5 more days and so the countdown continues. If you happen to read this, Jos, it's natural to feel disappointed. But you know I believe in you. Cheer up!

Last night I had Simian, who's back from Cornell at my place and we set up a Dota Lan battle, with my cousin Qingyang at the 21st Floor and it was 'pawning' fun, although I think I m still quite lousy.

I've been reading up the travel guides and Lonely Planet Australia and there are so many interesting things to see and do in Melbourne, I am looking forward to the 18th. Right now most of all, I want to see the Penguin Parade at Phillips Island.

I was at the Singapore Art Museum yesterday, where Liz is serving out a 3 mth sentence or more accurately, internship. It's so good to see her after such a long time. It's like the first time we met, she was contemplating quitting her post on the arts camp committee, this time we stood outside the courtyard near Venezia while she complained to me for about one hour about her job, whether to resign, and how stifling this measly island is. I wanted to tell her let's take a seat down inside and I'll buy you an ice cream, because my legs started to tire after about 45 mins, but I remembered I only had 4 dollars left after lunch with Simian, and I didn't want to interrupt her, her petulance is just so amusing.

长大太慢老得太快
等得太久
结果太难猜

The song for chronophobics. If you pay attention to the lyrics, you will get what I mean. The concert's this saturday! I am excited but at the same time I worry it will all be over too fast.

飞过那片茫茫人海
下个路口直走或转弯?

After Sungei Buloh, I decided to ride around and explore the countryside. I followed the main trunk road till the end, where it gave way abruptly to a ramshackle wooden jetty.


I came upon some children who had caught a poor little seahorse. They were playing around with it taking it out of the pail and putting it back in again. I overheard their dad telling them that he would put it in the ice box later. If not for the presence of their dad, I think i would have told them off and made them release it into the water. Instead I went over and asked them whether they knew that the seahorse was an endangered species, they didn't seem to understand the meaning of endangered, so I told them and the dad, who didn't understand what endangered means either( I didn't know the mandarin translation), as nice as I could, that the seahorse would not survive if they brought it home and they should release it after they have seen enough of it. The dad must have been quite taken aback by this stranger who had come up to them to demand politely that they release what they must have considered to be a lucky catch. So he muttered ok ok we will let it go later. I sure hope they did.

Next up, I went for some Goat's milk. There were some really cute baby goats in the farm. I was reminded of my friend Yang Weikang. The chocolate milk was quite bitter. I hear the plain milk is better.

I sat at the main bridge over the river at Sungei Buloh today, enjoying the soft caressing breeze, I peered through my binoculars at the little heron fishing in the water; the playful sandpipers skipping around the mudflats. I look out at the litter strewn along the mangrove mudflats, and I feel distressed, our earth is sick and we need to drastically change our habits and lifestyles (its impossible not to sound hypocritical as i say this) before it is too late. We need to learn to respect and appreciate nature and pass this on to our children, if we fail to do so, then we are well and truly lost.

Was supposed to go for a tag along session with an experienced guide at Sungei Buloh this morning at 930am, but I woke up late >_< ... at 915am. Even if I had a Porsche I would not have been able to get there on time. So I continued the decorations on my clothes cupboard. This is how it stands now.



Think I will make a trip down after all on my own before going for soccer. I miss the fresh air.

Lazy saturday at home with Rachael Yamagata on the iPod. I keep putting back going out of the house. I need to go read up Lonely Planet Australia in the library.


I was hanging out at Abel's place last night; I had gone there to borrow Photoshop CS3. We started talking about movies and I couldn't stop gushing over Wong Kar Wai's movies. 2046 and in the mood for love. They are just so beautifully shot. You have got to watch both in order to piece together the story. When you do, it will be immensely satisfying. Tony Leung is probably my favorite Asian actor.

Finally after 2 days of installing, uninstalling, reinstalling, yanking out and connecting cables, feverishly searching around for solutions to the various unexpected problems, my computer is finally back up. I never imagined that reformatting my computer to make way for a new hard-disk and a new RAM chip would be so frustrating and require so much work. Halfway through I accidentally formatted the portable hard-disk containing all my photos, in order to recover the data from the formatted harddisk(yes you can do that ~ the wonders of technology), I had to shell out USD 65 to for a data recovery software online, costly mistake but the photos represent good memories and you can't put a price on that. Perhaps I can recoup some of the money by offering my data recovery services on Yahoo Auctions ha. I still need to borrow a copy of Photoshop, I can't find my CD!

Caught Priceless with Wanxin yesterday(We had dinner at Ikea with Uncle Terry after that) . A delightful romantic comedy starring the very lovely Audrey Tatou(Amelie). "I'd like to, I'd love to..."

