure, it was good that he could move on. He cannot just move on, he must go and buy some tidbits for my team, some farewell goodies. One of those goodies killed me.
It was some snack in a tin box, it started out innocent enought. Some nibbling here and there, pretty soon I was hugging the tin box and munching outta it.
When it finished, I stared at the bottom of the empty tin and I thought I saw blooshot eyes reflected off the tin.
Days later I could think of nothing except the stupid tin box tidbit. One hot afternoon just right after my lunch, I walked past cold storage and made a beeline to the tidbits corner. Holy Jellybeans!! Beautiful tin box were staring back at me and I felt my heart leap out. I reached for it and this is where I made the greatest mistake. I reasoned and rationaled. Firstly it wasnt very cheap secondly it's a little awkward walking around CBD area with a big aluminium tin. I thought I could buy it at another shop during the weekends when I have the car. Big Big mistake.
Today me and my parents racked thru cold storage island-wide. Stupid tin was sold out?! It felt like the world was out to get me. When I wanna eat, everybody else wants a bite!
At one point, we did chance upon it but it was a small tin and at that time I wasnt convince it was really that extinct! So I moved on to another location thinking I could find the standard box. Exhausted the locations and I was getting desparate.
I called hao peng you outta exasperation scolded him first for getting me hooked onto a tin and begged him tell me where he bought it. Sheng shiong supermart!
Ang Mo Kio has 2 it seems! I asked for directions to the biggest outlet but he wasnt very sure of the exact street just the blk number.
I toured Ang Mo Kio but alas the blk evaded me. Big or small tin, I drove back to Hougang where I discovered the small tin. You'll be surprised, its sold at a Guardian Pharmacy. Well it was certainly medicine for my soul, I was in withdrawal.
As I was heading down Hougang, hao peng you called. He went to the Sheng Shiong near his house and true enough not a single tin! But en route home he actually found some damn packets (not tin form) lingering around! He bought 6 packs straight but I was too far away to return to AMK. It was very nice of him and I made him promise he cannot touch a single packet wahahhaa. All for me!
Im really happy now cos I've got a small tin at home and 6packs waiting for me. It should last me for quite awhile =)
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
This is the year of the pig and although I dont know what it means for me but its supposedly a very good year for horsies (that is me!) I just want unendless Health and Love in my family and my friends =)
So in order to get caught up in the festive mood, we made Kueh Buloh and its done the traditional way with charcoal and the 1000 year old mould which if landed on ur toes you can watch it turn green the traditional way too.
you heat up the charcoal making sure its hot enough but not too hot
i want a pay rise! (bang table)
unfazed?? i show u my little mouse...grrrrrr *flex flex*
Actually she's demostrating how to play 5 stones to my indian head. Not bad eh? Wear so nice to office then its.....5 stones time!!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Touched down at Bangkok in the evening, went to the taxi queue and it was quite confusing. They have a counter setup and upon informing lady at the counter the desired destination, your assigned tickets and then what? Mix and match? Someone comes up to you with a stub to match and gestures for you to follow into their cab.
Destination: Twin Towers Hotel and Toll fares have to be paid if you choose the Highway. Cabby was driving at 120km and we're talking about Bangkok city..we were flying.
After checking in we didnt feel like hanging out, beat and hungry we settled for room service (it was cheap!) and rested for the next big day
Main highlight was shopping in MBK!! Shoes, tshirts, jeans, bags, more shoes, jacket, pants, shoes again!
It was the language of calculators. "How much??" and a calculator is shoved to your face, you take the calculator key in your magic numbers and shove it back saying "gimmie good price, cheap cheap" This gets repeated couple of times and its either deal or no deal. Sometimes you have to attempt the 'walk-away' trick that's only if you can find it in your heart to let the item go. If the wind and all planets are lined in your favour, they pull you back and let you have it. =)
We checked out Central World and Discovery Centre but these shopping malls are akin to our Takashimaya malls and not the reason why one should be in bangkok. I would recommend Tesco Lotus, it's like K-mart with loads of apparels from furniture to clothes and groceries. Needless to say more shoes were bought, no bargaining here, all marked prices but real cheap.
Who would miss out on the night markets right so it was Patpong at Silom. Stuff here aint cheap though, unless you cant find it in MBK you might wanna consider getting it here after long match of bargaining. I didnt really fancy this place, loads of angmohs and they were surrounded by people soliciting them to those sleazy pubs lined alongside the street. The laminated menu had header which read "Sex Show" and there were bikini clad dancers doing their moves on poles.
Spotted this signage which amuses me
Meals there were mostly: Phad Thai and Tom Yum Goong. Thai salads were known to be appetising but this has gotta be one of the worst dish I've ever tasted

