(在Fairprice - Soyjoy promoter auntie (A); Interested buyer (B)）

A: Soyjoy很有益，吃了很耐饱，可以减肥，made in Japan...Blah blah

B: 哦，那我要买一条。

A: 买两条啦！

B: 买两条有便宜吗？一条多少钱？

A: 一条$1.70

B: 那，买两条也是$1.70啊？？(我心想：买两条有便宜的话，我也叫老婆买）

A: 不是，两条是$3.40

(Peng ah...) 

Just watched "The Dark Knight" - a good and "dark" show.

Beside the usual hero flick stunts, weapons and storeyline, what moved me most was the thing that happen behind every Gotham residents' knowledge - Why batman was later portrayed as a "bad guy", although Gotham City still need this dark knight like ever before (Dont want to review to much to spoil the mood).

 

Still, he is willing to head the lonely path, as he believe it is the right thing to do although no one would understand （虽千万人，吾往矣）.

 

The drizzling cold night after the movie made me felt more down for the hero. 郁闷的心情久久未能平息

My first ever 3-on-3 basketball competition (or for any sports competition for the matter of fact) will be on this coming Sunday.

It is just a inter-SBU games within Keppel Corp, so it was more like a get-together sport event rather than a real "competetive" games.

So when my colleague asked if I wanted to join their 2-person team to make it a 3, I just gave it a try lar!

*******

I am never a sports person, don't really like watching any sports programme, unless for specialy event like Worldcup Final, that is if I have no other programme to watch.

So you can imagine a 文弱书生's survivor struggle in the games against many taller and well-built opponents!

*******

Yesterday was my one and only training before the competition. Few minutes into the court already sweat and pant like hell, but it was painfully (all my limbs and body) fun actually. Finally touching a basketball again after 3 year since my last game with my ex-colleagues.

 

Well, my other 2 partners are way better than me, so I am contented to play supportin role in the game. Haha

 

(One might ask: What has the title got to do with the content of the blog? Well, it is just my fantasy that I may someday become a 灌蓝高手, .... in my next life)

 

Tomorrow will be my 1st trip to Vietnam.

But will be a very rush one, tomorrow 7:50am's flight to HCM and will be back Friday 2:50pm. Super fast right?

Just hope that Thursday's meeting would be very long, so that I can have time to walk around the city after work. cos Friday morning meeting will start at 9am...till 12noon before we need to rush to airport...

Basically it is work & work.

 

You could say I am pessimistic, but I specially treasure today, eat lunch with my wife etc cos who knows what might happen tomorrow?

 I dont like to take plane, feel unsafe, cos I can't fly, haha.

Finally, I have submitted my resignation letter.

 

Not that I don't like my current work scope or company (other than the pay), I felt that I should try something new while I am still young. Moreover, the job was: introduced by my ex-CM, my mentor; was with a more reputable and established company; a more challenging and interesting one and need to travel; etc

So looking forward to change and new experience that I even turned down my Director's tempting offer to sponsor me for a Law degree course.

Cos opportunity to work there was not always there, but I can study anytime (provided that I have the time and willing to fork out $25k)

 

No matter what, I just believe that my choice was the best that I could choose now (after I have turned down another interesting offer to work in the UK).

So, my new job will start 15th May 2008.

 

 

 

一早就赶到queen street 巴士站搭最早的班次回马六甲。是时候表达民意了。

然而拜Mat Selamat（注1）所赐，在新加坡的custom，交通诸塞了2个小时才得以过关。

原本3小时的车程拉长到5小时，虽然累人，一到家饭都未吃，就赶着和妹妹去投票站。

 

 

很辛运的，我的户头没被莫名其妙地编派去别处（注2）。在投票处验明身份后，领了神圣的两张选票（1国1州），在我认为该投的阵党上打了个X。

就十分钟，完成了我第二次的公民责任。只是，这一次，大选的情况与民心都起了变化，结果是谁也无法预测的。

 

