updated frequently!

happy happy 2009...?

2009-03-16T20:11:00.002+08:00

3 and a half months late, but Happy New Year I guess. This is, after all, my first post for 2009.

I think I've gone missing far too long for anybody to be still following up here, but anyway just to let everybody know: I'm still alive and kicking. University life is pretty harsh, but it hasn't killed me just yet.

I wonder how everybody else has been doing too. If you still remember this blog, or use this to keep in touch with me, do drop me a comment so I can find out about your lives these days!

Okay then, I think it's back to the books. Just wanted to put up a short post to tell the world that this place isn't about to die just yet.

眠れない！！！

2008-08-02T02:05:00.002+08:00

最近、よく眠れない。多分、いつも家でずっと何もしてないのせいだけど、でも本当に困ってる。もうすぐ新学期の始まりし、授業はほとんど朝から、早く治したい！

ということで、この夏休みはもうすぐ終わる。もっと休みたっかたのにな！できれば、自分の人生がひとつながーーーい休みにしたい。（笑）なんかリラックマみたいな感じ、あれすごくない？

じゃぁ、また寝てみたい。そういう時は「がんばる」って、なんか変よね。

お約束 part 2

2008-07-13T22:05:00.001+08:00

More pictures, this time about school:

This is the school I was sent to, it's located in quite a nice building in the Takadanobaba area.

The many students and teachers I met in school. I'm going to be a little unoriginal here, and say they were all nice people to befriend. Yes, they were really nice, I wasn't being sarcastic at all.

I'd definitely want to go again...if I had the means to of course.

お約束

2008-07-13T16:10:00.009+08:00

Since there still seem to be people reading, I guess I'm going to put up some pictures then...

The area around Ikebukuro Station's East exits. My place was about a few minutes walk down this street. Lots of stuff to do around here.

Ramen restaurant on the West side of the station has apparently learnt from Miyajima and put up informative signs for waiting times. There wasn't any queue though...

Sunset viewed from the 60th floor observatory deck at Sunshine City, about 3 minutes from my place.

Paid a visit to Yasukuni Shrine this time round. It's a very beautiful place, and it's a real shame that it'll probably be more well-known for its controversy rather than it's beauty. To be honest, I never really felt comfortable while I was there, but take away what it's associated with and I think it could be a great place to rest one's mind and body.

The Budokan was holding a boxing event (with two world title matches no less), and I was lucky enough to pop by. I didn't have the cash for tickets though.

I was also fortunate enough to have been in Tokyo when a new subway line opened. The Fukutoshin Line seems to be last new line to be opened for quite some while, and I managed to take a ride from Ikebukuro to Harajuku.

Also made another trip to Yokohama (sponsored by the language school), but all I got were really blurry pictures of night scenery.

More school-related photos to be up soon then!

wassup everybody

2008-07-04T14:50:00.003+08:00

Sorry to have kept everyone (although I'm half expecting the number to be zero now actually) waiting for this long-awaited second post of the year LOL. Hopefully you've all been alive and kicking while I was away.

I actually went to Japan (Tokyo to be exact) again during this looooong period of absence, having been sponsored by the university to attend a summer language course. When someone sponsors you to go on a holiday (LOL I know I'm supposed to be studying there but come on...-.-"), I don't think you should ever say no.

That being said, I didn't really do much touristy stuff this time, since I'd already been there last year. So I ended spending waaay too much time in front of the TV at the share-house that I stayed at, with Japanese TV being the stuff of legends that we all know of.

I think posting pictures might be a good idea, but since I'm skeptical about readership on this blog, maybe I'll wait to see if there's any response for it. For now, I'm just too lazy (^.^)>

it's the festive season again

2008-02-05T00:29:00.000+08:00

We've just had the Christmas festive season not too long ago, but now we have the Chinese New Year looming ahead! Hopefully everybody will have a wonderful and prosperous Year of the Rat.

I don't really have anything interesting for now though, so I guess you're going to have to check back again. Hopefully it'll come soon, after this page is updated frequently...

happy counting down to the new year

2007-12-31T22:42:00.000+08:00

Thought I'd squeeze in a post before the year ends, apparently there has been a complaint that this blog isn't being updated frequently enough...

Hopefully it's been a fruitful year for everybody, as it has been for myself. Of course, don't look back on the year too much, when what we have to deal with are the things that are yet to come!

A very happy new year in advance to you then!

アジアの頂点到着

2007-11-15T08:25:00.000+08:00

おはようございます。夢じゃないよ！

lost in translation

2007-11-11T01:04:00.000+08:00

Studying 2 foreign languages at a time is seriously no joke. It gets even worse though, when you have tests for each language within a fortnight of each other. I was studying for the JLPT test on 2 December earlier in the afternoon, and now I'm having to block out all my 日本語 and concentrate on belajar Bahasa Indonesia, karena hari Rabu dan Kamis saya ada ujian di siswa.

All of this is giving a major headache, and we're not really into the exam period as yet....

雨の話

2007-10-08T12:52:00.000+08:00

今日と昨日は久しぶりの雷雨ですね。涼しくなってほしいな！

ちなみに、寝ると言えば、雨の日は最高じゃない？

the pains of growing old

2007-10-04T00:28:00.000+08:00

Was on my way home from school earlier, when I came across this elderly lady who had seemingly lost her way. Turns out she was headed to Bedok, so I accompanied her until we reached Bedok station.

The old lady had a serious problem remembering things though. We were making some small talk to keep ourselves occupied for the long journey, but she couldn't remember anything for more than 5 seconds. We ended up talking about the same things throughout the train ride. Come to think of it, I wonder if she remembered how to get home from the bus interchange.

Alzheimer's Disease setting in perhaps?

ちょっと写真を撮った。。。

2007-09-14T01:09:00.000+08:00

久しぶりの自分の写真です。そうだよ、最近こんな様子になった。(^.^)

髪、長くなったんですね。

back to school

2007-09-02T17:33:00.000+08:00

And not getting used to it just yet. Still haven't developed a habit of doing readings, checking for homework, and stuff like that. In fact, there have been days when I didn't turn up at school at all! (Thank god for webcasts I guess...)

But hopefully school will turn out fine in time.

どうでもいいだから。。。

2007-08-14T22:01:00.001+08:00

今回はコーラだった。次はきっとスプライトでしょう。(笑)

anything will do

2007-08-08T00:02:00.000+08:00

今日はルートビールだった。

thanks for trying, but...

2007-07-31T00:26:00.000+08:00

I was on my way home in my dad's car when someone called the radio station for a dedication.

Now, this girl had the sweetest voice you'll ever hear, but then she uttered the darnedest thing you'll probably hear this year.

"I'd like to say hi to my sister, and wish her a belated happy birthday because it's tomorrow."

We were both bawling in laughter after that.

what do you do on a rainy and stormy night?

2007-07-29T19:37:00.000+08:00

Quick question: Are these two mating?

thoughts on kyoto

2007-07-29T18:59:00.001+08:00

Kyoto is a city so rich with history, that with so many temples and buildings preserved from the time of the samurais, it feels like a throwback to 15th century Japan. Until you look down and see the hordes of people with their latest digital cameras in hand, that is.

The city has so many ancient temples that it'd really be a waste of effort trying to list them down one by one. However, they are all deserving of a visit or two, which is probably the reason why many people flock to Kyoto again and again. It is simply a very pretty city, and even with the introduction of modern conveniences, is still firmly protective of its heritage.

This is not to say though, that Kyoto doesn't have its share of post-modernistic buildings as well.