I leave you a video clip of my trip in Bangkok, it's got audio so you might just wanna have your speakers turned on
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Constellations shifts, Planets align, Lighting strucks, this blog has been given a new look!
Apprehensive at first, worried some settings might go awry or pictures may get lost but fears unfounded. Some tweaking and adjusting...all looked in place.
Signed up for flicker as well, bits of my new zealand trip have been uploaded, but the rate the loading goes it would take days before all's up.
Monday, January 22, 2007
trace's mom is gone, both jen and esther's moms have lumps in their chest..im scared..
im not ready, really not ready... my careers not ready, my life is not ready.
jen would be getting married in may, we would be her 'sisters'
last night my cousin in china sent me pictures of his newborn baby girl, she's a december baby
one by one they die, they raise children, they get married...im not ready...
my parents are getting old, i look at them i get scared. their skin is wrinkled and blemishes appears on their faces.
last night my mom came to me and had me look at her hair. she asked if the whites are obvious enough to make her dye them. i uncover the top and tuffs of white greeted me underneath
today my boss informed me of upcoming restructuring within the teams. one of us would have to go over to another team. i was indifferent, a contact position into another contract position.
im so tired...
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Last week was tough. The night after news of her mom, we went to the wake and for the first time in the 13years I've known her, Ive never seen her in that state. She was all skin and bones, her face had obvious wrinkles from the extreme loss of weight. I'm tearing even as I type these words. The moment I saw her, I almost cried...I hugged her and held her hands thinking this is my friend and I barely recognize her.
What emotional torture she mustve been through and right there it seemed as if she's suddenly so many more years my senior. These experiences kinda brought her to another plane in life and what words can you offer to someone who's walked a path you've never set foot on?
As friends who's been hanging around different stages of our lives, I wanted to protect her and hope to take away some of the hurt she's made to go through.
There are words that came out from her which I'll never forget. She speaks of the intense 3 hour talk she had with her mom...well, it's just her doing the talking while her mom drifts in and out of drugged consciousness. She tells her mom how much she loves her and to forgive her for all the hurtful things she'd said and thanking her for being her mom. These 3 hours were simply saying goodbye to her mom. This would be closure for them. Her mom did not open her eyes but trace knew she heard cos tears rolled down her mom's cheeks.
Finally its this sms I received from her saying how she couldnt stop crying and everything reminded her of mom. She cant believe mom's not coming back and she really misses her..
Have you ever missed someone so much, you dont wish to recover from it cos you fear it will make you forget them? Though it hurts viciously, you hang on not wishing to let it go and you rather go on hurting and hurting and hurting..
Monday, October 23, 2006
Trxcx: Just to let you know..my mum is dying at d hospital now..dun ve 2 come 2 visit..really..I'll let u know when she pass away.
I woke up to that msg and could nv get back to sleep again. I asked when she thinks it will be...no reply
Oct 23rd 2006 Monday 10:30am
Trxcx: We're also not sure and donno whats next..will update u there re new devmts.
Oct 23rd 2006 Monday 7:55pm
Trxcx: My mum has passed away. am fine..she went peacefully while i was lying on her..
Trxcx was among the clique of friends I've know since sec 3. One year ago we went to her house for Chinese New Year. Six months ago we watched Dim Sum Dollies with her mom. I remember her mom's face and am glad memory of her stays that way.
If I can have things my way, I too would rather the chance to spend the last few minutes with my loved ones and watch them slip away. This then being called up and rushing down to find them already departed. It's like I missed some window of transistion from living to non.
Quirky, but I would like a final goodbye, a 'this is it' moment where I, with all knowledge of how absolutely no control I have of things to say: I am letting you go
Do we need a wake-up call every now and then to remind ourselves to speak more with our parents. Be kinder to them. Have ong chai soup vegetable for the past 3 meals consecutively and feel lucky there's even a meal on the table. It's a roll-coaster ride of emotions. We go all bad, feel guilty and it's hey mom/dad I love you again. Quite pathetic if you ask me, but it will always happen and that is a fact.
I stopped hugging my parents since....I cant remember when. However I do know it's only during Uni days whenever I depart from Singapore for Perth warrants me the chance to hug them goodbye. These hugs are warranted and now that I'm back for good. I no longer have any 'reasons' to hug them. Why does it take someone to leave before we feel 'safe' enough to extend those arms? And why did I just use the word 'safe'?
These days look at what sorry display I leave myself with: when my mom retires for the night, I would go to her room and chat with her till she drifts off to sleep. I would then back up against her back and feel her rythmic breathes and it will make me feel everything is all right again.
Monday, October 02, 2006
One of my favourite season: when the moon ripens in all fullness and some lady meets her beu on the moon. Chinese folklore amidst Mid-Autmn. Yummy mooncakes aside (as many yolks as possible!!) it's that season where I get to light things up and watch them burn. Literally
We were mad. PSI was at 150, still we soldiered on to Bishan Park and proceeded with lanterns, display of candles and added to the haze with the sparklers. Im not surprised if it peaked 300 at Bishan Park that night. Vain attempts to get into the mood, we brought out mooncakes and chinese tea, sipped at it while trying to make out where the darn moon was.
Checkout this burning heart some couples left behind. I pity the cleaner that comes in the morning, awful load of wax to clear off the ground. If you asked me, it would be easier if cleaner lights it on fire again.

