Mt Yandang Shooting Star
Was at Mt Yandang at night to view the wonderous night scenes. The light from the stars and moon (there was no moon the night we visited) illuminated the mountains and at different angles, the silhouettes resemble different things. It was interesting, but not as interesting as seeing a sky dotted with more stars than the eye can handle.
And then one of them whizzed past and dived into the horizon.
It was a shooting star!
Quickly made a wish. When you wish upon a star...
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Wuxi
Wuxi
According to a website, Wuxi is "Crowned with the name of 'Little Shanghai'" and "is one of the origins of Chinese national industry. The open reform has witnessed its dramatic economic development and made the city a glittering economic star in the coastal areas. The fascinating landscape, first-calss investment climate and best financial refund have turned Wuxi into a hotbed for foreign investors."
If you ask me, Wuxi is nothing like Shanghai. Ok, in terms of rude people and ethics, maybe. But culturally and economically, I doubt so. But I'm saying this from an outsider's view. Let me share with you what Wuxi is like in my eyes.
1. Wuxi residents are rude and arrogant. Our driver, being more of a speedster than a sign reader (like me), occasionally loses his way. This is quite common as you go on two-to-go trips like mine. Drivers are assigned to travellers regardless of their knowledge of the roads and terrains. So, poor Mr Wang made a wrong turn at the toll gate exit and instead of telling him how to get to the right place, the toll fee collector simply waved him away. When Mr Wang persisted in seeking directions, the irate fellow simply barked, "Can't you read the signs above? Go! Turn right."
"Yeah, right!" I thought. Another feature of such small tours is the absence of a full-tour guide, the additional pair of eyes for the driver. The full-tour guide follows the group for the entire trip and is often quite familiar with the common routes. They also communicate with the drivers and sometimes lead the way. Often, the drivers are plucked from nowhere and asked to drive a group of tourists around the places based on some itinerary. If there are many places where the driver is unfamiliar with, good luck to all of you.
So we turned right and the road seemed to lead to nowhere. We had to stop by the roadside to ask another rude fellow, only to be told to "follow the road". So we did. And we paid another round of toll to make the U-turn.
Small wonder the car in front of us before we got into this trouble actually reversed from the toll gates to change to the correct lane. We should have done the same.
The speed of change in China has changed the landscape faster than expected. Two months off the road and everything would have changed.
2. Wuxi people are money grabbers. They build the Lingshan Big Buddha on the hill and while trying to build the large broze statue, built many small replicas along the way. And now, for an auspicuous sum of CNY 88 888, you can bring home one of the small buddha statues to your home or office.
They even have instalment plans to help you pay for them. And they also show your name on the outer walls of the temple so that everyone knows you have paid for a statue. Don't ask me where the money goes, but I am rather disgusted when faith can be measured in monetary terms.
3. Wuxi people think they know a lot. God! Even as you point out the inconsistencies in their explanations and share with them why such gaps appear, they still do not think that they need to rework their information. How arrogant.
4. Wuxi food is poor - for a place that wishes to be "Little Shanghai", the food needs improvement. Of course, while food in Shanghai is not exactly good, there are good tasting, cheap fare along the streets. We would have done well to forget about meals in Shanghai and take care of them on our own. But hindsight is 20-20.
5. Wuxi is a dustbowl. Enough said.
Wuxi means no tin. In the past, they were called, youxi, which means full of tin. The place has its tin resources largely mined away. But little does one expect that their good sense and upbringing were lost in the process as well.
According to a website, Wuxi is "Crowned with the name of 'Little Shanghai'" and "is one of the origins of Chinese national industry. The open reform has witnessed its dramatic economic development and made the city a glittering economic star in the coastal areas. The fascinating landscape, first-calss investment climate and best financial refund have turned Wuxi into a hotbed for foreign investors."
If you ask me, Wuxi is nothing like Shanghai. Ok, in terms of rude people and ethics, maybe. But culturally and economically, I doubt so. But I'm saying this from an outsider's view. Let me share with you what Wuxi is like in my eyes.
1. Wuxi residents are rude and arrogant. Our driver, being more of a speedster than a sign reader (like me), occasionally loses his way. This is quite common as you go on two-to-go trips like mine. Drivers are assigned to travellers regardless of their knowledge of the roads and terrains. So, poor Mr Wang made a wrong turn at the toll gate exit and instead of telling him how to get to the right place, the toll fee collector simply waved him away. When Mr Wang persisted in seeking directions, the irate fellow simply barked, "Can't you read the signs above? Go! Turn right."
"Yeah, right!" I thought. Another feature of such small tours is the absence of a full-tour guide, the additional pair of eyes for the driver. The full-tour guide follows the group for the entire trip and is often quite familiar with the common routes. They also communicate with the drivers and sometimes lead the way. Often, the drivers are plucked from nowhere and asked to drive a group of tourists around the places based on some itinerary. If there are many places where the driver is unfamiliar with, good luck to all of you.
So we turned right and the road seemed to lead to nowhere. We had to stop by the roadside to ask another rude fellow, only to be told to "follow the road". So we did. And we paid another round of toll to make the U-turn.
Small wonder the car in front of us before we got into this trouble actually reversed from the toll gates to change to the correct lane. We should have done the same.
The speed of change in China has changed the landscape faster than expected. Two months off the road and everything would have changed.
2. Wuxi people are money grabbers. They build the Lingshan Big Buddha on the hill and while trying to build the large broze statue, built many small replicas along the way. And now, for an auspicuous sum of CNY 88 888, you can bring home one of the small buddha statues to your home or office.
They even have instalment plans to help you pay for them. And they also show your name on the outer walls of the temple so that everyone knows you have paid for a statue. Don't ask me where the money goes, but I am rather disgusted when faith can be measured in monetary terms.
3. Wuxi people think they know a lot. God! Even as you point out the inconsistencies in their explanations and share with them why such gaps appear, they still do not think that they need to rework their information. How arrogant.
4. Wuxi food is poor - for a place that wishes to be "Little Shanghai", the food needs improvement. Of course, while food in Shanghai is not exactly good, there are good tasting, cheap fare along the streets. We would have done well to forget about meals in Shanghai and take care of them on our own. But hindsight is 20-20.
5. Wuxi is a dustbowl. Enough said.
Wuxi means no tin. In the past, they were called, youxi, which means full of tin. The place has its tin resources largely mined away. But little does one expect that their good sense and upbringing were lost in the process as well.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Shanghai Showdown!
Shanghai Showdown!
I am jumping the gun a little as I write this. But I simply had to get it off my chest. So, let me bring you through my last dinner in Shanghai.
We entered the restaurant and were each served a small cup of tea. You know, those chinese tea cups which probably hold a gulp and a half? Yes, those cups. And all throughout the meal, I sipped the tea even though I saw a teapot right by my side.
This is rather uncharacteristically me, as I would often go through many cups of tea at a meal. I like my Chinese tea and I do drink a lot of tea - I can name most Chinese teas by smell and taste. Unless you try something out of this world that I am not acquainted with, then I will not know. Otherwise, I have rather developed tastebuds (and that probably explains my big size).
Another reason for not partaking in more tea was the fact that my travelling companion and I had just shared between us a bowl of pork ball soup, a bowl of vegetables and pork dumplings, and steamed pork dumplings (with soup wrapped inside the dumpling - the locals call this xiao long bao). So I was not that thirsty.
End of dinner, I wanted to have more tea to clean off the slightly numbing salty taste in my mouth. A fresh mouth is important, especially so as we were flying back to Singapore that same night.
So I took up the tea pot and immediately I placed it down. It was E M P T Y!
Heck, the waiters left an E M P T Y teapot on my table. My companion came back and I took the pot, decanted it and out came some leftover drops of washing water.
He asked, "You drank all?"
I replied, "Check this out." I flipped the cover open and he opened his eyes wide and stared at the pot.
I called the waitress nearby and asked, "Why is this teapot empty? Where is my tea?"
The waitress replied, "You want tea?"
Me, "No, I am asking why is the teapot empty, and why did you place an empty teapot on my table?"
Waitress, "I can remove the teapot."
Me, "That's not the point. Where is my tea? Why is the teapot empty?"
Waitress, "If you don't like, we can remove the teapot."
Me, "Then why not remove your head? Why place your head on your neck when it's empty?"
With that, we walked out.
Shanghai? Forget it. Poor service, pathetic wannabe people, exorbitant prices, a characterless mish mash of cities like London, Edinburgh, Paris, Bangkok, KL, etc put together.
Gone are the glory days.
And I might add, rightly so!