However, any visitors planning to cover Kyoto on foot should be warned: this is a BIG city, in terms of size. Kyoto maps are printed such that the places of interest seem close to each other, when in fact the distance in between can easily take half an hour's walk. Bicycles should be the preferred method of getting around.

thoughts on osaka

2007-07-29T18:34:00.001+08:00

I finally got a taste of the Shinkansen service when I travelled to Osaka from Tokyo. It's something that everybody should probably try at least once in their lifetimes, taking high speed trains.

Back to Osaka though. It's probably a little unfair to say this, but from a sightseeing perspective Osaka is very much the Kansai counterpart to Tokyo, albeit with older infrastructure and amenities. It also has a seedier part of town (I happened to stay in a business hotel there in case you were wondering), with its fair share of strewn rubbish, run-down shops and homeless people. These are probably reasons why many tourists spend a larger amount of time in neighbouring Kyoto.

However, what really gives Osaka its unique flavour is its people. They are loud, brash, and funny as well. Kansai, and Osakan in particular, humour is very much appreciated all around Japan, and it seems innate amongst its inhabitants. They are quick to warm up to people, provide many interesting answers and opinions, and perhaps most importantly, are always welcoming you to another helping of drinks!

This is probably the only city that I visited that you could have a company CEO coming to a very basic lounge in a small business hotel just to lounge and make friends. I even got invited to lunch at one of the many curry rice chain stores he owns across Japan, and was personally sent off at the train station by him as well! Now THAT's what I call hospitality.

Osaka is also home to 2 of the more interesting escalator rides in the world. One has you look as if you're suspended in mid-air 37 floors above the ground, while the other looks as if you're on the stairway to heaven.

thoughts on yokohama

2007-07-29T18:13:00.000+08:00

(Been a little sidetracked the past few weeks, pardon me for my usual tardiness! :P)

Yokohama is slightly over half an hour by JR trains from Tokyo (on an express service, all-stops trains take about an hour), but has a very different feel to its much larger counterpart. However, it can be argued that Yokohama IS in fact part of the Tokyo area itself, since the two areas merge seamlessly in the Kanagawa area.

The port city is probably most famous for its Chinatown, and its many Chinese food stalls and shops that sell treats of the highest quality. However, it is also ridiculously tacky, and is more akin to a Westerner's opinion of medieval China than you'd expect from a country in our part of the world.

Besides Chinatown, Yokohama also has a waterside promenade in Yamashita Park. This is pretty much Yokohama's answer to Tokyo's Odaiba island, although it wasn't built on reclaimed land. Families come here to relax and enjoy the view of the Minato Mirai area directly opposite the shore, and there are a few buskers around to lend a slightly bohemian feel to the place.

Yokohama is a more relaxed city compared to the madness of Tokyo, and perhaps will be a good breather for those who are looking to escape the capital, but still want to have the conveniences that only a big city can provide.

東京だよ!

2007-07-13T15:02:00.000+08:00

So after weeks of travelling across Europe, I finally made my way to the Land of the Rising Sun. Slight irony though, that the sun set while on the plane, and I arrived pretty much just in time to catch the last train heading into the city from Haneda Airport.

I don't even know where to begin describing Tokyo. Istanbul may have been huge, but Tokyo is almost like its own country in itself. It's much larger in area, and has about twice to thrice as many people. There's a crowd just about everywhere you can go, and you're never far enough from the person next to you.

Another person may feel asphyxiated and claustrophobic in such circumstances, but strangely enough I felt well at ease in here. Being able to speak Japanese probably helped a lot, but maybe I'm just a big city person anyway. It may sound like a huge waste of time for some people, but I thoroughly enjoyed just walking around the different districts, and sometimes just allowing myself to be lost.

Possibly the most interesting feature of Tokyo is that it has so many contrasting places within its large boundaries, which is to be expected probably but still pleasantly surprising.

Odaiba is a man-made island just off the coast of Tokyo Bay, created during the bubble-economy days. Originally set aside for commercial use, these days it's pretty much a recreational space away from the hustle and bustle of the main city with a few shopping malls, but more importantly wide open spaces that families flock to during the weekends just to relax and spend quality time together. It also houses the futuristic and awkward looking Fuji TV headquarters.

On the other hand, you have Shibuya, world famous shopping haven and home to the busiest traffic intersection in the world. The area is just buildings after buildings, and people rushing off to the next mall or restaurant while busily chatting away on their over-decorated cellphones. There are also the huge LCD screens as well promoting the latest CD releases and providing weather forecasts. This could just be the noisiest place in the world, with everybody and everything trying to outdo each other to get the attention of the consumers.

Add in the skyscrapers of Shinjuku and Marunouchi, the teenybopper haven of Harajuku, the wide expanses of Ueno Park, the historic quarter of Asakusa, and you pretty much have a city that is impossible to be bored in. It's definitely a city that is best experienced, rather than be read about.

イエイ！

2007-07-12T17:32:00.000+08:00

久しぶりの日本語のポスト！話したいことなんかないだけど。。。

thoughts on istanbul

2007-07-04T20:22:00.000+08:00

Istanbul couldn't be a further departure from Brasov stepping out of the main train station on the European side, with vehicles and people coming at you from all sorts of directions. It took me an entire day to get there by train, but it proved to be worth the long train ride.

Istanbul is probably best described by the word big. It is absurdly huge (the northern and southern limits of the city are the Black Sea and Aegean Sea themselves), and has an absurdly huge population. The mosques are huge, the bridges are huge, the bazaar is huge, and almost everything else is huge. It's no wonder that many tourists find it an intimidating place.

There's a sense of chaos that prevails as well, with everybody moving at a fast, but unsynchronised pace. Traffic is crazy as well, with many drivers showing scant regards to traffic rules. And the sheer noise produced by so many people living in one city can really cause headaches to those unaccustomed to a big city.

That said, the city still manages to have plenty of spaces to escape from it all. There are beautiful parks, gardens and mosques within walking distance from each other, perhaps to serve as breathing space away from the hustle and bustle. And then of course there is the seaside, which may be crowded but still provide breathtaking views for people to enjoy and do some reflection.

The people are a wonderful lot as well. Everyone I came across was really friendly and helpful, despite most of them not being able to speak English very well. There may have been a lot of gesturing and guessing, but it was hard to miss their warmth and hospitality as they offered advice, help, and the odd cup of tea. It may have been touristy, but still nothing beats being made to feel at ease in a foreign land.

I also happened to come across these 2 other Singaporean girls travelling on their own across Turkey and Greece as well, by pure luck. Needless to say, we decided to do our sightseeing together for the next 2 days, and talked mainly about things back home like all Singaporeans abroad do.

Before I left, I managed to catch the famous Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, but I guess that's for another story.

thoughts on brasov

2007-06-28T17:18:00.001+08:00

After all that hustle and bustle of Prague and Budapest, getting into Brasov was a breath of fresh air. Here was a quiet little city that didn't try to overwhelm your senses all at once, and things ran at a remarkably slower pace.

Brasov itself is a pretty small and compact city, though not quite small enough to be called a town. However, one could very easily walk to anywhere in town, if you were on a tight budget. It's also the most rewarding way to look around town, with tiny little nooks that open up into a whole bag of surprises more often than not.

Most travellers, however, are drawn to Brasov for one very simple reason: Bran Castle, otherwise known as Dracula's Castle. However, it really is just a gimmick thought up the some enterprising locals from the nearby town of Bran to get some quick tourist dollars. The only references one can get of the blood-thirsty vampire are at the many stalls set up along the short path that leads to the castle. The inside of the castle has of course been converted into a museum (like many others), detailing its long history. Expect to be let down big time, if you're a vampire seeker.

thoughts on budapest

2007-06-21T16:38:00.000+08:00

I probably won't do justice to Budapest in this review, as I'm sure many people have had a wonderful time here. However, I think I just got unlucky, getting a serious cold and being put up in a pretty cold and drab place (the hostel owner was really warm and caring though). To make matters worse, it rained the entire time I was there as well.