 

晚上10点多，大家都聚集在电视机前，关注大选的成绩。

出乎意外的，反对党DAP赢得了槟城州的政权！除此之外，雪兰莪、霹靂，吉兰丹和吉打也都是反对党的控制了。 

 

第二天，报纸变成了抢手货，都买断市了。醒目的标题“政治大海嘯”。

虽然国家的执政权还是在国阵手上，马来西亚未来四年的政治，充满了未知却是令人期待的。

 

 

 

注1：回教祈祷团头目Mat Selamat上星期从新加坡扣留所逃了出来。全国各地和关卡都加强了检查，却影响了大家。至今仍未知下落。

注2：选民户头会在不知情下，从原先的地方转编到他处的新闻时有所闻。这一次，我的小舅就遭遇了这个情况。倒霉加生气。

 

 

 

 

上个星期日和拉曼的同学搞了个新年聚餐。

聊到了一些令我感触的事：

 

1）一个男同学A在KL应征的时候，发现interviewer（该公司的Contracts Manager）竟是当年Certificate 毕业后到英国留学的旧同学B。而那职位还是B的assistant！听说同学A窘的不得了，想找个地洞钻进去。可能只是男人的好胜心理罢了。但换成我的话，也一样会受不了吧。“想当年，他功课比我差。。etc etc ”诸之类推的。

再深想一沉，不过就机遇际遇不同罢了。也没什么好比较或抱怨的吧。C'est La Vie

拿了花红后，仿佛可以另谋高就。而来自外国高薪的机会，更令人陷入是否该为钱而远走更远的他乡迷惘。

 

2）Wee Keok 决定了辞去工作当个全职妈妈。在挣扎考量许久之后的决定，让我大吃一惊，但又能体会她当妈妈的苦心和伟大。

孩子的童年与成长就只那么一次。她只是做了自己认为现在应该做的事罢了。但却是令我钦佩感动的。

以后老婆和我又会有什么样的决定呢？现代的父母不好当啊。

 

 

7月15日（阴）

在台北车站买了火车票去九份。在第一次就能正确无误地在广阔无比的车站中找到我们的火车月台和班次，除了“不耻下问“，完善仔细的告示牌也是功不可没。到了瑞芳站，得转搭公车，15分钟就到达了九份。在滂沱大雨，蜿蜒曲折的街道上找了半个小时才放弃，打电话给蔡妈妈来接我们到她的民宿。哇！很日式的房间，舒适又宽敞。 一晚台币1200。

 

九份是个可爱小镇，依山而建的建筑街道和多雨是它的特色。以前这里也和金瓜石一样产金矿。蔡妈妈还show了我们她老公以前所采到一颗含金的石头，闪闪发亮的哦。

骤雨一歇，我们便迫不及待地去找美食医肚子。

 

 

 （怎能错过这里的特产--芋圆呢？）

 虽然一直只叫一人份的食物，但吃得的确撑不下去了才会回民宿休息。：）

很多旅行团/一日游团都只把九份当作2-3小时可以走完的小镇，实在太可惜了。

晚上我们还在天台吹凉风赏夜景。多写意。

 

7月16日（晴）

 收拾好后便离开九份，乘巴士回瑞芳。临别前，蔡妈妈还送了我们她串的珠链吊带，作为纪念。

在搭巴士时，再次体会了台湾人的友善和“变通“。话说我们上了巴士后，投了30元。却被告知周日的车资比周末贵2元，但因身上没零钱了，正打算用大额纸币补钱（但没找钱的）。司机看到了我们的窘态，便对我们说：“不用了“。连忙开心的道谢。（但不禁心想：在law by law的新加坡就没有这种flexibility了吧？）

 在火车站买了去花莲的票后，便到镇上市场里的摊位找吃。我梦想的第一碗卤肉饭便在这里尝到了！！此外还叫了干捞面和萝卜汤，好好吃喔。

 