I am jumping the gun a little as I write this. But I simply had to get it off my chest. So, let me bring you through my last dinner in Shanghai.
We entered the restaurant and were each served a small cup of tea. You know, those chinese tea cups which probably hold a gulp and a half? Yes, those cups. And all throughout the meal, I sipped the tea even though I saw a teapot right by my side.
This is rather uncharacteristically me, as I would often go through many cups of tea at a meal. I like my Chinese tea and I do drink a lot of tea - I can name most Chinese teas by smell and taste. Unless you try something out of this world that I am not acquainted with, then I will not know. Otherwise, I have rather developed tastebuds (and that probably explains my big size).
Another reason for not partaking in more tea was the fact that my travelling companion and I had just shared between us a bowl of pork ball soup, a bowl of vegetables and pork dumplings, and steamed pork dumplings (with soup wrapped inside the dumpling - the locals call this xiao long bao). So I was not that thirsty.
End of dinner, I wanted to have more tea to clean off the slightly numbing salty taste in my mouth. A fresh mouth is important, especially so as we were flying back to Singapore that same night.
So I took up the tea pot and immediately I placed it down. It was E M P T Y!
Heck, the waiters left an E M P T Y teapot on my table. My companion came back and I took the pot, decanted it and out came some leftover drops of washing water.
He asked, "You drank all?"
I replied, "Check this out." I flipped the cover open and he opened his eyes wide and stared at the pot.
I called the waitress nearby and asked, "Why is this teapot empty? Where is my tea?"
The waitress replied, "You want tea?"
Me, "No, I am asking why is the teapot empty, and why did you place an empty teapot on my table?"
Waitress, "I can remove the teapot."
Me, "That's not the point. Where is my tea? Why is the teapot empty?"
Waitress, "If you don't like, we can remove the teapot."
Me, "Then why not remove your head? Why place your head on your neck when it's empty?"
With that, we walked out.
Shanghai? Forget it. Poor service, pathetic wannabe people, exorbitant prices, a characterless mish mash of cities like London, Edinburgh, Paris, Bangkok, KL, etc put together.
Gone are the glory days.
And I might add, rightly so!
Shanghainese Ethics
Shanghainese Ethics
1. Enter a food outlet and ask for recommendations. The waitress will promote the most expensive dish on the menu. WITHOUT FAIL.
2. Order something like dumplings and they will immediately log in the most expensive dish containing the words dumplings and bill you for it.
3. Christmas Eve meals at restaurants are all set-meals and if you don't eat something on the menu (e.g. main course), there are no replacements or alternatives. Take it or leave it.
4. The bottle of free wine that comes with every two set meals ordered will not arrive unless you ask for it.
5. Bitch 1 will snatch the taxi hailed by Bitch 2 and the two bitch gangs will fight over the taxi and the taxi driver will watch while waiting for them to settle the fight.
6. They build many doors in a building but because the weather is cold, they will only leave the main door unlocked (thereby freezing all of you to death outside the building).
7. They will place a lock on the toilet cubicle door and spoil the hatch so you cannot pee or shit in peace. (The Chinese have this ridiculous habit of crashing into locked doors just to check if it is really locked. Stupidity extraordinaire!)
8. They will build sinks with hot and cold water taps and dispense freezing water from one and freezing water from the other.
9. They will sell you fish food even though there are only that few fishes and the entire water surface is already semi covered by unconsumed fish food.
10. Tourists are like one-night-standers. No need to treat them well. They'll go off and forget anyway.
1. Enter a food outlet and ask for recommendations. The waitress will promote the most expensive dish on the menu. WITHOUT FAIL.
2. Order something like dumplings and they will immediately log in the most expensive dish containing the words dumplings and bill you for it.
3. Christmas Eve meals at restaurants are all set-meals and if you don't eat something on the menu (e.g. main course), there are no replacements or alternatives. Take it or leave it.
4. The bottle of free wine that comes with every two set meals ordered will not arrive unless you ask for it.
5. Bitch 1 will snatch the taxi hailed by Bitch 2 and the two bitch gangs will fight over the taxi and the taxi driver will watch while waiting for them to settle the fight.
6. They build many doors in a building but because the weather is cold, they will only leave the main door unlocked (thereby freezing all of you to death outside the building).
7. They will place a lock on the toilet cubicle door and spoil the hatch so you cannot pee or shit in peace. (The Chinese have this ridiculous habit of crashing into locked doors just to check if it is really locked. Stupidity extraordinaire!)
8. They will build sinks with hot and cold water taps and dispense freezing water from one and freezing water from the other.
9. They will sell you fish food even though there are only that few fishes and the entire water surface is already semi covered by unconsumed fish food.
10. Tourists are like one-night-standers. No need to treat them well. They'll go off and forget anyway.
VVIPs
VVIPs
Visiting China during the lull season on a specially arranged itinerary is great.
At many places, there were about 3 people visiting - my companion, our tour guide and I.
We felt so honoured. It is as though that the scenic spot was open specially for us.
It felt great!
Visiting China during the lull season on a specially arranged itinerary is great.
At many places, there were about 3 people visiting - my companion, our tour guide and I.
We felt so honoured. It is as though that the scenic spot was open specially for us.
It felt great!
16 Dec - At Nanjing Airport
16 Dec - At Nanjing Airport
The long, dimly lit corridors that led to the immigration counters got progressively cooler as we walked. The windy conditions made the ambient 7 deg C seem a little colder than that. My windbreaker went on and it was quite enough.
The first stop we cleared was the health screening. The avian flu scourge has made the Chinese authorities require all arriving and departing passengers to be screened for body temperature. We handed over the health clearance forms and walked towards the immigration counters.
Nanjing surprised me for their flexibility - the diplomatic lane officer actually called visitors in other queues over for clearance because his lane was free! This departure from the usual bureaucracy was refreshing. Looking back, it is quite expected too - after all, Nanjing was capital of China for six dynasties and 10 emperor reigns (correct me if I had understood this incorrectly). Nanjing is indeed ahead of its peers in other parts of China.
Clearing immigration was easy enough. Singapore visitors no longer require a visa and once the immigration officers are satisfied that everything is in order, s/he stamps on the passport and it's off to passport collection.
At each belt, there are two outlets where the luggage come out from the runway into the building. At our belt, only the left outlet was in use. Why? I do not know. The first luggage arrived promptly enough, and then we waited.
Waited.
Waited.
Waited.
You get the drift. Yes, by the time the next bag came out, we were already wondering if our bags had been misplaced.
During this long wait, a quarantine officer walked around the passengers with a dog that pawed at bags, sniffed them, and if it smelt food, tries to pry the bag open. A caucasian was asked to "surrender" his private cache of premium cheese, caviar, beetroot paste and other savoury items to the QO. Quite a sight to see this poor guy take out pack after pack of frozen food stuff, only to hear the surrounding passengers gasp in mock horror (hey, I would be heartbroken if I had to give those up, since I already know that food in China is likely to be major disappointments!).
Anyhow, the food packages came back and the guy was allowed to bring all the food in, with possibly a warning not to do it again the next time.
And then more people got asked to open the bags because doggie was super duper hyper active that morning. I think it was so starved that any food scent at all would have lured it to the bag.
Thankfully, our luggage finally appeared after a good 30 minutes. We cleared the customs and walked out. The weather was sunny and there was a cold breeze.
The long, dimly lit corridors that led to the immigration counters got progressively cooler as we walked. The windy conditions made the ambient 7 deg C seem a little colder than that. My windbreaker went on and it was quite enough.
The first stop we cleared was the health screening. The avian flu scourge has made the Chinese authorities require all arriving and departing passengers to be screened for body temperature. We handed over the health clearance forms and walked towards the immigration counters.
Nanjing surprised me for their flexibility - the diplomatic lane officer actually called visitors in other queues over for clearance because his lane was free! This departure from the usual bureaucracy was refreshing. Looking back, it is quite expected too - after all, Nanjing was capital of China for six dynasties and 10 emperor reigns (correct me if I had understood this incorrectly). Nanjing is indeed ahead of its peers in other parts of China.
Clearing immigration was easy enough. Singapore visitors no longer require a visa and once the immigration officers are satisfied that everything is in order, s/he stamps on the passport and it's off to passport collection.
At each belt, there are two outlets where the luggage come out from the runway into the building. At our belt, only the left outlet was in use. Why? I do not know. The first luggage arrived promptly enough, and then we waited.
Waited.
Waited.
Waited.
You get the drift. Yes, by the time the next bag came out, we were already wondering if our bags had been misplaced.