Although the locals will surely disagree, Budapest felt pretty similar to Prague with the same grand buildings and bridges. Even the layout seemed the same, with the main castle located across the river from the main town area. The city also operates extensively on a combination of the tram and metro systems.

However, there are some really important differences as well. Being closer to the Eastern European countries, there has been an influx of ideas and cultures from the East, which is very evident in the number of Muslim establishments in the city. However, the city is still very much European, and like mentioned has many of the architectural styles seen in other Central European cities.

There are a couple of places that did make Budapest a better experience though. The first was a visit to a bath/spring, which was thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable. After being in the cold rain for the best part of 2 days, the warm baths were definitely a welcome change.

The other place which I really found interesting was this place intimidatingly called House of Terror. It is actually a museum for Hungary's recent history, detailing life under the Nazi and then Soviet regimes. The exhibits were really well thought out, and is sure to leave visitors with a deep impression.

I think I'd probably have a better time in Budapest if I visited it again, it's sad I couldn't enjoy it as much as I could have.

thoughts on prague

2007-06-20T15:03:00.001+08:00

Prague has a very rich and deep history, and its people certainly know it. When you step out of the main train station, you can't help but wonder how they seem to be so cosmopolitan, and yet the buildings are so meticulously restored and maintained to recreate a feel from days gone by.

As a result, almost everywhere in the city proper is a sight in itself, and almost every building has its own grand facade. There aren't that many outwardly modern-looking malls either, since they're all incorporated into the pretty buildings in the city centre. All of this made for a very pleasant walking tour.

But as mentioned, this is a very modern city, and its transport system has kept pace. It is efficient, clean, and brings you to just about anywhere. In fact, the trams are another great way to take in the sights while on the move, and is an experience in itself.

The main sight in this town would probably be its castle, with its beautiful cathedral and compounds. The feeling that one gets entering the walls would probably be being overwhelmed, it is huge and incredibly grand. It is no wonder that the place is packed full of tourists all day long.

A word of advice though, if you have vertigo: you may want to give the metro a miss, as the platforms are located quite deep into the ground. The escalators are scary looking to say the least.

thoughts on krakow

2007-06-14T13:00:00.000+08:00

Didn't get off to the best of starts as I arrived at 11pm at night in near freezing cold (strange for May), but thankfully my stay in Krakow only got better from then on.

Krakow, like many of the other cities that I'm going to detail later, is a very beautiful city. Beautiful architecture, beautiful scenery, and of course beautiful people. Just sitting on a bench in the main town square taking in everything is very much a pleasant experience.

However, being very much the big city person that I am, Krakow does get a bit repetitive after a while, since it's a really compact town with everything pretty much within walking distance. Still, this gives the place a charm of its own.

I also enjoyed the food there very much. Pierogis are very addictive, very filling, and most importantly very cheap. I had them for lunch AND dinner one of the days I was there, it was that good.

Of course, for many people the highlight of a trip to Krakow would be a visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps complex. Personally, I was surprised that it wasn't as harrowing as I expected it to be, but still it was a powerful experience. Seeing all the buildings and exhibits really makes people think about how terrifying the Nazi regime was, and I saw more than a few people break down in tears along the way.

thoughts on frankfurt

2007-06-14T12:51:00.000+08:00

Probably the shortest stay one could have in Frankfurt, I was in there for just over 2 hours to catch a train to Poland. But it was enough to have a taste of what Euro prices are like. Thank God I didn't have to stay much longer there, I doubt I'd have survived long with the pitiful amount of money I had.

The high speed train was luxury though, comfortable and quiet.

mini world tour

2007-06-14T12:31:00.000+08:00

Will be starting a series of posts on the recent trip, with each post dedicated on a different destination.

Meanwhile, still uploading pictures, so there won't be that many up yet. Bear with me yes? (^_^")

ただいま!

2007-06-13T17:45:00.000+08:00

I'm not sure about you but I sure am pleased to announce that I have returned home safely.

Took quite a number of photos, so getting them all sorted out is going to take some time. Meanwhile, uploaded some of the football pictures at this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8839429@N05/sets/

Enjoy!

scratch

2007-05-07T22:59:00.000+08:00

Scratch what I said about uploading pictures: I might have time to come online and check emails, but I realised I took too many pictures to pick out from and upload! So I guess that'll be done when I finally return and settle down.

In the meantime, greetings from Prague! Not-so-lovely weather here as it's been raining a bit making it cold, but otherwise it's been happy times so far.

Although I'm not sure my wallet will agree...

it's today...

2007-05-01T00:59:00.000+08:00

Dear God and Mummy, may I be blessed with a safe trip and return.

In the meantime, I might be uploading photos like mentioned previously, so do keep a lookout!

これどう？

2007-04-23T01:04:00.000+08:00

ちょっと髪のいろを換わった。高くないよ、ただ$80だった。

いよいよ旅行が始まるんですね！楽しみにまってる。

here's what you can do with longer hair

2007-04-10T21:53:00.000+08:00

I decided to tie my hair up a bit after showering, for comical purposes if anything else. (*^.^*)v

愛情

2007-04-07T12:53:00.000+08:00

夢を見たんだ。

それで、夢に俺がこんな言葉を言った:

『愛情と良心は関係ない、ただ愛する気持ちだけ。でも、この気持ちには気を付けてね！』

なんか『白夜行』みたい、愛の為に全てができる、犯罪も人を殺しも。本当に変な夢、俺は別に恋が欲しいのに。

旅行

2007-03-30T01:15:00.000+08:00

旅行に行くことにしました。

今度は東ヨロッパと日本へ行くつもり、出発日は5月2日。最初のストップはポーランドのクラカオ、そのあと色々な国の街に見に行く。

もちろん、写真を撮ると思うから、お楽しみにしてください！

ただ、君を愛してる

2007-03-30T01:09:00.000+08:00

How does it feel to have seen true love slip away, only after retrospect?

Just a thought after watching Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru (I'm Just Loving You in literal translation, Heavenly Forest is its official English title).

=) =) =)

2007-03-17T00:57:00.000+08:00

I'm not dead yet, contrary to what many of you might think!

That said, I haven't had the chance to think about what to post though. Even now. OTZ

Oh well, this will do for now! **(^.^)/

2007

2007-01-01T21:06:00.000+08:00

A very happy new year to all! ^^v How has 2007 been for you so far?

It couldn't have gotten off to a better start here. Dad on the lottery, and I get a new monitor screen as a result. Plus, Urawa Reds completed the double by beating Gamba Osaka again in the Emperor's Cup final. I don't know how these two things can be linked together, but those are the two main reasons why the year has gotten off to a great start for me.

However, let's also remember that while we're all happy celebrating and having fun, there are people who derive satisfaction and enjoyment by causing destruction and malice while the rest of the world lets its hair (and guard) down. Let's extend a prayer to all those who were affected by the Bangokok bombings last night.

With 2006 ending on such a note, I think 2007 will definitely be an interesting year ahead. Hopefully in the good sense, of course.

P.S. Here's something to think about:

Unless we succeed as a team, goals can never be met. - Guido Buchwald, Urawa Reds head coach 2003-2006

Buchwald-shi's leadership will be sorely missed by all associated with the Reds.

引っ越した。

2006-12-11T14:26:00.000+08:00

新しい家に交わってからもう1週間、ここはすごく綺麗な所でしょう？(^^) それに、ぼくのアパートの外はプールだよ。今日は暑い日なので、プールでそぞろ泳ぐはたぶん人生の一番幸せ。

しかし、何もない所も本当に不便だから、別に好きじゃない。

P.S. さきこんな言葉を言った、直ぐに雨が降りちゃった。これはシンガポールの天気です。ははははは。。。

we are REDS!