Where do little kittens go when it rains? Far bigger issues in the world but that is what I have been preoccupied with. I sidestep puddles as I make my way through the hidden park above the city looking under the benches and into the bushes. I listen for mewing amidst the shrill whistle of crickets in the background. There is none, otherwise too far and too soft to make out. I come to the pond with the large but sad looking lilies, like old childless widows gathered together in this forgotten corner. A tortoise peeks out of the murky brown water. "Have you seen my cat?" No reply. Mr tortoise disappears underwater with a shrug.

On monday I played with a friendly little white tiger kitten which had appeared seemingly from nowhere. I had come back to the carpark from the travel agent's to find the fearless little tyke sharpening its claws against the back tyre of my bike. With orange eyes, snow white fur and faded grey stripes, it really looked like a miniature white tiger. I was surprised that the little fella did not run off as I approached, instead, it bounded towards me. I bent to pat its head and scratched around its ears. It turned on its back to allow me to scratch under its belly. I played with it by swinging the strap of my bag. I was aware of my parents' objection to cats and dogs after Candy, but it felt like fate. There was no way for me to bring it home though, because while I was able to fit the little fella into my bike, the rumble of the engine frightened it so and I wasn't willing to take the risk that it might jump out while I was on the highway. I would have to come back again.

But playful little kittens don't stay put.

It's summer time and here's the quintessential summer song!



I first heard Mayday do a live version of this song together with the original singers, tuo la ku on their 你要去哪裡 concert cd. I really do hope they will do a cover version of this song on their next album, or maybe just do another live version at their concert in June. June 2nd! Coming soon. Are you excited already?

After playing with the filters in photoshop.

Sunday was a burning cloudless day, and I'm now a darker shade of brown. I think I must have missed a spot somewhere while applying the sunblock because the area above my nose bridge is now tight and sore and will surely start peeling in the next day or two.

On the way to Geylang Stadium from Kranji yesterday, I stopped over at Esso to top up petrol. "Pump 6." I told the cashier, a malay girl in her 20s who obviously had some knowledge of motorbikes(imperfect though:) "The Ducati?" She asked to confirm. "Nice bike."
I didn't know what to say, it would have been too much of a hassle for me to correct her so i just smiled. Then when she saw that I did not have a Smiles card, she said she will help me apply for one because a big bike like mine will enjoy a considerable discount with the card. Ha She was mistaken but it made me feel happy. Haha my 'Ducati.'

At first glance, they do look alike, but take a closer look and you will realise they are very different, although they are both Italianand very well-designed. I got my air-ticket today but Yasa just called me. I might have to change some of my plans, but that's part of the excitement of travelling isn't it.

Uncle Ed and I, we are both sick after watching Didier Drogba land Chelski the FA Cup title with his injury time goal. Yucksss. And there's still some of that feeling left over this morning, I can't bear to read the Sunday Times. It's a horrible feeling especially after Man Utd had been the better side for most of the game. I thought after winning the League, it wouldn't matter even if we let Chelski have the FA Cup, but I was wrong. The picture of John Terry lifting the Cup at Wembley. Yucksss!!! If only Wayne Rooney's 100 metre burst had taken him past just one more player, that would have made the headlines and we would be jumping happily. But it was not to be and after I dropped Ed off at Lot 1 at 1:30am, it was a long depressing drive back home. I am feeling so lazy this morning but I have to be out of the house soon, a long day ahead with a game to referee at St Wilfreds, (in fact Guoyong had called me at 6am to urge me to go down for referee's training, I can;t remember what I said to him before I went back to sleep) and then to JB to play for Singapore Chinese and then if I have energy left down to Geylang for Katong's NFL game. All I want is to jump back into bed, soft pillow and soft music. Sigh.


Before the game we sent Jos off at the airport, I like her top. What do you think?


See you in Brisbane!

Happy Birthday Jos

The other day I was at Raffles City with Gwen watching Julian Beever paint. Amazing ain't it?
Also, Gen Xers check this out.

Was clearing out the photos in the minox digital 'lomo' when I came upon this shot, taken outside the old Straits records at Haji Lane.

We woke up to a dreary Monday, the gloomy sky a portend of rain.

So we decided to head North in search of blue skies.

We found it and more, 200 kilometres later.

In a quaint little town full of history.

where Chicken Rice comes in balls


We played wiith swords, pistols and we ate mangosteens and chendol(slowly)


We fell in love with Malacca, a lovely sunset to send us off.