During this long wait, a quarantine officer walked around the passengers with a dog that pawed at bags, sniffed them, and if it smelt food, tries to pry the bag open. A caucasian was asked to "surrender" his private cache of premium cheese, caviar, beetroot paste and other savoury items to the QO. Quite a sight to see this poor guy take out pack after pack of frozen food stuff, only to hear the surrounding passengers gasp in mock horror (hey, I would be heartbroken if I had to give those up, since I already know that food in China is likely to be major disappointments!).
Anyhow, the food packages came back and the guy was allowed to bring all the food in, with possibly a warning not to do it again the next time.
And then more people got asked to open the bags because doggie was super duper hyper active that morning. I think it was so starved that any food scent at all would have lured it to the bag.
Thankfully, our luggage finally appeared after a good 30 minutes. We cleared the customs and walked out. The weather was sunny and there was a cold breeze.
16 Dec - Singapore-Nanjing Flight
16 Dec - Singapore-Nanjing Flight
The flight was about half-full when it departed Singapore for Nanjing. We were seated at the first row of the economy class on the starboard side of the plane, with a seat between us. "The flight's not full, so we will give you the entire row (of three seats)." The check-in counter staff told us. She even helped us change our seats from one row back to this front row.
The First and Raffles (Business) classes are empty on this Singapore Airlines flight to Nanjing. The flight attendants promptly drew the curtains and kept the lights of those sections switched off. The rows of economy class seats are occupied at an average head count of 4 to 5 per row of 9 seats.
I guess it is either SQ is really expensive or it is really the lull season for this Jiangnan tour that I'm on. Perhaps both.
The flight was smooth and pretty uneventful, and the absence of wailing babies on the plane was a bonus. In fact, any flight with crying babies is a misery for the passengers. Till now, I still believe that babies ought to be lightly sedated during take-offs and landings. No exception. This way, no one suffers. The parents are relieved of their anguish, the babies of their discomfort, the flight attendants of their worries, and the other passengers of their auditory discomfort.
In so many trips I have taken, there was only ONE instance when this chief stewardess on an SQ flight took over a baby from a fatigued mother and calmed the little one down, quietened him, and lulled him to sleep as the plane prepared for descent. I must say that the airline is blessed to have magical hands like hers and even though she is probably in her 40s, her ability with babies is unmatched. Whoever said that we should only have pretty, YOUNG things on the flight? [I guess no one would take grammatical offence if I had written "pretty young things" as well. Ok, I admit. I was reading "Eats, shoots and leaves".]
So I digressed. But what is a good blog entry without digressions? To digress is to let you into more of my world.
What was available for breakfast (main course) was made known to our noses long before the menu reached us: rice with Chinese sausages and Mushrooms wrapped in lotus leaves. And when the food came out, the main course was indeed wrapped in lotus leaves! I am impressed.
But as glutinous rice gives me indigestion, I opted for the omelette instead. Talk about bad luck! But the sausages that I tried, offered by my travelling companion, tasted good. Hm... I still recall the time when I took the S$128 flight to Bangkok during the heights of the price war between premium and budget airlines and SQ had the audacity to serve fried rice with ketchup! Well, this is a great improvement.
Breakfast went by, drinks came. Service was good: there were enough rounds of drinks to keep any one reasonably hydrated. Then the snacks came. Ha! The puff pastries were cold but thankfully, they tasted good.
Along the way, I was channel surfing KrisWorld. There were so many movies to watch and I ended up watching Wallace and Gromit - I didn't think it would make sense to watch plasticine figures in a cinema and I was right. I browsed through the rest and played some games.
Before long, the plane landed in Nanjing. There was only ONE moment that I complained that the 4h 40min trip was BORING. And it was because I was too overwhelmed with options on KrisWorld and ended up taking a break from the information/entertainment overload. Oh, yes. There were lots of stuff to shop in the air as well. Goodness gracious! A flight these days are so different from just a few months ago. And I guess the airline you choose makes a difference as well.
We disembarked rather quickly into the cold but slightly damp Nanjing Airport.
The flight was about half-full when it departed Singapore for Nanjing. We were seated at the first row of the economy class on the starboard side of the plane, with a seat between us. "The flight's not full, so we will give you the entire row (of three seats)." The check-in counter staff told us. She even helped us change our seats from one row back to this front row.
The First and Raffles (Business) classes are empty on this Singapore Airlines flight to Nanjing. The flight attendants promptly drew the curtains and kept the lights of those sections switched off. The rows of economy class seats are occupied at an average head count of 4 to 5 per row of 9 seats.
I guess it is either SQ is really expensive or it is really the lull season for this Jiangnan tour that I'm on. Perhaps both.
The flight was smooth and pretty uneventful, and the absence of wailing babies on the plane was a bonus. In fact, any flight with crying babies is a misery for the passengers. Till now, I still believe that babies ought to be lightly sedated during take-offs and landings. No exception. This way, no one suffers. The parents are relieved of their anguish, the babies of their discomfort, the flight attendants of their worries, and the other passengers of their auditory discomfort.
In so many trips I have taken, there was only ONE instance when this chief stewardess on an SQ flight took over a baby from a fatigued mother and calmed the little one down, quietened him, and lulled him to sleep as the plane prepared for descent. I must say that the airline is blessed to have magical hands like hers and even though she is probably in her 40s, her ability with babies is unmatched. Whoever said that we should only have pretty, YOUNG things on the flight? [I guess no one would take grammatical offence if I had written "pretty young things" as well. Ok, I admit. I was reading "Eats, shoots and leaves".]
So I digressed. But what is a good blog entry without digressions? To digress is to let you into more of my world.
What was available for breakfast (main course) was made known to our noses long before the menu reached us: rice with Chinese sausages and Mushrooms wrapped in lotus leaves. And when the food came out, the main course was indeed wrapped in lotus leaves! I am impressed.
But as glutinous rice gives me indigestion, I opted for the omelette instead. Talk about bad luck! But the sausages that I tried, offered by my travelling companion, tasted good. Hm... I still recall the time when I took the S$128 flight to Bangkok during the heights of the price war between premium and budget airlines and SQ had the audacity to serve fried rice with ketchup! Well, this is a great improvement.
Breakfast went by, drinks came. Service was good: there were enough rounds of drinks to keep any one reasonably hydrated. Then the snacks came. Ha! The puff pastries were cold but thankfully, they tasted good.
Along the way, I was channel surfing KrisWorld. There were so many movies to watch and I ended up watching Wallace and Gromit - I didn't think it would make sense to watch plasticine figures in a cinema and I was right. I browsed through the rest and played some games.
Before long, the plane landed in Nanjing. There was only ONE moment that I complained that the 4h 40min trip was BORING. And it was because I was too overwhelmed with options on KrisWorld and ended up taking a break from the information/entertainment overload. Oh, yes. There were lots of stuff to shop in the air as well. Goodness gracious! A flight these days are so different from just a few months ago. And I guess the airline you choose makes a difference as well.
We disembarked rather quickly into the cold but slightly damp Nanjing Airport.
Friday, December 16, 2005
At T2 McD
At T2 McD
Wah, didn't know that I can blog at Mc Donald's at Terminal 2. I really quite the mountain tortoise.
Anyway, checked in to the flight already. Will be sitting on the wrong side of the plane. So, we'll have quite some sunshine.
The baggage has grown from 2 to 3. No choice. One piece of winter suit took up almost half the luggage because of its sheer bulk.
Moved out some less important things and well, things got easier and better. And not to mention an additional luggage (for shopping). I am resisting the temptation to shop this time. I'll let you know if I succeed.
We were the 2nd and 3rd passenger to check in this morning. Hm. So the early bird reward is that our luggage is coming out LATE! Well, small price to pay considering the fact that early passengers get to check in a bit more luggage - plane is still quite light mah.
I think we're flying the B777-200. IMHO, it's safer than the B777-300. The 300 series is so long that the plane seems to sag at the ends. Quite scary. Hope there's no wind shear this morning.
Oh yes, some interesting sights this morning: There was this caucasian woman who joined the check in queue and looking at her nipples sticking out of her stretched top, it's not hard to guess what she's wearing underneath. Eh, quite bad taste actually. Should have used some tape of something to hide that thing. Wait some older, "cheeko" people heart attack, how?
Saw these two American guys. One of them was eyeing my travelling companion. Hm...
Oh yes, this morning, the boots that I wanted to wear on the trip gave way. The sole flaked away. Phew! It happened outside my house and not after I have left. That's a good start, and it'll only get better.
Unless I get free blogging opportunities again, here's wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays. T'is the season for giving and be kind to your loved ones. Give the gift of your time. Spend time with them!