2006-12-02T21:21:00.000+08:00

最後の優勝ができた！浦和レッズリーグ優勝はおめでとう！

こんばんは！

2006-11-26T01:22:00.000+08:00

今日写真がありませんです、すみませんでした。 ^^"

ぼく病気があるみたいけど、さきたくさんのおかしを食べました。今ちょっと怖い、明日ほんとうに病気になったら、医者がないから、どうしよう。 (^.^) 直ぐ薬を飲みます、元気になりたいかな。

金曜は日本語のテストだよ！勉強しようですけど、何かまた緊張する、胸にどきどき気持ちあるんです。ははははは！

じゃあ、また。

i'm benny, squeeze me gently!

2006-11-22T22:34:00.000+08:00

With a presentation like that, how could you bear to abuse it? <3

have you had lunch?

2006-11-14T14:03:00.000+08:00

I tried making some "Omu noodles" for lunch just now, but turns out that I put too much noodle in it. The omelette wouldn't close properly! =O Eventually the noodle spilled out of the omelette after I closed it with force.

Sorry for posting such an unappetising picture, yes? =)

not quite goldust

2006-11-12T21:17:00.000+08:00

The man and his family have been regularly "on display" ever since a few months ago, but I have yet to understand what it's actually all about. They do draw quite a lot of attention though, and you can donate to them as well.

I guess I just suck at art in general. T_T

お久しぶりです！pt.II

2006-11-09T14:37:00.000+08:00

Here's something that I haven't seen for a long time! (^^)v

red-nosed

2006-11-02T23:20:00.000+08:00

Don't you just hate it when pimples grow on your nose of all places? >.<"

the young and restless

2006-10-31T23:00:00.000+08:00

Don't know why, but I'm very much more restless these days, when in fact I should be feeling more relaxed. I can't seem to concentrate on anything for more than half an hour without wanting to do something else really badly.

A little while back, I had insomnia. 0_0 Think that was because my pillow went badly out of shape. Ironically, I can't seem to sleep enough these days, because I now have a habit of taking long afternoon naps.

Maybe I need to do something in the afternoons that can keep me really occupied. Is it any coincidence that guitar learning hasn't been exactly going pretty smoothly? (*^_^|)

without doubt the greatest invention in our time

2006-10-15T21:40:00.000+08:00

It's probably no secret to those who know me, but I am hopelessly in love. With the Internet, that is.

I love how the Internet has allowed me to keep up to date with the latest movements in the Japanese music and entertainment scene. With it, I get to listen to previews and leaks of songs even before they are officially released, and I get to discover so many artistes that would have otherwise been left untouched if the Internet didn't exist. Because of this I am now able to listen and enjoy a very wide and diverse range of music ranging from commercial pop to hard metal to bubblegum cutesy synth music to trippy R&B beats. I don't think I'd be able to open my ears to so many different kinds of music had it not been for the Internet.

I love how the Intenet has introduced to me so many football clubs around the world that are relatively unknown and made me a fan of at least a couple. I simply cannot imagine how I would have been able to come to support Galatasaray SK and Urawa Reds if I hadn't come across them on the Internet, and been able to follow their latest news on it. I might not be able to watch them live in the stadium (how many Singaporean "fans" can lay claim to that anyway?), but at least I'm still able to read up on their results online, and I am dead certain that I will be able to catch a live home match for both clubs before I become old. And that will be thanks to the Internet too for giving me so many options on air tickets, accomodation, travel tips and match tickets.

But most important of all, I love how the Internet has opened me up to people from all around the world. I am really grateful that I have been able to meet and make friends with people as far away from the United States or Canada or the Czech Republic. Without the Internet, we wouldn't even have known of each other's existence, or indeed that of Ayumi Hamasaki as well. It is a really fascinating experience talking to these people and learning about the way they live in their countries, even though we might not realise it while we're chatting online.

It's been mentioned so often how it has changed the way we work and live, but how has it affected you on a personal level?

who set the forest on fire again?

2006-10-07T18:29:00.000+08:00

If you haven't felt it by now (it's impossible isn't it?), the haze has come back with a vengeance this year. Though not serious enough to close down schools, many people (including me) are already beginning to fall sick because of it.

Try not to go out too much and stay indoors instead yes? At least it'll be much better than being fully exposed to all that smoke out there, like I was last night. It was very interesting to walk home though, not being able to see clearly into the distance for the first time in years. Felt a bit like an adventure really, until reality bit back and I smelt the smoke.

Hopefully the haze will pass pretty quickly and we can all come out to play again. =)

おさしぶりです！

2006-10-07T00:27:00.000+08:00

I wonder if anybody was getting worried that I haven't been posting in these months? (*^.^)

It's been quite a while, but really I haven't been up to much. Probably the only thing of note that has happened recently was that I lost a bit of weight. I wasn't exercising much before, so I thought I might as well lose some weight while I had the idea. I haven't been eating that much as such, but don't worry, I'm not starving everyday! =)

I guess I'll write more as I get back into the groove. =)

AYUPANは好きですか？

2006-07-09T22:19:00.000+08:00

さき、Orchard RoadのCineleisureをあるった時、アリーナツア2006のAYUPANを見たんです。お金をたくさん持っているから、そのAYUPANを買った。でも、まだちょっと高いとおもいますね。。。

Okay then, it's been a while since I last posted here. That's a picture of the 2 Ayupans that I bought while walking around Cineleisure in the afternoon. They just arrived from Japan a few days ago, and already there aren't many left.

I hope I didn't make any grammatical mistakes above...It's a little attempt to practice what I've learnt in Japanese class. =)

this is love

2006-06-20T20:27:00.000+08:00

今の大切な物。。。(*^.^*)

just some thoughts before i forget about them

2006-06-17T00:19:00.000+08:00

AHS forum is back after a server switch that took about a day and a half to complete. Benny is a very happy person. (*^.^*)

evolution105-san from the forum just completed work on a trilogy that he had been working on for 3 years. Can you imagine, writing away for 3 years about the same ideas and storyline? Most people would have given up 3 days into it I think. He's also working on a few poems and another short story now. Keep up the good work, and I hope to see some of your works on the shelves in bookstores soon!

Which brings me back to my own little project...it seems to be going ahead very slowly at the moment. But now's not the time for heads to drop, let's continue to work hard, I'm sure something good will come out of it! 頑張りましょう！

And also, alternarist-san (a fellow Singaporean I might add) returned from an overseas trip to teach English to the kids in Khao Lak, Thailand. He showed quite a few of the pictures he had taken during his time there, and I must say it was quite an eye-opener, especially the photos taken at a makeshift mortuary for the victims of the tsunami 2 years ago. Yes, quite a few of these bodies haven't been collected/acknowledged still, and they were being kept in ice-filled containers. I don't think words can describe the very strange feeling that one gets when he/she sees containers upon containers of dead bodies, it's very surreal.

A few years ago, I probably wouldn't have cared much about these things though, but I guess the things that have happened during this time has opened my eyes and made me rethink about things that I thought weren't important to me.

Eh? Suddenly this has become another of those posts about self-reflection. Strange.

what's this i'm going to put here???

2006-06-15T23:40:00.000+08:00

I was going to have a proper title for this entry but somehow I forgot what I was going to put there as I was about to type it in. It's just like you walked into a room but forgot why you went there. Don't you think such things always happen?

Anyway, I've heard people say that it's not very wise to take pictures of yourself in the mirror, because it apparently gives your soul a very big scare, especially when you use a flash.