I watched a movie alone in the a cinema for the first time today, in JB. Spiderman 3. It was cheap, 11 Ringgit which comes down to about $5 Sing. The cinema wasn't shabby, it was relatively new with good seats and good sound, and I'd say no difference if you don't mind the subtitles in Malay. I had wanted to catch it since last week but it was always sold out in Singapore. So after the soccer game today, I decided to check out the cinema at City Square. The theatre was only half-filled, probably owing to the widespread availability of cheap DVDs all around JB. The shutters have come off in most places after Lucky and Flo the 2 sniffer dogs left for home.

In a movie, viewers are expected to suspend their disbelief. If you are able to do that, then you will probably find the movie entertaining, with it's excellent CGI and if you are a comic book fan, just watching the characters(Venom!) come to life on the big screen is a cool enough experience. But if you are looking for more than popcorn entertainment then you will probably be disappointed. It's a cheesy movie, full of loopholes and corny moments. I mean, after all that has happened, the butler suddenly decides to tell Harry the truth? Sandman apologizing at the end, after helping Venom kick up a whole ruckus of mayhem and destruction just takes the cake. And if you notice, Spidey never bleeds, not once in the whole movie despite being swung around and smashed into walls and they might as well be having a pillow fight because the punches never leave bruises, nope not even a black eye, all you see is Spidey's costume getting shredded. Ok maybe this is supposed to be a kid-friendly movie without blood and gore, so suspend you disbelief.

Well for $5 I shouldn't be complaining that much.

We turned left at the junction after Yishun Dam, going along the reservoir before entering the highway. With a firecracker burst, Terence sped off like a bullet into the night. I dropped a gear to try and catch up, but it got too cold and I had to slow down. Somewhat recklessly, it was possible because there were very few cars at this hour, I switched my backpack over to the front to act as a wind-shield. In order to do that I had to take both hands off the handlebar of the bike, but I was confident that there would be no wobbling. I have come to appreciate the superior handling of an italian bike, some SP riders may be cynical, but really you can't compare a bike assembled in Thailand with fine Italian engineering. You choose an SP or a Phantom out of pragmatism, but you choose a Planet because you fall in love with it.

Going past Bishan, the spotlights from the Mrt depot draws my attention. I slow down for a moment, the new brakes from JB bite firmly and silently.I guess I will always feel that jolt of memory, bitter-sweet everytime I am in the vicinity. I feel my handphone vibrate, it's Jos saying goodnight. I slot my phone back into my pocket and then I pull down my visor and drop 2 gears.

"When the Saint's go marching in." I was woken by a jolly, playful rendition of this tune, which would not have sounded out of place in a fun-fair, but it was played out by the marching funeral band. I remember when i was younger, in primary school how I would run to the balcony whenever it happened to watch the mini parade along the carpark , the marching band in colourful costumes, the van carrying the coffin, and the mourners in procession behind, sometimes there would be priests tossing joss paper. What a way to go.

Finished watching Protege last night. Excellent film. A dark, gritty expose of the drug trade in Asia. A movie about choices really. I like the ending, - just as Daniel Wu is about to inject himself with heroin in his desire to experience what addicts feel, his adopted daughter, a cute little girl comes in, takes the syringe from him and dumps it in the dustbin.
Don't start.

And how did I fill today? By going into JB with Nicole Ong Bak to buy DVDs, in a Peugeot 307 Convertible !! Paris Je' Taime, Letters from Iwo Jima, 300, Protege.

Dinner with the teachers Tweety and liling, yesterday at Fish & co glasshouse, ok there were other non-teachers as well but the conversation centred around teaching stories, some were quite hilarious especially Liling's, I think partly because I have just sent in my application and I was inspired by them to make a difference! Haha. Nelly came back from Japan with a Graniph T-shirt for me :) my first pink t-shirt ! and add that to Shinyee's, she came back last week, I have now got 2 more graniph t-shirts, I just love their designs, anyone else going Japan soon?


In the morning i went with Abel to Motorworld where I got myself a new Venom Helmet in line with the Spiderman craze going on and after that we had Egyptian food. I need to stop spending money with Australia on the horizon, at least until I get a new job.



Nerine flew off to Europe last night, lucky girl but she promised to write me and Wanxin. We didn't go down to send her off because Ong Bak was feeling piggish and lazy and I was too keen to listen to teaching stories at Fish & Co, but she will be back in a month's time safe. Nerine if you read this from some seedy Internet Cafe in Eastern Europe, Have alot of fun and take too many photos!!

I am feeling so free now, I just love this freedom, you will know once you start work how wonderful it is, to have weeks of empty days to feel in. What should I do today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow? Ha the fun's in finding out.

I will take the muffin helmet. Trust me and hold tight. A first freezing ride through the wide empty roads of Mandai, and then the short walk from the carpark to doorstep, takes on a romantic hue. Let's take it slow so this doesn't fall all to pieces like those before.