Wah, didn't know that I can blog at Mc Donald's at Terminal 2. I really quite the mountain tortoise.
Anyway, checked in to the flight already. Will be sitting on the wrong side of the plane. So, we'll have quite some sunshine.
The baggage has grown from 2 to 3. No choice. One piece of winter suit took up almost half the luggage because of its sheer bulk.
Moved out some less important things and well, things got easier and better. And not to mention an additional luggage (for shopping). I am resisting the temptation to shop this time. I'll let you know if I succeed.
We were the 2nd and 3rd passenger to check in this morning. Hm. So the early bird reward is that our luggage is coming out LATE! Well, small price to pay considering the fact that early passengers get to check in a bit more luggage - plane is still quite light mah.
I think we're flying the B777-200. IMHO, it's safer than the B777-300. The 300 series is so long that the plane seems to sag at the ends. Quite scary. Hope there's no wind shear this morning.
Oh yes, some interesting sights this morning: There was this caucasian woman who joined the check in queue and looking at her nipples sticking out of her stretched top, it's not hard to guess what she's wearing underneath. Eh, quite bad taste actually. Should have used some tape of something to hide that thing. Wait some older, "cheeko" people heart attack, how?
Saw these two American guys. One of them was eyeing my travelling companion. Hm...
Oh yes, this morning, the boots that I wanted to wear on the trip gave way. The sole flaked away. Phew! It happened outside my house and not after I have left. That's a good start, and it'll only get better.
Unless I get free blogging opportunities again, here's wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays. T'is the season for giving and be kind to your loved ones. Give the gift of your time. Spend time with them!
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Watch the thermometer dip
Watch the thermometer dip
I'm getting worried. In just over a week, the average temperatures in China has dipped about 5 degrees. Oh my goodness, I'll be there tomorrow and I wonder if I will have enough to keep warm.
Yeah, yeah, but blubber can only help that much.
Lucky for the heat packs that I'll be bringing. Hope they work fine and I'm looking forward to enjoying every single minute of my trip.
I'm getting worried. In just over a week, the average temperatures in China has dipped about 5 degrees. Oh my goodness, I'll be there tomorrow and I wonder if I will have enough to keep warm.
Yeah, yeah, but blubber can only help that much.
Lucky for the heat packs that I'll be bringing. Hope they work fine and I'm looking forward to enjoying every single minute of my trip.
Moustache
Moustache
A colleague returned to work yesterday after a week's leave. He sported a moustache, which I thought made him look very good. But the guys and gals in the office teased him to no end. It's gone today.
Hm... thought it gave his face a sense of 3-d-ness. Well, to each his own.
A colleague returned to work yesterday after a week's leave. He sported a moustache, which I thought made him look very good. But the guys and gals in the office teased him to no end. It's gone today.
Hm... thought it gave his face a sense of 3-d-ness. Well, to each his own.
Contrary to popular belief
Contrary to popular belief
Yes, contrary to popular belief, despite my big size and seemingly obscure, absent neck, I DO HAVE A NECK.
How else do I feel the neck aches that I am suffering now?!
Yes, contrary to popular belief, despite my big size and seemingly obscure, absent neck, I DO HAVE A NECK.
How else do I feel the neck aches that I am suffering now?!
All in a day's work
All in a day's work
T'was a meeting that has gone on way too long. I was getting edgy and honestly, my patience was being stretched and tested.
I reached the end of my tether when a member remarked, "Sometimes we conduct raids with intelligence."
And I immediately asked, "Other times?"
I swear there was a deafening silence.
T'was a meeting that has gone on way too long. I was getting edgy and honestly, my patience was being stretched and tested.
I reached the end of my tether when a member remarked, "Sometimes we conduct raids with intelligence."
And I immediately asked, "Other times?"
I swear there was a deafening silence.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
So you love my elbow?
So you love my elbow?
It was crowded and we were all trying to get past each other. Remember, getting past someone is not getting someone.
Keep to the side of the passage way. If you try to walk down the centre, then don't be surprised if you knock into someone.
So this bitch came along swaggering down the path in the centre.
I kept to the sides and tried to avoid her.
And yet, she could walk STRAIGHT into my outstretched elbow. Talk about cock-eyed people. Sigh.
Hip hip HOORAY! 1 - 0 to His Royal Highness The Supreme Bitch.
You've got to do something yourself, bitch. Either you steel yourself or you grow some brains. Your opponent, ME, is GREAT!
It was crowded and we were all trying to get past each other. Remember, getting past someone is not getting someone.
Keep to the side of the passage way. If you try to walk down the centre, then don't be surprised if you knock into someone.
So this bitch came along swaggering down the path in the centre.
I kept to the sides and tried to avoid her.
And yet, she could walk STRAIGHT into my outstretched elbow. Talk about cock-eyed people. Sigh.
Hip hip HOORAY! 1 - 0 to His Royal Highness The Supreme Bitch.
You've got to do something yourself, bitch. Either you steel yourself or you grow some brains. Your opponent, ME, is GREAT!
How to buy 3-in-1 Ovaltine?
How to buy 3-in-1 Ovaltine?
aka "I Know What You Did Last Night"
1. In a family of 2 consisting of parents, grandparents, and 2 children, gather at the rack where the 3-in-1 Ovaltine packs are found. Each pack contains about 20 or 30 sachets of the powdered stuff, to which you add hot water to get a hot cuppa malt chocolate drink. (For the uninitiated, Ovaltine is similar to Milo. If you wish, it's the Pepsi of malt chocolate; Coke being Milo. Or the other way around.)
2. Start a deep discussion whether you should buy a pack of it. (A pack costs S$6.10 or about USD 3.60.) Meanwhile, the older girl (about 3 or 4) runs in and out, thankfully quite noiselessly. She knocks into you and brush past you. She squeezes between her parents and snakes in and out of the crowd. Runs up and down the aisle. The younger child, the son, sits quietly in the pram.
3. The grandparents listen to the wife in stoic silence, grandpa occasionally grunts a word or two. Husband is generally quiet. Wife is vocal but very cultured. No loud noises.
4. Quite some ten minutes later, the wife decides that the Ovaltine is ok to buy. Takes one packet and pushes the shopping trolley to the next stop.
5. Grandma starts grumbling to grandpa. Grandpa nonchalantly listens and takes her along, behind wife to the next station.
I lost track after that.
aka "I Know What You Did Last Night"
1. In a family of 2 consisting of parents, grandparents, and 2 children, gather at the rack where the 3-in-1 Ovaltine packs are found. Each pack contains about 20 or 30 sachets of the powdered stuff, to which you add hot water to get a hot cuppa malt chocolate drink. (For the uninitiated, Ovaltine is similar to Milo. If you wish, it's the Pepsi of malt chocolate; Coke being Milo. Or the other way around.)
2. Start a deep discussion whether you should buy a pack of it. (A pack costs S$6.10 or about USD 3.60.) Meanwhile, the older girl (about 3 or 4) runs in and out, thankfully quite noiselessly. She knocks into you and brush past you. She squeezes between her parents and snakes in and out of the crowd. Runs up and down the aisle. The younger child, the son, sits quietly in the pram.
3. The grandparents listen to the wife in stoic silence, grandpa occasionally grunts a word or two. Husband is generally quiet. Wife is vocal but very cultured. No loud noises.
4. Quite some ten minutes later, the wife decides that the Ovaltine is ok to buy. Takes one packet and pushes the shopping trolley to the next stop.
5. Grandma starts grumbling to grandpa. Grandpa nonchalantly listens and takes her along, behind wife to the next station.
I lost track after that.
So much to write, so little time
So much to write, so little time
Wow! One week whizzed by without my realising it. I had told myself time and again that I want to add to this blog. I've got so much to say and write. Alas, I didn't manage to do it.
Part of the reason, or rather, the main reason for not blogging is due to my erratic internet connectivity at home. Being a super duper cheapskate (I reckon I could get away with that better than saying, Having a super duper cheapskate housemate) who insists on tapping on the remnant signals from my neighbours unsecured internet connection, I lose the connection rather easily. The signals are not too strong to start with, having passed through many walls, and so the fear of "write and then lose everything" probably outweighs the desire to write.
Still, getting to write is great. I'll be getting my own broadband internet connection on Boxing Day. I am seriously thinking of going the Mr Brown and Mr Miyagi way of registering for my own domain. But that remains a thought. I wanna get my own house first.
Then, what should I call my domain? www.mrteflon.net? Hm... interesting. No firm ideas yet. Maybe www.mrteflon.xxx. You know, cyber regulators are indeed thinking of the .xxx domain. That'll free me to write a lot more stuff than I usually would. But then...