0.0! So to the many people who have caught up with this trend, stop chasing away your souls by taking pictures in the toilet mirror!

This post is going nowhere really, I'm even forgetting what I'm supposed to say now. Good night! \(`0`)/

taking back my words

2006-06-08T11:43:00.000+08:00

Last night I had to pay a visit to the doctor again. There's a flu epidemic in the office now, so I guess it was inevitable that I was going to get the bug.

While waiting for my medicine, I saw the prescriptionist lady (the people who give you your medicine are prescriptionists right?) cough and sneeze. Thank goodness she was wearing a mask, I think the clinic has more than enough germs and viruses already.

However, it also suddenly dawned upon me how brave healthcare workers are. They face people who bring all kinds of terrible sickness and germs with them everyday, and yet they never show any fear of getting illness and diseases. In fact, they offer smiles to comfort every ailing person who's come to seek treatment, and all the while knowing that they may have a higher chance of ending up just like us being ill. There are so many things in this field that can bring a person down, and yet they soldier on, with a smile ever so ready.

So to the poor prescriptionist I criticised the other day, please pardon my ignorance! T_T

Here's a salute to the brave healthcare workers around the world! <(-_-) God bless all of you!

i <3 procrastinating! \(^.^)/

2006-05-29T23:27:00.000+08:00

I'm supposed to have been diligently working on lyrics for the past week or so, but these few days I haven't gotten anything down at all! OTL Just when I need them most, the words seem to stop flowing out. Well, except when it comes to posting here apparently.

Okay fine, I can't hold it in any longer, I'm going to say that I've been lazy this time. I always try to make time to write something down, but after that I seem to have something else to do! Take today for example, I ended up cutting labels for some files at work the whole night. In fact, I'm not done with the whole pile of them, but I think you get my drift.

Maybe I'm just afraid that when I sit down to think about the lyrics, I get stuck again and end up tearing pieces of paper up instead of writing stuff. RAWR!!!

(Actually I just have a weird habit of tearing paper up I think. >.> <.<)

On another note, I finally went to see the doctor about the ingrown toenail. Thankfully this time it isn't very bad, and a special cream should do the trick. It still looks rather ugly though, and it still hurts when I walk for too long.

I'm so sorry Joanna, I promise I'll come up with something soon! (T.T)

looks ugly

2006-05-26T22:44:00.000+08:00

It seems like I'm going to have to make a trip to the doctor's tomorrow.

While I was trimming my nails today, I noticed that the toe that seemed to be hurting a little bit whenever I walk was a little different today. At first glance it seemed a little bit "dead" by its appearance, and then upon closer inspection, I found that it looked like there was some fluid there.

And then I realised that the toenail was growing into the flesh. Yes, it's an ingrown toenail all right!

I'm not sure you all want to see a picture of the toe right now though so I won't be posting any, curious as the rest of you may be. Maybe after I get it treated though...

excuse me, but do we know each other...?

2006-05-21T00:51:00.000+08:00

Bought dinner at Tampines Mall today together with my family.

While waiting for my sister's spaghetti order to be ready, I was spotted by a few of my juniors back from the VJC days (at least I think they were from VJC...). But wht surprised me was that they actually knew me and called out to me, even though I was wearing my glasses that I think makes me look really different.

BENNY! *smile and wave*

Being in the state of surprise (I shan't say shock because it really didn't have anything bad in it.) that I was, I only managed to come up with this reaction...

0_0! o_0...

>.<" On hindsight, I can see why they were so amused. Could have flashed my million dollar smile and looked friendly, instead of coming across like a bespectacled gorilla.

Bumping into these friengers (friend + stranger) are really interesting situations aren't they? Some people just have the most hilarious reactions. Unfortunately, maybe I'm one of these people. T_T...

it's an outpour

2006-05-20T02:22:00.000+08:00

It's not a sleepless night for me tonight. Actually I find it really easy for me to fall asleep sometimes, all I need to do is just lie down for long enough, and I won't even know that I closed my eyes.

But tonight I've been staying up thinking about a lot of things. It seems as though inside me there's a lot of turmoil and confusion going around. Maybe it's because I'm coming to some sort of crossroad in life, and there's a lot of growing up to be done soon.

Have you ever had the thought that you just don't know how you are? For example, you come up with a situation that you're sure you've come across before. But you find it hard to do things the way you did them before, because all of a sudden it doesn't feel right to do so, and a lot of indecision ensues. I think most of us should be reaching this stage soon. To be honest, I still haven't come to a conclusion how best should I act from now on, so I guess I'll still be stuck in limbo for now. But I think I have to make a decision soon about how I want to act, talk and think from now on.

Also, lately I've gotten the feeling that somehow I'm less able to connect with others these days. The other day I was talking with one of my friends (this time I don't think I'll be putting names) about our future directions. When I said I still wasn't able to see myself 5 years from now (partly due to this confusion I'm having), my friend told me that I'd only be doing 2 things: studying and working. I felt a little insulted to be honest, as if my common sense was being questioned. But I guess I look at things differently. To me, the future I was concerned about involved more of my dreams, whereas for most people it would be about their lives. I might be too naive in still holding on to some dreams and ideals so tightly though, but without these, I don't think I'd have the inspiration and courage to work so hard in life.

Actually, life itself can be akin to sculpting a sandcastle on the beach.

If you build your sandcastle too far away from the sea, you probably won't get a very nicely sculpted one because it'll be hard to get sea water to moisten/harden/shapen it. On the other hand, sandcastles built closer to the sea will be subjected to the enormous forces of waves crashing onto the beach.

We can compare the waves to the overwhelming forces of the outside social environment we are subjected to everyday. (Subjected sounds like a very harsh word though don't you think?) It is everywhere, and try as we might we cannot avoid it.

However, to sculpt a beautiful sandcastle, we still need a pair of skilled and inspired hands. They will be the most crucial means by which the sandcastle actually takes its form. Someone who is skilled/creative/inspired enough will come up with wonderful pieces of art by manipulating the sand and water to his fancy, whereas someone who isn't will find it hard to come up with anything that has a form.

These hands are actually our minds and our heart in process. We go through education and learn to think for ourselves. Those who have learnt well will be able to mould their lives into something that's fulfilling and enriching by taking in the things that they may find helpful from the external environment, whereas those who haven't may find that something might always be lacking in their lives, unable to stand up against the crushing forces of nature and society and having to "go with the flow".

But either way, we still need valuable lessons from the external environment to enable us to grow up into fine adults with enriching lives, or we may end up like the sandcastle that's too far inland: inherently unstable.

Right now I'm feeling a bit like the second case to be honest, being flooded and unable to handle the pressures and forces of the external environment. Yet, I'm still optimistic, because I still have these hands that can mould, don't I? In the end, how I'm going to live in future depends on the decisions I make, and the values I treasure.

I think that's all I have for tonight. Hopefully it's food for thought for all of you, but if it isn't, you can always look at the previous entries!

it's going to be a late night

2006-05-17T23:31:00.000+08:00

As you may all know the UEFA Champions League final will be played at 2.45am tonight. I'm going to stay up with my dad to watch it, so it's going to be a long night.

The worst thing about it is that I'm already yawning! \(`o`)/

After reading last night's post, I realised I haven't found a lot of lovely readers...*looks at number of comments* -_-

Trying to rebuild my media library now, but the uploading is taking verrrrryyyyy loooonnngggg indeed. 81/300 now, and yet to reach the videos!

Maybe I'll sneak in a few more posts before the match actually starts. I know I'll be that bored waiting.

posting in the darkness...!