 大约3个小时的车程，会看到许多城镇，美丽的东海岸，高耸入云的山脉,令人心旷神怡。

 

到了花莲，正想打电话找民宿时，有位的士妈妈问我们要不要住她刚开张位于市区的新民宿，免费接送到民宿，若不满意还可以拒绝入住。凭自觉，再加上她的诚恳，便条上的士跟她走啦！火车站离花莲市区大约6分钟车程， 下车一看，wow!! “馨忆民俗“，根本就像是旅店吧! 房间非常干净舒适，NT$1300一晚，值得呢。再加上老板娘可以提供一站式的服务，可以省下许多功夫啦。八卦一下，老板娘很能干喔，这是她和日籍丈夫开的第二间民宿了，平时就开的士，还可以当导游和司机载客人玩花莲。

在二楼的窗口，看见了第一辆台湾垃圾车，还有播音乐的喔。一听到音乐，大家都急忙把垃圾拿出来丢。很特别，急忙拿相机，“山姑”地拍下了这一幕。Ha ha

当天便去尝试了出名的小笼包，排骨面； 晚上骑着民俗免费提供的脚踏车去逛夜市，还买了奶瓶杂果水来喝。夜市有趣的地方在于它里面超过80%的摊位都是玩乐游戏的，有柏青哥，钓鸭子之类的tikam 摊位。但由于知道自己的手气从来都不好，所以只有看的份，却也自得其乐。当然也少不了食摊，买臭豆腐啦，奶茶啦，煮炒还另加卡拉OK呢，可以边等边唱，边唱边吃。

之后走到附近的海边看人放鞭炮烟花，大伙儿扶老携幼，成群结伴到这里乘凉玩闹，十分热闹。由于明早还要出海看海豚，逗留一会儿便回民宿。在凉风习习的夜晚骑脚踏车是很写意的（已有10多年未骑过了），只是台湾交通是靠右边驾驶的，所以有点不惯，得加倍小心。虽然说要早起，但面对100多台的电视节目，身为电视迷的我们又怎能错过呢， 哈哈。（结果又是1点多才睡）。

喔！好久没有这么一大班的聚在一起了。搞了个“Post Mid Autumn Festival"的聚会，把在新加坡打拼的tarcian BD coursemates 约来Braddell 我家。（我那好小的三房式组屋在容纳了11人后，变得好拥挤，哈哈）

岁月似乎都在大家的脸上都留了痕迹，青春一去不复返哪。T_T

但是只要大家都健康开心就好啦！

也想祝福身在异乡为异客的好友，献上深深的祝福。但愿人长久，千里共长娟。

今天收到了令我非常感动的特别祝福。

在下午接到了一通电话“hello, Ning ah?" 有点陌生的声音。“你等一下" 就put me on hold. 在我还摸不着头脑，电话铃一段便传来歌声“Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday to you..." 认出来了，是我的旧同事们！

虽说911是个不难忘的日子，但能收到他们的祝福，证明我还是个不错的colleague吧。听着他们用力地唱，感动不已。

Chris, Chin Chin, Alan, Lai Ping, 和新来的QS，谢谢你们!!!

My farewell photo - Sysma Tender Department (clockwise: Me, Kelly (left already), Lai Ping, Chin Chin, Alan & Chris)

当然也不忘了其他朋友的祝福，谢谢你们啦。:)  

Attended a Chinese Painting Exhibition opening ceremony held at the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce last Saturday afternoon. The artist was Mr Hou （候镇华），a student of a famous Mr Huang 黄稷堂 in China.

 

(A very lively painting)(Like this Lotus painting)

 

 

(Mr Hou, the artist)

 

Beside the showing of all this wonderful painting, there was also a unique on-the-spot painting session, whereby a painting was the works of Mr Huang and several local artists, a real 交流砌磋. My wife & I were really amazed and mesmerised by the wonderful and lively painting. By just a few brushes, a flower blossomed, a few brushes more, a chirping bird appeared...