It's always the "but thens" in life. Especially in Singapore. Everything's too big a risk and every OK is mitigated with a but-then or maybe more. Sense of insecurity? Probably. Arises from the fact that the penalties are too harsh.
I wish I could go on, but then I'm so scared I'll be sued...
Wow! One week whizzed by without my realising it. I had told myself time and again that I want to add to this blog. I've got so much to say and write. Alas, I didn't manage to do it.
Part of the reason, or rather, the main reason for not blogging is due to my erratic internet connectivity at home. Being a super duper cheapskate (I reckon I could get away with that better than saying, Having a super duper cheapskate housemate) who insists on tapping on the remnant signals from my neighbours unsecured internet connection, I lose the connection rather easily. The signals are not too strong to start with, having passed through many walls, and so the fear of "write and then lose everything" probably outweighs the desire to write.
Still, getting to write is great. I'll be getting my own broadband internet connection on Boxing Day. I am seriously thinking of going the Mr Brown and Mr Miyagi way of registering for my own domain. But that remains a thought. I wanna get my own house first.
Then, what should I call my domain? www.mrteflon.net? Hm... interesting. No firm ideas yet. Maybe www.mrteflon.xxx. You know, cyber regulators are indeed thinking of the .xxx domain. That'll free me to write a lot more stuff than I usually would. But then...
It's always the "but thens" in life. Especially in Singapore. Everything's too big a risk and every OK is mitigated with a but-then or maybe more. Sense of insecurity? Probably. Arises from the fact that the penalties are too harsh.
I wish I could go on, but then I'm so scared I'll be sued...
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Why John Rogers Needs Therapy
Why John Rogers Needs Therapy
I just saw this at The Therapy Sessions. I think this is another reason why therapy sessions are that important. Look what what John has written.
Bad Poetry
Pakistan is purging a poem from its school textbooks.
Apparently, the first letter of each line spells out "PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH," and this is causing an uproar in Islamabad.
The people who approve textbooks missed the "error," and the poem is being removed because it was anonymous and copied from the internet.
Copied from the internet. Could there be a better place to find quality poetry to teach the kiddies?
"The official said the concerned wing of the ministry was probing how a number of committees that sift through all textbooks, failed to take notice of the glaring blunder.
According to the paper, the unidentified official also wondered as to why the writer was kept nameless."
I'll take a stab at that mystery: The writer was kept nameless because his work was an embarrassing piece of shit that no student should be allowed to read, much less forced to learn.
Look:
You can think Bush is an evil, chimp retard who is bent on destroying the world.
OR
You can think Bush is a champion of good fighting tyranny.
(Or you can agree with me: Bush is the champion of a lucky retard club - bumbling into the presidency by running against people who are even stupider and more spineless than he is.)
But can we all agree, this poem is really a piece of shit?
The Leader
Patient and steady with all he must bear,
Ready to accept every challenge with care,
Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,
Strong in his faith, refreshingly real,
Isn't afraid to propose what is bold,
Doesn't conform to the usual mold,
Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight wont do,
Never back down when he sees what is true,
Tells it all straight, and means it all too,
Going forward and knowing he's right,
Even when doubted for why he would fight,
Over and over he makes his case clear,
Reaching to touch the ones who won't hear,
Growing in strength, he won't be unnerved,
Ever assuring he'll stand by his word,
Wanting the world to join his firm stand,
Bracing for war, but praying for peace,
Using his power so evil will cease:
So much a leader and worthy of trust,
Here stands a man who will do what he must.
Man, I think I might be sick.
- posted by John @ 12/06/2005 12:45:35 PM
I just saw this at The Therapy Sessions. I think this is another reason why therapy sessions are that important. Look what what John has written.
Bad Poetry
Pakistan is purging a poem from its school textbooks.
Apparently, the first letter of each line spells out "PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH," and this is causing an uproar in Islamabad.
The people who approve textbooks missed the "error," and the poem is being removed because it was anonymous and copied from the internet.
Copied from the internet. Could there be a better place to find quality poetry to teach the kiddies?
"The official said the concerned wing of the ministry was probing how a number of committees that sift through all textbooks, failed to take notice of the glaring blunder.
According to the paper, the unidentified official also wondered as to why the writer was kept nameless."
I'll take a stab at that mystery: The writer was kept nameless because his work was an embarrassing piece of shit that no student should be allowed to read, much less forced to learn.
Look:
You can think Bush is an evil, chimp retard who is bent on destroying the world.
OR
You can think Bush is a champion of good fighting tyranny.
(Or you can agree with me: Bush is the champion of a lucky retard club - bumbling into the presidency by running against people who are even stupider and more spineless than he is.)
But can we all agree, this poem is really a piece of shit?
The Leader
Patient and steady with all he must bear,
Ready to accept every challenge with care,
Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,
Strong in his faith, refreshingly real,
Isn't afraid to propose what is bold,
Doesn't conform to the usual mold,
Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight wont do,
Never back down when he sees what is true,
Tells it all straight, and means it all too,
Going forward and knowing he's right,
Even when doubted for why he would fight,
Over and over he makes his case clear,
Reaching to touch the ones who won't hear,
Growing in strength, he won't be unnerved,
Ever assuring he'll stand by his word,
Wanting the world to join his firm stand,
Bracing for war, but praying for peace,
Using his power so evil will cease:
So much a leader and worthy of trust,
Here stands a man who will do what he must.
Man, I think I might be sick.
- posted by John @ 12/06/2005 12:45:35 PM
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Equal Misery
Equal Misery
Why did the AWOLee Melvyn Tan, who had to give up his Singapore citizenship 30 years ago because he had to choose between his fledging pianist career and his loyalty to Singapore, become the talk of Singapore?
Do you think Singaporeans, when condemning Melvyn's behaviour, are on moral high grounds themselves?
Why do they bemoan the fact that he was only fined $3000? I didn't. His parents coughed out $30 000 a long time ago. Then, that was an exorbitant amount.
Why do they belabour the fact that he did not report for national service? Had he not given up equally much, if not more? He had to live to Britain since 30 years ago and could never step back to Singapore, where his parents are living.
Have we progressed in our talk to becoming a more inclusive society? Hey, we *just* deferred cybergamers so that they could take part in the World Cybergames just a month back! How come we are unable to place the entire issue in retrospection and celebrate the fact that one of our sons is now a world-class pianist?
There are many many questions in the same vein. But it finally boils down to the "an eye for an eye" mentality of Singaporeans. We want all to share EQUAL MISERY.
Simply put, we went through two to two and a half years in the army. Outwardly, our bodies may have been toughened up, but deep inside, only we ourselves know if we have changed mentally. We lost out on opportunities and we devoted the best years of our lives to defending our nation.
To us, $3 000 is a small price. If possible, we would gladly fork out the $3 000 to trade off our NS obligations. What we enjoy as citizens may not be worth the sacrifice...
So, if we lose out, then why should one man gain? But did he really gain? What did he gain?
Why did the AWOLee Melvyn Tan, who had to give up his Singapore citizenship 30 years ago because he had to choose between his fledging pianist career and his loyalty to Singapore, become the talk of Singapore?
Do you think Singaporeans, when condemning Melvyn's behaviour, are on moral high grounds themselves?
Why do they bemoan the fact that he was only fined $3000? I didn't. His parents coughed out $30 000 a long time ago. Then, that was an exorbitant amount.
Why do they belabour the fact that he did not report for national service? Had he not given up equally much, if not more? He had to live to Britain since 30 years ago and could never step back to Singapore, where his parents are living.
Have we progressed in our talk to becoming a more inclusive society? Hey, we *just* deferred cybergamers so that they could take part in the World Cybergames just a month back! How come we are unable to place the entire issue in retrospection and celebrate the fact that one of our sons is now a world-class pianist?
There are many many questions in the same vein. But it finally boils down to the "an eye for an eye" mentality of Singaporeans. We want all to share EQUAL MISERY.
Simply put, we went through two to two and a half years in the army. Outwardly, our bodies may have been toughened up, but deep inside, only we ourselves know if we have changed mentally. We lost out on opportunities and we devoted the best years of our lives to defending our nation.
To us, $3 000 is a small price. If possible, we would gladly fork out the $3 000 to trade off our NS obligations. What we enjoy as citizens may not be worth the sacrifice...
So, if we lose out, then why should one man gain? But did he really gain? What did he gain?
Monday, December 05, 2005
Duh!
Duh!
To think they actually *still* made me answer those questions!