2006-05-17T00:23:00.001+08:00

My PC's hard disk got corrupted a few hours ago and I (well actually my dad...-_-) had to reformat it to get it up and running again. It all happened while the computer was running too, so you could imagine my shock when the screen turned black after I went to take a sip.

0_0 T_T!!!!!!!

Good thing there are still 2 other working computers in this house. I decided to test out the new network card that my dad bought the other day, and plugged it into the laptop before bringing it into my room.

I haven't left the room for the past 4 hours. (>.>) (<.<)

Had logged on to Blogger to make a post about what's been going on recently, but I'm sooooo tired now. \(`O`)/

See you later, all my lovely readers. =)

election fever

2006-05-08T00:05:00.000+08:00

The past few days has seen election fever hold Singapore tight in its grip. And as the dust settles, let us not forget that what we really should have voted for, or will vote for in future elections, is the development of Singapore on a whole. Not just your elevator, your block, your district, but your country.

I hope we haven't lost sight of this:

OUR NATIONAL PLEDGE

We the citizens of Singapore,
Pledge ourselves as one united people.
Regardless of race, language or religion,
To build a democratic society,
Based on justice and equality,
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity,
And progess for our nation.

And in Chinese:

我们是新加坡公民，
誓约不分宗族，言语，宗教，
团结一致。
建设公正平等的民主社会，
并未实现国家之幸福，
繁荣与进步，
共同努力。

Please do keep in mind the ideals that one of our "founding fathers" Mr. Rajaratnam had as he penned our pledge.

The elections may have divided us during this period, with party lines being drawn. But now that it's been done and dusted, let us work harder tomorrow, with the vision of building a better Singapore and a better home for ourselves and our children.

i'm not procrastinating...

2006-05-02T00:03:00.000+08:00

But it seems as though my JLPT plans have to be pushed back one year. At the rate I'm going, I'll be missing out on the prep course for JLPT 4 which starts in July. Will probably have to wait for the one conducted next year.

Then again, I could do away with JLPT 4 and skip straight to JLPT 3, but that might prove beyond me...

*EDIT* Being the usual silly self, I forgot that I can actually pick up 1 out of the 392847948573209587 JLPT self-study books out there.

頑張ります！

love for curry rice

2006-05-01T21:58:00.000+08:00

It's been a long time my old friend. I've missed you a lot since the last time we met.

いただきます。。。\(*^.^*)/

polite but still...

2006-04-24T15:07:00.000+08:00

Just came back from the doctor's to collect more medicine. Now I have more pills to pop, and some cough syrup/sleeping potion to go with it.

While I was paying up at the end, the cashier/prescriptionist muttered "thank you" to me as she handed me my change. Normally I wouldn't think much about it, but today my brain cells are working on overdrive! So it occurred to me that it seemed as if she was thanking me for falling sick, and I got kind of put off by that. I hurriedly went out of the clinic after I had collected all my medicine.

Of course, I know I was being too cynical again, and that she was just saying it out of couretousy. But still, it makes you think about how funny some of the things we do to be polite are. And that usually happens because we haven't thought things over properly yet.

So please think before you speak in future, or you might end up causing some misunderstandings and unhappiness!

this doesn't look right

2006-04-24T01:44:00.000+08:00

I'm coming down with the flu. Started sniffling non-stop ever since I came back home from lunch today. In fact, I felt a bit giddy a couple of times.

Why is it then that I'm still up at 1:45 in the morning? T_T... I'll try to get some sleep now.

金縛り。。。

2006-04-23T00:20:00.000+08:00

That's "kanashibari" for those who don't understand Japanese. The word literally means to be "tightly bound" or "tied down" and it's an old Japanese folk expression for what in English is called "sleep paralysis." It usually happens when the sleeper is either entering or coming out of REM sleep. (explanation courtesy of hikki.blogspot.com)

The other night (code for "I can't remember exactly which night it was") I got my latest experience with it. Think I was in some kind of dream/nightmare before I woke up, and felt unable to move. So I just lay paralysed on my bed for about a few minutes before finally being able to shift my head a little, to my great relief.

According to my friends, it's quite a terrifying experience, but now that I know what really causes it, I guess I'm not that scared anymore. So even though it means that I didn't manage to get any kind of decent sleep that night (think I got a bit grumpy the next day too, gomen ne...T_T), I still think of it as a rather interesting experience.

Looking at the time though, I really should try getting some sleep tomorrow (ah finally spelled that word correctly for the first time in years >.<"), don't want to be caught falling asleep by Matsumoto-san...

a little prayer

2006-04-15T00:42:00.000+08:00

The night falls still,
as I say a little prayer.
Even though I can't be with you,
I'm sending my little angel there.
No matter rain or shine,
I hope that he'll reach you,
And give you his blessings.

a strange encounter

2006-04-06T22:20:00.000+08:00

Today, I saw a monitor lizard almost get run over by a car while I was on my way to lunch.

Luckily for the lizard, it managed to duck just in time, and narrowly missed the car by a whisker. I felt rather relieved for it, and made sure that it crossed the road perfectly fine. However, it wasn't until a minute later that I realised, "What on earth is a monitor lizard doing in a military camp in the first place?"

I realised I'm becoming such a dork...T_T

travelling

2006-04-02T18:06:00.000+08:00

Don't know why, but lately I've been feeling really lethargic. I seem to be able to fall asleep at every chance I get, and still it doesn't seem to be enough rest.

I'm not taking any drowsy medicine by the way. At least I don't think the antibiotics for my acne work like that.

Before I fell asleep on the train ride home though, there were these 2 kids sitting beside me. They couldn't have been more than 7 years old I think. Anyway, they were actually making a bit of noise playing a game. You know, those weird rock-scissors-paper games with the really long rhymes and phrases in between? "Cherry cherry long cham pass" should ring a bell, yes? =) They didn't seem to care though, and they were definitely having a lot of fun.

These two kids made me wonder about my own childhood. Isn't that always the case with us grown-ups? We always look back on those days with happiness and nostalgia, because we didn't have a care in the world. Those really were the days, compared to the heavy work load and stress levels we currently face now, yes? And not only that, but we also tend to want to recapture the lost innocence of childhood too, now that we've been introduced to so many different opinions and thoughts that we have a headache just trying to choose one. Back then, there wasn't much "right" or "wrong", just whether we wanted to or not. But these days, we almost always consider right and wrong before we make any decisions, even the bad ones.

There are many valuable things that we've learnt while growing up indeed, but I think it's important that we don't forget our childhood memories as well. Not just specific events, but also our innocence and purity back then. If we can all face each other with purity and innocence, I'm sure the world will become a much better place for people to live and be merry in. =)

To cap off this long post (by my standards anyway), a little word of encouragement to everybody: Let's move bravely into the future, with freedom in our right hand and love in our left! \(*^.^*)/ (Taken from an Ayu song if you haven't noticed.)

feeling under the weather?

2006-03-28T20:22:00.000+08:00

It finally stopped raining today. Although the sun didn't really appear much, it's still nice to see the sky brightening up a little bit. It's been really dark and gloomy the past few days, don't you think?

So please do take care of yourselves, the rainy season's approaching again. It'll be bad to have another flu or cold epidemic again.

lost and found

2006-03-26T00:03:00.000+08:00

We have touched love,
we have lost love.
But the memories that we made together,
They will remain forever.

bugs

2006-03-23T22:23:00.000+08:00

I just noticed that there have been quite a few bugs that have been fluttering about the house these few days. At least 2 have appeared at my desktop tonight already! And I have to say, it's getting as worrying as much as it's getting irritating. Good thing I have the newspaper right beside me. I'd like to think I'm quite skillful at bashing insects with them. (*^.^*)V

Could it have anything to do with the weather? It's been raining heavily these two days, and coincidentally, the bugs only started invading my house during this period. In fact, it's not only my house, but also my office and all indoor areas in general! Looks like that's the case doesn't it?