The most memorable person I remembered would be this 陶祚增老先生。In the beginning, he was reluctant to draw, but after watching a few of the other artists painted, he was finally "aroused" to show his skill. According to my calligraphy teacher, he was a famous artist whose works were much sought after and treasured by the angmohs very much, although not many people knew him locally. He was really a, what should I said, an man full of weird character of an artist （艺术家的怪脾气）. But really, his painting was good!

(my calligraphy teacher on the left)

The "drawing" showing here was the essence 精髓 of all the previous 6 paintings drawn - it was actually colour marks/stains left by the 6 paintings (works by around 8 artist) earlier, drawing on top of this paper! In fact I like this painting more! ha ha

 

Glad that I attended this event which open my eyes and got me closer to my culture.

 

 

 Just yesterday, one song kept singing in my mind, have not drive me crazy yet. Instead I am still trying to memorise the lyrics and how to sing, especially the 台语 part "你是我心内的一首歌".

Go watch the cute and wonderful MV.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9zzxqyqbsg

Almost forgot, it is a duet by LiHom & Selina. Just don't blame me if the song keeps singing in your mind, like me... Ha ha

*****************

Tomorrow will be my graduation ceremony. A 6 months' hardwork & $5,000, luckily, did not go to waste. Well, can start playing computer games now. You know what, just bought 11, e-l-e-v-e-n games (Walau!!) (all original) from Popular. Very cheap, only S$5 each, really BIG BIG sales. Only have to wait till my wife not at home then I can play, if not sure kena scold for ignoring her.

Maybe let her give birth. With baby, she will be too busy to disturb me already, hee hee.

****

leehom：你是我心内的一首歌
心间开起花一朵
Selina：你是我生命的一首歌
想念汇成一条河
leehom：你在我心内的一首歌
不要只是个过客
Selina：在我生命留下一首歌
(leehom：一首歌)
合：不论结局会如何
好想问你
对我到底有没有动心
沉默太久
Selina：只会让我不小心犯错
(leehom：不小心犯错)
Selina：你在我心内的一首歌
不要只是个过客
leehom：在我生命留下一首歌
不论结局会如何

合：你是我心内的一首歌
心间开起花一朵
你是我生命的一首歌
Selina：想念汇成一条河
leehom：想念汇成一条河
Selina：好想问你
leehom：好想问你
Selina：对我到底有没有动心
leehom：对我到底有没有真心
Selina：沉默太久
leehom：沉默太久
Selina：只会让我不小心犯错
leehom：不小心犯错
合：你在我心内的一首歌
不要只是个过客
在我生命留下一首歌
不问结局会如何

(See, the song starts playing in my mind again...)

Having downloaded all photos and rested enough (but not 100% unpacked all luggage (!)), it's time to write how I spent my 9 days in Taiwan, under the toaster-like temperature and scorching sun... surrounded by 可爱的台湾妹妹

 

7月14号 （阴天）

 

飞行了4个多小时，终于抵达桃源国际机场，我久违了的台湾。接着直奔台北市预订好了的房间 - Taipei Hostel。一间位于善导寺的budget hostel， 很便宜喔，才NT$750/night/double room （加冷气多NT$50）。只是有一点点旧啦。

之前忍着不吃Jetstar贵贵的Singapore food，就只为了要保留给士林夜市传说中令人垂涎的无尽美食。阿忠面线，冬瓜奶茶，葱油饼，炸蜜糖鸡扒，臭豆腐，青蛙下蛋/爱玉冰。。。只恨自己不是冠军大胃王，无法装下那么多食物（只叫一人份，两人吃都 Jia Be Liao)。有些怪怪的猪血糕，卤味之类的只有光瞧的份啦。

 

 

 

简直就该立个牌注明“减肥者止步，否则后果自负"

 

可能适逢夏季，很多地摊都售卖T-shirt, 琳琅满目，两件才NT$300。台湾的女孩又很嗲的叫卖“快来看哟，2件才300喔。。。" 简直就霖死人啦。若当初我来台读书，肯定就死在嗲声嗲气的台湾女孩手里啦。：）

 

就这样度过了第一天晚上，明早要到九份去咯。

 

(Spend a long of time writing in Chinese, but I think the experience in Taiwan should be in Chinese :) )

(This is only the part one, more to come...)