To think they actually *still* made me answer those questions!
| You Passed 8th Grade Math |
 Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct! |
I'm Hungry
I'm Hungry
| Cheese Pizza |
 Traditional and comforting. You focus on living a quality life. You're not easily impressed with novelty. Yet, you easily impress others. |
Me
Me
| You Have a Choleric Temperament |
 You are a person of great enthusiasm - easily excited by many things. Unsatisfied by the ordinary, you are reaching for an epic, extraordinary life. You want the best. The best life. The best love. The best reputation. You posses a sharp and keen intellect. Your mind is your primary weapon. Strong willed, nothing can keep you down. Your energy can break down any wall. You're an instantly passionate person - and this passion gives you an intoxicating power over others. At your worst, you are a narcissist. Full of yourself and even proud of your faults. Stubborn and opinionated, you know what you think is right. End of discussion. A bit of a misanthrope, you often see others as weak, ignorant, and inferior. |
They call you Lady Luck
They call you Lady Luck
| You Are Balanced - Realist - Empowered |
You feel your life is controlled both externally and internally. You have a good sense of what you can control and what you should let go. Depending on the situation, you sometimes try to exert more control. Other times, you accept things for what they are and go with the flow. You are a realist when it comes to luck. You don't attribute everything to luck, but you do know some things are random. You don't beat yourself up when bad things happen to you... But you do your best to try to make your own luck. You have a good deal of power, but you also know the pecking order. You realize that working the system does get you further. You know who to defer to and who to control. When it comes to the game of life, you play things flawlessly. |
That's me!
That's me!
| Your Brain's Pattern |
 Your brain is always looking for the connections in life. You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first. You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker. You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white. |
I knew it all the time...
I knew it all the time...
| Your Blog Should Be Green |
 Your blog is smart and thoughtful - not a lot of fluff. You enjoy a good discussion, especially if it involves picking apart ideas. However, you tend to get easily annoyed by any thoughtless comments in your blog. |
Star Awards 2005
Star Awards 2005
I actually call it the "Red Ape Awards". Homonymous, when pronounced in Mandarin. Anyway, here are some of my conjectures/observations/ramblings/opinions/thoughts.
With his trademark "I not Stupid" in the fishball serial, Su Zhicheng won the best supporting male actor. I thought he deserved to win. Such a convincing portrayal. I would gladly stuff his mouth with those balls and box him in the nose. But this guy is talented - singer, DJ, and now actor. Happy for him.
The best supporting actress came from the same serial. "Fyn" (Lin Xiangping), that conniving bitch in the serial, won. In order to snatch her man from her best friend, Fyn was ruthless. She slept with the guy, even though he was married to her best friend, and then got pregnant. She so viciously toyed with him I wonder why he didn't just give her two kicks in her belly and throw the baby out with the bitch. Anyway, she died a horrible way in the show.
Best Actor in a Comedian Role went to Bryan Wong. Best Compere went to Quan Yifeng. THIS IS SO EXPECTED. How else can you make the ex-Channel U people feel that they are a part of your family if you don't do that? I mean, Channel U came out and tried to differentiate itself from Media Corps by concentrating on variety shows. (Ironically, U artistes were mainly those who jumped ship from MC.) And they were doing well. When U and MC merged, U programmes were brought over. Surely, MC could go lean for one year and let U have some limelight. The biggest loser that night is Jack Neo, for only Mark Lee, one of his proteges, won a Most Popular award (out of 10).
Interestingly enough, Bryan's thank you speech had a poignant moment. "How come (I don't feel) happiness in (winning) a Comedian Award? Why is it that a comedian (himself) can only smile when he comes 'home'?" Quan was seen tearing when he said this. 4 years of being the ALTERNATIVE terresterial channel in Singapore has taken its toll on those who jumped over to U. It was indeed true that it was the "folly" of these people who made some of the stars the stars they are now. Had these stayed, perhaps things would have been different. Who knows? But Bryan's tacit comment of the 4 years out of "home" was indeed thought provoking. Does entreprenuership really pay off? How often?
Fann Wong and Xie Shaoguang both won All-time Most Popular Awards. They deserve the awards thoroughly. Fann is exceptional because it took her merely 11 years to garner 10 consecutive Most Popular Artistes Award, leading to the ATMPA. Quick and along the way, she's found fame in recording, Hollywood, Taiwan, China and HK. She's great!
Xie is equally exceptional. He won so many best and best supporting actor awards that competition really opened up only after he left.
I was very happy when Chen Liping went up for her MPAA. She's come a long way since her "Ayoyo" days. It's hard to see people going the distance. Xiang Yun and Edmund Tan are also a long time in the business.
For the record, Best actor went to Chen Hanwei and Best Actress went to Huang Biren. I think both are deserving winners.
Competition this year is tough and I would foresee a streamlining of MC soon. If it were not for artistes' non-continuance of contracts, it would be MC's non-renewal. Wth competition, there'll be winners and losers. While the audience ends up the biggest winners, I hope we do learn to reward those who have worked hard but had no luck. Case in point: Patricia Mok.
Perhaps now that the size of competition has grown, it might be better to go for 15 MPAA for males and females instead of just 10? More people need recognition and the additional push. After all, we are big enough to love 10 more artistes.
I actually call it the "Red Ape Awards". Homonymous, when pronounced in Mandarin. Anyway, here are some of my conjectures/observations/ramblings/opinions/thoughts.
With his trademark "I not Stupid" in the fishball serial, Su Zhicheng won the best supporting male actor. I thought he deserved to win. Such a convincing portrayal. I would gladly stuff his mouth with those balls and box him in the nose. But this guy is talented - singer, DJ, and now actor. Happy for him.
The best supporting actress came from the same serial. "Fyn" (Lin Xiangping), that conniving bitch in the serial, won. In order to snatch her man from her best friend, Fyn was ruthless. She slept with the guy, even though he was married to her best friend, and then got pregnant. She so viciously toyed with him I wonder why he didn't just give her two kicks in her belly and throw the baby out with the bitch. Anyway, she died a horrible way in the show.
Best Actor in a Comedian Role went to Bryan Wong. Best Compere went to Quan Yifeng. THIS IS SO EXPECTED. How else can you make the ex-Channel U people feel that they are a part of your family if you don't do that? I mean, Channel U came out and tried to differentiate itself from Media Corps by concentrating on variety shows. (Ironically, U artistes were mainly those who jumped ship from MC.) And they were doing well. When U and MC merged, U programmes were brought over. Surely, MC could go lean for one year and let U have some limelight. The biggest loser that night is Jack Neo, for only Mark Lee, one of his proteges, won a Most Popular award (out of 10).
Interestingly enough, Bryan's thank you speech had a poignant moment. "How come (I don't feel) happiness in (winning) a Comedian Award? Why is it that a comedian (himself) can only smile when he comes 'home'?" Quan was seen tearing when he said this. 4 years of being the ALTERNATIVE terresterial channel in Singapore has taken its toll on those who jumped over to U. It was indeed true that it was the "folly" of these people who made some of the stars the stars they are now. Had these stayed, perhaps things would have been different. Who knows? But Bryan's tacit comment of the 4 years out of "home" was indeed thought provoking. Does entreprenuership really pay off? How often?
Fann Wong and Xie Shaoguang both won All-time Most Popular Awards. They deserve the awards thoroughly. Fann is exceptional because it took her merely 11 years to garner 10 consecutive Most Popular Artistes Award, leading to the ATMPA. Quick and along the way, she's found fame in recording, Hollywood, Taiwan, China and HK. She's great!
Xie is equally exceptional. He won so many best and best supporting actor awards that competition really opened up only after he left.
I was very happy when Chen Liping went up for her MPAA. She's come a long way since her "Ayoyo" days. It's hard to see people going the distance. Xiang Yun and Edmund Tan are also a long time in the business.
For the record, Best actor went to Chen Hanwei and Best Actress went to Huang Biren. I think both are deserving winners.
Competition this year is tough and I would foresee a streamlining of MC soon. If it were not for artistes' non-continuance of contracts, it would be MC's non-renewal. Wth competition, there'll be winners and losers. While the audience ends up the biggest winners, I hope we do learn to reward those who have worked hard but had no luck. Case in point: Patricia Mok.
Perhaps now that the size of competition has grown, it might be better to go for 15 MPAA for males and females instead of just 10? More people need recognition and the additional push. After all, we are big enough to love 10 more artistes.
Minimum $2
Minimum $2
Went to Alexandra Market/Food Centre for dinner after returning from Malacca.