It's getting rather scary now though. I just looked up at the ceiling lights, and I swear I saw another 2 or 3 more of those little bugs circling it. Maybe it's getting too cold for them outside, because I'm certainly feeling cold a lot more these couple of days.

Well, 2 posts in an hour, and that's due to a serious lack of friends to talk to on Messenger. I mean I do have a lot of contacts, but I'm sure everyone kinds of add other people blindly don't you? That has resulted in my list being flooded with people whom I've never seen before, let alone talked to. Or maybe it's just that I'm not opening up to people. =(

I guess I'll be better off doing some revision on my Japanese work. It's been put off for long enough.

my face...

2006-03-23T21:55:00.000+08:00

There's something I left out in yesterday's post in my hurry.

The doctor said I had a severe case of acne! He also added that it'll probably take at least 2 or 3 months to heal. (T_T)

No wonder my face has been feeling so irritated these days. So it really IS acne.

an unexpected day off

2006-03-22T23:56:00.000+08:00

A bad headache today meant that I had to pay a visit to the doctor's. However, since it's also an unexpected day off, so I guess it wasn't all that bad.

Finally had time to settle down to reading the copy of NANA #14 I bought a few days ago, after being so busy for the past few days. And right where I've read until, the following line appears:

I know that if I give way to him 100 times, he'll probably have 100 women outside. But as long as I'm number 1 among them, that's okay. And I'll fight to keep that position at the top.

And at that my heart melted. How often do you see someone who can love another person so unconditionally, that even if he or she betrays her it's still okay? I think these are the kind of people that will be the greatest lovers, but also lead the most tragic lives. The type that's willing to die for their love even if it's unrequited.

Alas, I think I might be at the opposite end of the spectrum. I couldn't possibly stand anybody cheating on me. If it ever happens (actually it kind of did, but that's not going to be told here :P), I'll just get the person to leave. In a nice manner of course, as I always do.

Back to NANA, my collection has cost me quite a bit! Blame my impatience leading me to get the imported Taiwanese versions instead of the Singapore versions which are at least $2 cheaper per volume. I'm just a very compulsive shopper I guess.

Oh my, look at the time now! *gasp* I guess I'll have to see you guys next time then, I don't want to wake up late tommorrow. =)

new colleague

2006-03-21T19:46:00.000+08:00

A new colleague joined us for work in the afternoon yesterday, fresh out of BMTC. His name's Bennett, and he's been assigned to be our commander's next personal assistant (PA). So now he's had 3 PAs (my predecessor was also called Ben) with the same name, and he hasn't had to call for anyone else for almost 2 years now. 0_0

Oh, and this new Ben doesn't leave until 2008. I'm worried that our dear commander will make it a prerequisite for his PAs to be named Ben.

Anyway, with the arrival of Ben, it meant that I had to start another round of self-introduction. God knows how bad I am at those, I seem to have the knack of saying the weirdest things at the wrong time. But apparently I didn't scare him away, seeing that he's still quite okay about learning the ropes from me, and even going for breakfast together with another colleague.

Hopefully, he'll be able to learn fast, and I can then be relieved of this post and bum around in the office the entire day! (*^_^*)

a little anecdote from yesterday

2006-03-20T21:54:00.000+08:00

Something very hilarious happened during Japanese class yesterday.

Matsumoto-san had asked us what we were doing today as a pratice in sentence making, so we all took turns to answer. Apparently one of my classmates was eager to put a new phrase into use, so this was her answer:

"I'm planning to go to work tommorrow."

Of course, the class fell into dead silence at that, because it just sounded so wrong. So she wasn't sure if she was going to take an MC today and sleep in after all!

Also, Matsumoto-san openly declared to the class she was going on a date this Saturday. Another WTF moment in class.

I can't help but fall in love with this class even more! (^u^)

(-0-0-)

2006-03-15T23:02:00.000+08:00

Was sitting down and staring into blank space a while ago, when suddenly a thought hit me: Wouldn't it be fun if I tried wearing glasses regularly?

Now apparently I have perfect eyesight, so there's no need for me to wear them. But recently I've seen so many good-looking guys who wear glasses (Bae Yong Jun comes to mind! :D ) that I've become interested in having my own too. I think guys with glasses look much more scholarly and gentle than if those without. Of course this may not be the case, but like it or not appearances do count quite a lot.

Of course, I'm going to get those "fashion" ones rather than a prescripted one. I heard those cost a bomb.

But not that I've been earning a lot lately either, so maybe the glasses will have to wait. I'll be sure to post some pictures up once I get my pair!

On another unrelated note, was talking to Jaro-san earlier and he told me that I was doing the correct things in my attempt to save my skin. However, it doesn't seem to be working totally effectively! =( It's been about 2 months and I'm still far from regaining my perfect flawless skin. In the meantime I'm still going to be patient and continue my routine, but if it persists I think I might have to visit the doctor.

I guess that's it for today then. It's nice to be able to post stuff for consecutive days! I hope to be able to continue articulating my thoughts out for an extended period, otherwise I might lose my ability to speak English by the time I start university.

online forums are so much fun! (^.^)v

2006-03-14T23:41:00.000+08:00

This is weird, I'm posting two proper entries on consecutive days! Maybe I'm getting back into the writing mood again.

Recently I've joined the online forum Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai (shall refer to it as AHS because I'm not exactly a very quick typer)after having heard quite a bit of Ayu's music. Okay fine, so her entire discography isn't really A BIT, but that's beside the point isn't it?

And I have to say, this forum has to be the best online forum ever! The members are really friendly, and I've made so many friends from all over the world. Plus, we talk about everything under the sun, and we do mean everything. One of the most memorable topics we had was about leaving the toilet cover down for ladies after use, which eventually developed into a downright dirty thread about um, poo.

So, to all my friends at AHS (you guys know who you are, and if you visited this page leave a comment yes? Notice the amount of "0 comments" I have on previous posts...(T.T) ), here's to many more fun-filled years of chatting ahead of us! Who knows, maybe we could organise a trip to watch Ayu's 50th single concert together or something. Though I'm still not sure who's going to want to organise it.

On a side note, I cleaned my toilet today. With a clean bathroom to use now, I'm a very happy person. (*^.^*) Though I still won't spend tonight sleeping in there.

Well, it's back to work again tommorrow, so I guess I have to hit the sack soon. Even though I know for sure I'm going to doze off in the afternoon anyway. =(

tadaima

2006-03-13T22:21:00.000+08:00

It's been rather long since I had a proper post hasn't it? Blame it on my not so awe-inspiring lifestyle. =(

Anyway, I've recently just started going for Japanese lessons. Class is at Orchard Delphi every Sunday morning, so that means there's shopping to be had after every lesson. Could be good or bad, depending on my financial situation for the week. But usually it turns out to be a torture walking to the MRT station after lessons though.

It's a relatively small class that I'm in, though I haven't really counted exactly how many people are in it. Matsumoto-san, our teacher, is a really lively figure too. She has so many funny expressions and this brand of Engrish that makes me chuckle in class sometimes. I've even picked up her favourite phrase, "OK desu!" Coupled with our class' usually hilarious attempts to construct Japanese sentences that we have just learnt, it makes for a lot of fun and laughter! =)

Talking about my classmates, they're a real varied mix of people. There's someone who looks like a real mugger (-0.0-), two people whom I THINK are a couple (they haven't admitted it yet), one who shuttles between Hokkaido and Singapore frequently, and 3 pairs of close friends. A pity we don't talk to each other that much yet, but hopefully things can change soon. I'm starting to crack a few practical jokes in class to lighten the mood of the lessons, hoping that they'll follow suit too.