7th July 2007 was a very special day.

It was the day I finally became a "freeman"! Finally completed my course and taken the final exam. Now, I can do other things like playing computer games without guilt. Haha. Can pass? Hope so. The result will come out around 20th Jul. So my plan now is to buy a new computer games (original one lar) and play all night long, ha ha.

It was also the day I became older by (I think) at least 5 years old. cos it is the day I returned the "Student Card" and not longer a "Student" T_T ... Suddenly I am back to 31 years-old. Sigh...

                           

It was the day my friend Wee Keong's wedding in Melaka which I was unable to attend with regret. But my sister attended his church ceremony and sent me the photo.

(The other handsome guy is my sister's bf)

It was an important day cos it was my most beautiful wife's birthday!!! We bought a nice lychee cake from Breadtalk. As she did not want to expose her age, I only get the permission to update the photo of the cake itself. Ha ha. The cake was just nice, not too sweet not to big either for 2 of us.

 

 

 

It was indeed an evenful day for me. How about you?

深深思念一个人的时候，我们不知不觉地活在世界的中心

 

 

 I bought this Japanese movie for about 1 year plus, but still have not watch it. Instead I have read the novel.

It is a sad movie, i suppose, but I like the statement above. 多愁善感，is one of the character of virgo, isn't it. :)

To me, a sad story ending with regret (遗憾) will makes me remember the movie better. 久久不能释怀. For that, I think Japanese movie/series have done a great job.

(but denitely not sad movie like cheap-skate homogenous Korean series style where the main characters are either orphan/cancer/blind/die/related/etc)

I think I have more things to say about Japanese series, but that shall keep that for another days.

Woke up very early this morning at 6am!!! cos need to go to my wife's cousin's wedding.

Ah, a woman's most beautiful moment would be on her wedding day.

 

Then, as usual, the handsome bridegroom and his "brothers" were stopped / "harass" / extorted at the door. (I enjoy being a bystander who can take photo, laugh at the poor men, Ha ha 辛灾乐祸）

One of the task for the groom is to pick 5 diff spot of his body hair i.e. chest, eyebrow, nose, armpit and ... (Youngster these days are really daring)

(oh, the precious hair)

 

Then, in Hokkien custom, a roast pig is a must.

 

 

After the photo session, tea ceremony, big feast (including the roast pig), the morning event ended in happy laughters and filling stomach. Then of course, as a custom, we all rush to buy 4D on the wedding car plate number (hope to strike a small fortune, Ha ha).

(See, I am generous to share with you all the number le)

 

So, let's hope this evening I will be $2000 richer (I only buy $1 big lar).

 

 And not forgetting to wish the newly wed a happy and "productive" life!!

 

Who says Singapore is homogeneous & boring place. Not when some wall art (some call is grafitti) brightens up the pale wall at some back lane at Kreta Ayer (Chinatown)

 

 

I discovered the nicely done robot one day I was travelling back to office after collecting some document from URA. It's was 惊鸿一瞥, that I promised myself that I should explore this area some day.

So at a Saturday afternoon, I decided to go roaming and wondered around the area. And to my surprise, other than the Robot, I also found the following:

 

 

It has been some 6 months since I tool all these photo. So I have no idea if all these nicely done "mural" are still there. Or maybe, now there are more now!

 

To me, so long as it was nicely done, without any provocative /derogatory item, it really brightens up the city. Don't you think so?

After my exam in July, I will be on the scout again to catch more photos around the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My best friend's wedding