Meals in Malacca were rather good but were also quite meat heavy. We even had KFC at Gelang Petah for tea before we returned to Singapore. [Gelang Petah is the last stop on the North South Highway before you clear the Malaysian Customs on Johor's west side and thereafter Singapore Customs at Tuas. This route is affectionately called the Second Link by both countries and it costs a bomb to travel via this route. However, the relatively lighter traffic (due to costs!) made it worthwhile.]
So decided to have rice with 2 vegetable dishes. Went up to the mixed rice stall (MISNOMER: It is actually a stall selling a variety of cooked food which you pick to go with rice. The stallholder places the rice on a plate and the food beside/on the rice) and chose kailan (kale) in oyster sauce and fried cabbage.
After the stallholder picked out the two dishes, I told her I'll just have that and wanted to pay.
She looked at me, "Minimum $2 ah." And she expected me to pay $2 for that plate of stuff that costs less than $2. I said, "$2? Let me see."
Tried to find another non-meat dish but wasn't interested in having the third vegetable. So I said, "Just add kailan to my rice till I hit $2."
I'm not a cheapskate but the principle is, if you are going to charge me $2, then serve me $2 worth. Just add on the kailan/cabbage when I say that's all I'm having.
Commonsense isn't that common after all.
Went to Alexandra Market/Food Centre for dinner after returning from Malacca.
Meals in Malacca were rather good but were also quite meat heavy. We even had KFC at Gelang Petah for tea before we returned to Singapore. [Gelang Petah is the last stop on the North South Highway before you clear the Malaysian Customs on Johor's west side and thereafter Singapore Customs at Tuas. This route is affectionately called the Second Link by both countries and it costs a bomb to travel via this route. However, the relatively lighter traffic (due to costs!) made it worthwhile.]
So decided to have rice with 2 vegetable dishes. Went up to the mixed rice stall (MISNOMER: It is actually a stall selling a variety of cooked food which you pick to go with rice. The stallholder places the rice on a plate and the food beside/on the rice) and chose kailan (kale) in oyster sauce and fried cabbage.
After the stallholder picked out the two dishes, I told her I'll just have that and wanted to pay.
She looked at me, "Minimum $2 ah." And she expected me to pay $2 for that plate of stuff that costs less than $2. I said, "$2? Let me see."
Tried to find another non-meat dish but wasn't interested in having the third vegetable. So I said, "Just add kailan to my rice till I hit $2."
I'm not a cheapskate but the principle is, if you are going to charge me $2, then serve me $2 worth. Just add on the kailan/cabbage when I say that's all I'm having.
Commonsense isn't that common after all.
Hardly 5*
Hardly 5*
Stayed in the Equitorial Hotel in Malacca over the weekend. Spent Saturday night in Room 1003.
The hotel was already quite old and yet it claimed it is a 5* hotel. I wonder when the last star audit was done.
The room was reasonable but faces the setting sun. The folks didn't even think that cooling the room prior to the guests' arrival was necessary. We entered a furnace when we walked into the room. Took a while for the airconditioner to cool the place down.
The mini bar was empty, the room safe was locked, the integrated control box at the head of the bed doesn't work fully. Took the hotel some time to come over to open the safe. But at least it was usable after that.
Those aside, what I really really really could not tolerate was the pillows, which stank of rancid hair oil. You know the smell that comes out of unwashed oily hair which has turned bad? Yucks.
But in the end, I was too tired to care. I had driven almost 8 hours and all I managed to do was to drop off and drift off to a deep sleep...
Stayed in the Equitorial Hotel in Malacca over the weekend. Spent Saturday night in Room 1003.
The hotel was already quite old and yet it claimed it is a 5* hotel. I wonder when the last star audit was done.
The room was reasonable but faces the setting sun. The folks didn't even think that cooling the room prior to the guests' arrival was necessary. We entered a furnace when we walked into the room. Took a while for the airconditioner to cool the place down.
The mini bar was empty, the room safe was locked, the integrated control box at the head of the bed doesn't work fully. Took the hotel some time to come over to open the safe. But at least it was usable after that.
Those aside, what I really really really could not tolerate was the pillows, which stank of rancid hair oil. You know the smell that comes out of unwashed oily hair which has turned bad? Yucks.
But in the end, I was too tired to care. I had driven almost 8 hours and all I managed to do was to drop off and drift off to a deep sleep...
Friday, December 02, 2005
The National Football Team
The National Football Team
This is a contentious post. People will either agree or disagree with me. But I think I should be allowed to post my thoughts.
Singapore should just keep a demonstration football team. No need to send for competitions or this or that. No need to even train. Then soccer aficiandoes who have the money to spend can be sold places on the national team, don national colours, wear the national team jerseys, and behave like the champions of the world. This is possibly the only way we can ensure that we can crow "We are the Champions" every year or at every tournament. Demonstration Category, of course.
Apparently, keeping a demo team is no big deal. Small money, even, if I would say. You know, sources have it that in order that the Bruneian flag is kept afloat, Brunei is willing to dump as much money as it is required to keep the Royal Brunei Airlines in the air. See? If Brunei can do it so well, maybe we can try.
We can't seem to win no matter how hard we tried, so give up. Forget it. In the past, we blamed it on diet and poor standards of living - players on a diet of ikan bilis can never take on the big fish. Ah, never mind. Our lads were called scrawny, small, undernourished, what!?
Then we had those "kayu" footballers who couldn't study. If this was not the case, then soccer had had a rather bad reputation of the sport of the less academically inclined. Look at how they throw possession to the opponents and you wonder if their heads and the ball had been swapped. But it's really not the players fault, I suppose. Perhaps it's just bad luck that the opposing members were able to place themselves in the right place at the right time to intercept all our passes.
So, we've blamed food, and we've tried to blame the smarter opponents.
What's the solution? Well, foreign imports.
After Singapore won the Malaysia Cup aeons ago, we left the Malaysian League and started S-league. S-league has been licking its wounds for a long time, from substandard play, substandard players, low attendance, match throwing, match fixing... You name it. Recently, we've begun to aggressively import more and more foreign talented footballers. We are hoping to see more of the likes of Abas Saad, Alairstair Edwards, Jang Jung (and that's all I remember).
However, despite their possibly better diet, better intelligence, better genes (I think), we've won Tiger Cup this year and flopped out of the SEA games. We didn't even make it to the semis.
What's the problem? Simple. They were not hungry enough.
If the next meal on their family's table is dependent on the outcome of the match, you bet our guys will go out and win every single match, if it's the last thing they'll ever do. But they're NOT hungry enough. Maybe we have got too good pay and renumeration packages for them already.
Honestly, forget soccer. You keep a team of 22 men (hey, you need to keep your own opposition too! Otherwise, how to practice?) to chase after a ball. Jocelin Yeo alone has grabbed 38 gold medals already. Pat Chan alone grabbed 39 during her time. A gold is a gold is a gold. A person who brings in the gold counts more that a whole team that cannot even qualify.
Even gymnastics got their act together. And bodybuilding cleaned up. What is soccer waiting for? It ain't a pretty sight seeing a group of grown men going to SEA Games again and again and again and not winning anything.
Come on, face it, if it is not about winning, then it's even less useful to send the team. If we could have cultivated another Jocelin, another James, another Li Jiawei, another Lee Weng Yew... we'll have a good haul each time around.
It's time to bite the bullet and look at ourselves again. Maybe we should change our lion mascot to that of a stock. At least when people laugh at us, we can laugh along.
How? The demo team idea does not seem so bad now, right? Maybe can go World Cup 2012 as a demo team. Like that sure can qualify. Just convince FIFA to accept us lah!
This is a contentious post. People will either agree or disagree with me. But I think I should be allowed to post my thoughts.
Singapore should just keep a demonstration football team. No need to send for competitions or this or that. No need to even train. Then soccer aficiandoes who have the money to spend can be sold places on the national team, don national colours, wear the national team jerseys, and behave like the champions of the world. This is possibly the only way we can ensure that we can crow "We are the Champions" every year or at every tournament. Demonstration Category, of course.
Apparently, keeping a demo team is no big deal. Small money, even, if I would say. You know, sources have it that in order that the Bruneian flag is kept afloat, Brunei is willing to dump as much money as it is required to keep the Royal Brunei Airlines in the air. See? If Brunei can do it so well, maybe we can try.
We can't seem to win no matter how hard we tried, so give up. Forget it. In the past, we blamed it on diet and poor standards of living - players on a diet of ikan bilis can never take on the big fish. Ah, never mind. Our lads were called scrawny, small, undernourished, what!?