Well, here's to a fun and fulfilling time learning Japanese ahead! Will post a few pictures of classes if I'm able to sneak some in soon.

heehee

2006-03-08T22:58:00.000+08:00

A rolling penguin in Antarctica,
Breaks a block of ice,
And floats away to the sea,
Meeting a monster of fierce eyes!
They both get washed up ashore,
and get found by a bearded old man,
who takes them as pets,
what a treat for his friends!

coincidence

2006-03-07T18:46:00.000+08:00

Out of the corner of my eye,
A figure flashed past.
It couldn't be,
It's not supposed to.
But there you were when I turned around,
Or is it just a figure of you?
I opened my mouth,
But nothing was said.
And then you left again,
Though this time it's not that painful anymore.

together forever...

2006-02-27T21:53:00.000+08:00

Slipping slowly into the darkness,
But it's not fear that grips tightly over me.
That feeling seems so familiar,
Isn't that the warmth of your arms?
This isn't the end of it all,
But rather the start of an eternity...

With you.

together forever

2006-02-26T23:04:00.000+08:00

Holding each other's hand,
We promised never to let go.
But when we need to use both of our own hands,
Has the time come for us to part?

fear?

2006-02-24T16:51:00.000+08:00

It's not that we don't want to move forward,
But we have yet to get over the past.
The path ahead is filled with adventure,
But are we treasuring our memories too much?

almost forgot

2006-02-18T23:55:00.000+08:00

About what? About this blog of course. Benny actually forgot to post last week! =P

But anyway, nothing much to rant about really. Had many random thoughts of course, but got lazy and forgot to post them in the end. Will try to do so in future so that the blog doesn't look so dormant I guess.

Other than that, Benny doesn't really have much to say. After all, I've never been a person of many words. =)

lazy sunday afternoon

2006-02-05T16:48:00.000+08:00

So how was everybody's Lunar New Year? I hope you managed to receive plenty of money and have an exciting time. Benny's New Year wasn't too bad, but it wasn't that exciting either. You could call it a normal Lunar New Year I guess.

Actually, Benny doesn't have much to say, but I thought I'd just post something since I had nothing to do.

But I have a feeling life is going to get more exciting very soon! =)

Currently playing: ayumi hamasaki - HONEY

拜个早年！

2006-01-28T23:26:00.000+08:00

还有半个钟头就到农历新年乐，先跟大家拜个早年吧！祝大家新年快乐，万事如意，心想事成！

过年期间，大家也当然要多多保重，小心自己的饮食。发胖不是间很好玩的事情！

最后，希望大家能够拿到很多很多的红包！=)

spirited

2006-01-24T12:06:00.000+08:00

About time I posted again. How's everybody feeling today?

As for Benny, he's feeling very spirited now. I think that's the word. Benny feels very energised and creative these days. Like he can take on the world by himself!

Maybe signing up for Japanese classes played a part...?

Anyway, let's all work hard together towards our aims and goals! =)

aims

2006-01-15T16:55:00.000+08:00

After reading other people's experiences with Japanese, I've found that it will be best if I came up with a set of aims that I should stick to. That way, there's something to work towards. So here goes:

2006: Attend proper classes (Mar)
Clear JLPT 4 (Dec)

2007: Attend intermediate-level classes(Mar)
Be able to converse in Japanese with moderate fluency.
Clear JLPT 3 (Dec)

2008: Attend advanced-level classes
Be able to write and speak Japanese well.
Clear JLPT 2 (Dec)

I don't know when I'll want to clear JLPT 1 though. It seems terribly difficult.

diabolos

2006-01-15T00:57:00.000+08:00

After watching the Diabolos live in Tokyo Dome, I have come up with another resolution for the year.

I WANNA HAVE A VOICE LIKE GACKT'S! *goes to have check voice*

Um, not quite there yet. BUT I SHALL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. =)

By the way, Japanese is coming along well. I found a great site to help me along with grammar. But it's getting late already, shall have my beauty sleep soon.

I'm beginning to post more already!

just arrived

2006-01-09T18:49:00.000+08:00

Just arrived by mail today:

1. ayumi hamasaki (miss)understood album
- CD
- DVD (PV+"making of" clips)
- 70-page photobook "On My Way"

2. MALICE MIZER La Collection "merveilles" -L'edition Limitee-
- CD: "merveilles" album
- DVD: "merveilles -cinq parallele-" (PVs)
- DVD: "merveilles -l'espace-" (1998 "merveilles" tour FINAL)
- DVD: "l'image de merveilles" - ("merveilles" promo tour clips)

Benny is very happy today. =D

currently playing: MALICE MIZER - Le ciel

rainy day part 2

2006-01-09T01:19:00.000+08:00

It rained the entire day again.

But then again the children aren't whining much. They don't know what it is to go outside to play anymore. =(

rainy day

2006-01-07T20:42:00.000+08:00

It rained almost the entire day!

Don't you just feel like snuggling in bed whenever these days come along? That has to be one of the many pleasures in life.

a budding tri-linguist in the making

2006-01-04T22:09:00.000+08:00

I recently started learning Japanese by myself.

It so happened that the other day while looking for some comics at Kinokuniya, I came across 3 very interestng books on self-learning for Japanese. And since God knows most of what I have is Japanese, I figured it was high time to start to speak and write Japanese too.

But I have to admit that it is TOUGH. I'm only into Hiragana now and it is mightily confusing. From what I've seen Katakana looks worse too, so I expect I'm going to need outside help soon.

Not to worry, hopefully I'll be free enough by May or June to go for proper classes. In the meantime wish me luck! =)

Currently playing: Shiroi hada ni kuruu ai to kanashimi no rondo - Malice Mizer

it's 2006 already?

2006-01-02T12:54:00.000+08:00

A day late, but nonetheless a happy new year. May the new year bring new hopes for everyone. =)

I wonder how everybody celebrated the new year. For me, I decided to go and splurge a bit. I got these babies back:

Tommy february6's self-titled first album. For those who are oblivious, Tommy is (or is it was?) the lead singer of the Japanese rock band, the brilliant green. This is her solo project. It's entirely catchy 80's synth-pop. In short, it's everything that made Cyndi Lauper and early Kylie Minogue tick. And possibly more.

(Okay, maybe it sounded real bad then, but somehow it works for me now.)

Tommy's second album "Tommy airline". More of the same, although the songs are still really catchy. And bordering on being overly cute. But I like.

It seems as though I've found a new obsession, but fret not, I also bought the "merveilles" CD I saw lying around in HMV too.

And yesterday I went to HMV again, seeing that Ayu-chan's new album "(miss)understood" was supposed to be finally on sale. But alas, I realised I was in Singapore and there had to be a delay. So I'm going to have to try next week instead.

Oh yes, Benny is taking a liking to Ayumi Hamasaki indeed! The horrors of J-pop. =)

Wow, this is the longest post I've written in quite some time!

Currently playing: STEP you - ayumi hamasaki (see I told you so)

merry christmas =)

2005-12-25T01:33:00.000+08:00

For those not in the know, this is actually how Santa arrives at your home. With a good old freefall descent.

Merry Christmas to all anyway.

happy birthday hide-sama

2005-12-13T19:38:00.000+08:00

Today is 13th December, which also means it's hide-mas! Happy birthday! =)

What did you do to commemorate this wonderful occasion?

薔薇の聖堂

2005-12-03T23:57:00.000+08:00

Went on a shopping spree a few days ago and guess what I got for myself at HMV.

Although it set me back 83 bucks I still love it to death. =)

To Queen Lychee: are you jealous now?