It's become very clear what she wants, to cut all ties. She doesn't even want to show up in your contact list. And if at first I was puzzled at why she should suddenly decide to move, I think now, maybe I know why. It's sad, I wish it wasn't so but everyone is entitled to their own choices, so I guess it's.... so long, so long.

This one's for you.

After a beautiful sunrise, we went for breakfast at old airport rd, amazed that it was still only 830am. With a whole day saturday still ahead, I went back home, bathed and somehow fell back into bed, only waking up at 3pm. After some bumming around involving music, msn and rolling on the bed, i finally left the house at 6pm to meet Guowen(Gwen) at Sim Lim. RAM prices have fallen like mad! Just need to check whether my system uses DDR2 RAM. With a RAM upgrade I should be able to play C&C 3. Gwen got his 160 gig harddisk and we went for dinner at Everest and then went to Prince of Wales backpacker's inn, to catch the Man Utd game and Ronaldo sealing the 3 points converting the penalty he won, bamboozling the thuggish Michael Ball with his stepovers. We left at half-time, walking through the bustling backlanes of Serangoon Road, which must look almost like Calcutta, back to my bike so that we could get to Blujazz for KenC's birthday gathering. I had a bottle of Hoegaarden which lasted me through the night and surprisingly I didnt even get red, I must be improving. Rocky brought his girlfriend Eleanor and she's really pretty with big eyes straight out of a japanese anime, but she was also very shy and kept quiet the whole time. And David came with a black face at first as usual, Shinyee helpless to that, but after I sat on his lap making everyone laugh, he gradually warmed up. And I must say, KenC and Sandy 4 years and going strong, I really hope they will make it and live happily ever after and one day, we can go to their place for dinner and PS4 after that ha. And Liangting and Sabrina are happy too, so I guess that leaves me and Gwen. BluJazz. We had a wonderful evening - wonderful company. Pity I didn't bring a camera.

sunrise1, originally uploaded by wxlimwx.

早晨

mr Brightside @ work >_<>
so many friends from so many parts of the world to visit!
mr Brightside @ work >_<>
hahaha
tsubasa - the last month in Victoria.......... time flies....... says:
yeah man
tsubasa - the last month in Victoria.......... time flies....... says:
i love it!!

That was my conversation with Tsubasa, my japanese friend in Canada about travelling, which is kind of a sidetrack since I am supposed to be writing about Tao Ze and how he is just the king of 'mood" songs, don't really know if there's a proper name for them, but you know the type of songs which you find moderately good, but you stop listening to after awhile, and then one day in a certain setting, a certain mood, you hear the tune playing, most of the time it happens in the background and you go, " omg that's lovely!"

That was yesterday. I had come out of the NFL meeting at FAS and was heading towards my bike when I was stopped dead in my tracks by the music piping through the overhead speakers of the eating place below Jalan Besar Stadium. Tao Ze's Tian Tian - so achingly nostalgic and lovely. I went home and got out all my Tao Ze CDs and it was his duet with Jolin this time, which got me remembering the night at Punggol Beach; two kindred souls drawing pictures in the sand, accompanied by music from the speakers of a blinking hand phone.

(I just love Jolin speaking in English haa)

This morning, on the way to work, peering through a windscreen decorated by rain droplets, it was Tao Ze's Melody, the perfect splash of regret amidst the damp gloominess and looming dark clouds.

Maradona.. The best goal.
Uploaded by millonario

Maradona 1986

But splendide de Lionel Messi
Uploaded by Kal57

Messi 2007. Shades of Maradona. With him in their team, Barca can sell ronaldinho and still not be too worried.

Something I can't wait to go home and try out. The blur-flash technique for photography. This technique combines a slow shutter speed (1/15 second or less), panning to follow the motion of your subject, and a short burst of fill flash added during the middle of your exposure. The result will freeze the action of your subject on a blurred background of color and motion.

A remark from Jos that perhaps I had been mean. I thought I had managed to put those contemplations aside when I switched off the lights and jumped into bed last night. In a sensible little line that was almost like an epiphany, Wanxin seemed to have convinced me to set it aside, only for the thoughts to resurface this morning. Perhaps I have been too blunt, but there is no help for it, or is there?

Nevertheless, it has been a lovely weekend, with mother nature and rollercoasters and rickety bicycle rides. Sungei Buloh is a beautiful place, a real treasure and I am falling in love with it. I used to feel embarrassed about being green, it didn't seem cool to be a nature lover. But I don't care now if people think I am weird because this is something I believe in.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

My last week at work here. 3 months up in a flash. Think I will go out of the country for awhile before I ponder what's next.