Then we had those "kayu" footballers who couldn't study. If this was not the case, then soccer had had a rather bad reputation of the sport of the less academically inclined. Look at how they throw possession to the opponents and you wonder if their heads and the ball had been swapped. But it's really not the players fault, I suppose. Perhaps it's just bad luck that the opposing members were able to place themselves in the right place at the right time to intercept all our passes.
So, we've blamed food, and we've tried to blame the smarter opponents.
What's the solution? Well, foreign imports.
After Singapore won the Malaysia Cup aeons ago, we left the Malaysian League and started S-league. S-league has been licking its wounds for a long time, from substandard play, substandard players, low attendance, match throwing, match fixing... You name it. Recently, we've begun to aggressively import more and more foreign talented footballers. We are hoping to see more of the likes of Abas Saad, Alairstair Edwards, Jang Jung (and that's all I remember).
However, despite their possibly better diet, better intelligence, better genes (I think), we've won Tiger Cup this year and flopped out of the SEA games. We didn't even make it to the semis.
What's the problem? Simple. They were not hungry enough.
If the next meal on their family's table is dependent on the outcome of the match, you bet our guys will go out and win every single match, if it's the last thing they'll ever do. But they're NOT hungry enough. Maybe we have got too good pay and renumeration packages for them already.
Honestly, forget soccer. You keep a team of 22 men (hey, you need to keep your own opposition too! Otherwise, how to practice?) to chase after a ball. Jocelin Yeo alone has grabbed 38 gold medals already. Pat Chan alone grabbed 39 during her time. A gold is a gold is a gold. A person who brings in the gold counts more that a whole team that cannot even qualify.
Even gymnastics got their act together. And bodybuilding cleaned up. What is soccer waiting for? It ain't a pretty sight seeing a group of grown men going to SEA Games again and again and again and not winning anything.
Come on, face it, if it is not about winning, then it's even less useful to send the team. If we could have cultivated another Jocelin, another James, another Li Jiawei, another Lee Weng Yew... we'll have a good haul each time around.
It's time to bite the bullet and look at ourselves again. Maybe we should change our lion mascot to that of a stock. At least when people laugh at us, we can laugh along.
How? The demo team idea does not seem so bad now, right? Maybe can go World Cup 2012 as a demo team. Like that sure can qualify. Just convince FIFA to accept us lah!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Phone Sex Using The Loudspeaker
Phone Sex Using The Loudspeaker
After lunch on Monday, I was walking back to my office with a colleague and when I passed the private school campus which is occupying the annex block of my building I work in, my colleague and I heard this disgusting exchange.
As we walked out of the lift to the exit of the annex block to get to the main building where we worked, we finally saw this woman sitting on the carpetted floor outside the classrooms FLIRTING with her boyfriend over the loudspeaker mode of her phone.
She was unabashed about making those intimate sounds that one would hear in the bedroom. Never mind that, she was coquettish and whiny, and what's most unbelievable that she was OBLIVIOUS to the world around her.
We were disgusted to high heavens. We've never seen a SLUT as such.
After lunch on Monday, I was walking back to my office with a colleague and when I passed the private school campus which is occupying the annex block of my building I work in, my colleague and I heard this disgusting exchange.
As we walked out of the lift to the exit of the annex block to get to the main building where we worked, we finally saw this woman sitting on the carpetted floor outside the classrooms FLIRTING with her boyfriend over the loudspeaker mode of her phone.
She was unabashed about making those intimate sounds that one would hear in the bedroom. Never mind that, she was coquettish and whiny, and what's most unbelievable that she was OBLIVIOUS to the world around her.
We were disgusted to high heavens. We've never seen a SLUT as such.
GEPers
GEPers
Eh, what's wrong with Singaporeans ah? People smart people's business. You all jealous is it?
Why you all think that these GEPers strange, then why not think about your own actions? Are you all so bloody interested to mix with these geniuses meh? Don't bluff me lah. Deep inside you, you are just blardy jealous that these people are smart - morons like you all hor, better stay far far away from them, lest they confirm your stupidity.
You know ah, everyone knows light travels faster than sound. If you are not in GEP, then you better don't talk too much about them. I also not a GEPer, so I know very well that they are plain smart. What's wrong with that? Talk so much, no wonder people say "It must be because light travels faster than sound that you look smart until you open your mouth". You know hor, don't know so much, don't mimic what people say.
You know the meaning of mimic or not? Imitate, parrot, geddit? No? Teruk, like that also dun know, then how can clitisize others?
The GEPers are well and fine. They are good and they have their own lives. You people out there are just a bunch of trouble inciters. The ESN people, you all look down. Huh? You dunno what's ESN? ESN means educationally sub-normal. Then the GEPers who are damned smart, out of spite you people try to rhyme GEPers with lepers. I think your brains are really sick. You think you can do the reverse "see others' no up" with the GEPers is it? Don't try lah. They don't even bother.
You know why they don't bother what the world thinks about them? Because they don't need to. They are brilliant. They are like Bill Gates, for example. Bill has too many bills to spend; GEPers have too much knowledge to apply. What you have? Only a big mouth? Eeee... you forgot to rinse your mouth this morning is it?
Tell you lah, live and let live. If Singapore doesn't have these GEPers, we would soon be dead. In any society, we need to have a spread of people at all levels. Only then will the society succeed. That's why we should celebrate diversity and not be fearful of them. So simple also cannot understand.
Maybe that's why you are not in GEP lah.
Eh, what's wrong with Singaporeans ah? People smart people's business. You all jealous is it?
Why you all think that these GEPers strange, then why not think about your own actions? Are you all so bloody interested to mix with these geniuses meh? Don't bluff me lah. Deep inside you, you are just blardy jealous that these people are smart - morons like you all hor, better stay far far away from them, lest they confirm your stupidity.
You know ah, everyone knows light travels faster than sound. If you are not in GEP, then you better don't talk too much about them. I also not a GEPer, so I know very well that they are plain smart. What's wrong with that? Talk so much, no wonder people say "It must be because light travels faster than sound that you look smart until you open your mouth". You know hor, don't know so much, don't mimic what people say.
You know the meaning of mimic or not? Imitate, parrot, geddit? No? Teruk, like that also dun know, then how can clitisize others?
The GEPers are well and fine. They are good and they have their own lives. You people out there are just a bunch of trouble inciters. The ESN people, you all look down. Huh? You dunno what's ESN? ESN means educationally sub-normal. Then the GEPers who are damned smart, out of spite you people try to rhyme GEPers with lepers. I think your brains are really sick. You think you can do the reverse "see others' no up" with the GEPers is it? Don't try lah. They don't even bother.
You know why they don't bother what the world thinks about them? Because they don't need to. They are brilliant. They are like Bill Gates, for example. Bill has too many bills to spend; GEPers have too much knowledge to apply. What you have? Only a big mouth? Eeee... you forgot to rinse your mouth this morning is it?
Tell you lah, live and let live. If Singapore doesn't have these GEPers, we would soon be dead. In any society, we need to have a spread of people at all levels. Only then will the society succeed. That's why we should celebrate diversity and not be fearful of them. So simple also cannot understand.
Maybe that's why you are not in GEP lah.
Hairy Sow
Hairy Sow
Sunday, 26 Nov 05
Bedok Interchange
There was a fat sow in front of me in the bus 38 queue. She was quite young but she was so rotund that her knees are on the verge of giving out under her weight.
Never mind her physical looks. It's ok to be ugly, but it's not ok to come out and scare others.
So there she stood in front of me in the queue playing with her badly damaged hair. That head of long, scraggly hair. And she keeps running her fingers through her hair and each time, she managed dislodge some. And then she twirled them round her fingers and snapped them. After that, she let them drop to the ground.
There was a slight breeze and I really dread letting the sow's hair fly into my face. You cannot imagine the discomfort I felt.
She did the same on the bus, but fortunately, I was seated far away from her. So inconsiderate and so unhygienic. Wonder if she's retarded.
Sunday, 26 Nov 05
Bedok Interchange
There was a fat sow in front of me in the bus 38 queue. She was quite young but she was so rotund that her knees are on the verge of giving out under her weight.
Never mind her physical looks. It's ok to be ugly, but it's not ok to come out and scare others.
So there she stood in front of me in the queue playing with her badly damaged hair. That head of long, scraggly hair. And she keeps running her fingers through her hair and each time, she managed dislodge some. And then she twirled them round her fingers and snapped them. After that, she let them drop to the ground.
There was a slight breeze and I really dread letting the sow's hair fly into my face. You cannot imagine the discomfort I felt.
She did the same on the bus, but fortunately, I was seated far away from her. So inconsiderate and so unhygienic. Wonder if she's retarded.
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