Hungry, we headed off to MacDonalds somewhere in Ang Mo Kio. Thinking it was wee hours of a Sunday morning, parking coupon would not be needed. Halfway into our meal, some parking warden walked in and sat at the table beside ours. They looked absorbed, sorting out the day's records I suppose. I remember my friend was pointing them out to me, it's the parking warden. Looking at them, Im quite sure they bring waves of uneasiness wherever they go...
See this below? Never seen so many parking tickets put together like that. All four cars got it. Free parking on Sunday indeed. It only starts from 7am - 7pm! I wrote an appeal letter to HDB today, asking for leniency in the spirit of Mid-Autmn Festival! One wrote got Diahorrea, the other blamed it on the haze and the 4th simply paid up I think! My fingers are crossed but I'm quite interested to know which approach would appeal to them.

Monday, September 04, 2006
Are you still a 'grand..'?
Past saturday I was at church waiting for the service to start. I looked over the span of the hall and see groups of people having sabbath classes, there was my grandma sitting with her friend. Hers was the oldie group and I just stared at them. Old people coming to church faithfully every week. Most part of their lives have gone, having lived through all the experiences ,they still come without having seen the God they worship. Something must be working for them right?
I just sat there and looked at grandma, studying her, wondering how long more before I would not see her sitting there again. Then her friend must have spotted me, whispered to my grandma and both oldies looked back at me, I waved and they both waved back smiling. I felt warm all over and can never erase that sight.
Por por passed away and its been 5years? This is the only grandma I have left. After she's gone, Im no longer a grandchild or 'mei mei'. 3 weeks ago we celebrated her 84th at her brother's. This is the siblings. We sang her the birthday song and she wiped a tear away. It pains me cos I dont want to see grandma cry.

After por por's death, I feel vulnerable when Im with old people. When no one's looking, I find myself just staring at them, studying them...The lady above is my cousin's granny, not sure how old she is but old enough. This is her covering her mouth while she chews her food. So sweet right? So old already but still keeps her manners in check. I mean, I wont mind the slightest bit even if she's got food all over, it just amuses me. Sometimes I feel the older a person is...can I say the more discipline they have over themselves and their actions? I think they're beautiful.
My favourite pic of granny and grandpa and pic of por por with my brother.

Thursday, August 10, 2006
It's been 8 months since I left private banking, now I'm finally returning, I hear of his soon departure. Funny but Im affected somehow. Cant say we worked long together but somehow he was able to influence me quite abit. In his way, he was mentoring me. How often do you get a boss that sits down with you, gives pointers on writing powerful emails? He's known to also attend conference calls with his staff, mutes the phone and prep his staff with strategic answers when the other party is being difficult. Knowing what to say and how to say it is a professional skill. He doesnt fight the battle for you, you fight it yourself aided by his guidance. Unfortunately, I dont get this. Most of my calls are fairly easy but there was one call I wished he was around, I got shot down by compliance.
Mornings when he catches me making cuppa coffee, he points accusingly at the cup why are you drinking this? Acid! It's acid! Followed by, I must tell you the acid story...
We have coded term for tea-break session. When it strikes four in the afternoon, you see someone walking up to your desk, you turn and look at him and expect either 1 of 2 things. Utterance of the word Eyebrow. Or him drawing his finger across his eyebrow. You'd know it's time for tea-break with him and his gang. Why eyebrow? It sparked off cos of a malay lady who serves at ah mei kaya toast. She shaved off her eyebrows just to draw it back again real thin and heavily arc-ed. He was clearly amused by that and it became a thing ever since. A funny character, but commanded alot of respect nonetheless. I wish him life's best.
Monday, July 31, 2006
We did just that. My friend has a pair of foldable bikes kept at the back of the family car which her parents use to ride out at East Coast Park. She happen to drive the car today and wheee we headed off to Seletar Air Base. She, with blazing determination to desparately lose calories and me with burning passion to explore the air base. Perfect! Parked the car near Kingfisher Bar & Restaurant and cycled first to Sunset Grill & Bar on these cool little darlings.


There were lots of vacant buildings around, believe it used to be for military use. Set your directions to East Camp and you'll be en route to Sunset Grill. This place really doesnt feel like Singapore. You know your nearly there when you see these. I love the retro street lamps! 
Next, we headed off and cycled just about anywhere the road takes us. It's not in the pics but there was a street named Knight's Bridge. Sounds really medieval.
Clear skies, bare trees, there are houses with residents...mostly occupied by angmohs. Was informed the rental is at least 2k per month and you gotta sign up at least 2 years. Had crazy thought of renting one with some friends for couple of months. Split the rental, head off to work and come home to daily BBQs and hangout talks. With the huge gardens there, you can easily play volley, badminton or softball.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Yesterday evening I was whisked away by friends who snuck me to a seculded wine-dine watering hole The Wine Network hidden deep within dempsey road. Rustic and amid lush greenery, we chose alfresco and I could truely see stars. This is some cool place I'm determined to explore furthur in the day. There were standalone buildings which were deserted scattered across the dim compound. I wonder what's the story to this secret garden. We had pizza, chicken drumlets which when served hears cries of missy J exclaiming how the portion has shrunk. Also smoked salmon salad and washing all these down with a bottle of white. A red followed soon after and missy kept refilling my glass, before long I was flying.
High but not gone, though I clearly do not recollect seeing the waiter set the glass of warm water and piece of lemon in front of me. A turn of head and hey these items magically appeared. Times like these I know I could sleep forever, something which I've been seriously deprived of. They sent me home and I made a beeline for bed. It was only quarter to eleven and I totally knocked out, waking up at 4am to have the runs. I hate those. It didnt feel right at 4ish, my head was still spining and my tummy quisy. Drifting inbetween consciousness, I was worried about how I could drag my hangover body to work and stay upright for rest of the day. I must've squeezed in more solid sleep between that couple of hours, at half-past 8 I jumped right out and headed out to face the world. Thankfully most part of my hangover was gone, I just had more runs at work and couple before and during this blog entry. It sucked, now my tummy feels tortured as if I managed a million sit-ups. Nonetheless I found myself a new playground and this will certainly keep me busy for couple of weeks. The place reminds me of Sunset Grill & Pub, another rare discovery. It's not everyday you drive right up and park next to planes eh. It's in the plans to bring our bikes down and cycle out the vicinity. I might just do that for dempsy .
Monday, July 24, 2006
Finally! I found the VCD yesterday at good ole Poh Kim and it was going for 50%! Happy... Wasted no time in tearing off the package and indulged myself in love,drama and death. Part of the reason why I was quite persistent in getting hold of this movie was reading that one of the actresses commited suicide in Feb last year. She died at the age of 25. What a pity right? I thought to myself, she's got everything going for her...career, looks and fame yet she chose to end her life. But guess all these could be the very reason that adds to her depression. Below are some pictures, guess it's quite easy to figure out who's the one.


Thursday, July 20, 2006
Trying to get hold of this korean drama. This is a 2002 production, considering the korean wave here, surprisingly none of the shop staff approached heard of it...

Esther is back but only for the week. She's flying off again Monday morning back to her little Beijing apartment. Bernard's in HongKong, Michelle soon to be Australia, brother in NZ. Gee...picking out vacation spots should be quite a breeze for me.
Today's my first time meeting Tabby and it's really been awhile since I heard someone punctuate their lines with limpeh. I just burst out laughing. Its quite fun hanging out with people lidat for a change and I find the lian in me identifying with her.




