::some stories can change your life::

watching 4 dvds at home was what i did over the weekend.
the cloudy skies and laziness were good excuse to be indoors, besides, there was much food and snacks at home, so why not.

i started the movie marathon with "the legend of suriyothai"- a beautiful movie which was set in 16th century Thailand, this historical epic is about Queen Suriyothai, a queen who stood by her King and her politics (if you may call that). it was inspirational which did justice to the gentle and fascinating thai cultures and history. it was befitting that francis ford coppola was the executive producer for this movie - the man obviously know his stuff.

next, it was my 3rd time watching "the school of rock", with my niece and nephew. i really enjoyed the rock and roll "mojo" in this movie and brought out the 'rocker' in me. i dig rock music - big time, and i guess it was the early influences of the rock bands in 70s - thanks to my brothers' constant loud black sabbath, led zepplin, deep purple and all sorts of bands to wake me up almost everyday - before i would go to my afternoon school and again, when i returned home for school. best of all, this movie rocks with humour, and the rock vibes are all i need with too many jazz-fusion-house cds in my driving playlists.

always a fan of japanese movie, i continued with a mytical movie called "Onmyoji". this Heian period (A.D. 794-1185) epic stars Mansai Nomura as Seimei, Kyoto's court Onmyoji (a kind of fortune teller in commune with the spirits). when a young samurai named Hiromasa comes to Seimei to discuss a possible plot against the government, the two discover that the court's formidable magician, Doson, is indeed planning a coup.
it was spooky when it needed to be, and the fighting scenes were subtle and showed tht it did not take a hollywood budget to achieve the same effect of awe. i enjoyed this movie - altho' it was past the bewitching hour of 12 am....and the ghosts and demons were scary...


::the movie tagline was "some stories can change your life" - this movie did not change my life, but the story sure ring a bell::

just before i hit the sack, i decided to watch "Japanese Story". i thought it will be melodramatic and slow - and i would fall asleep half-way. i was wrong!

i was totally absorbed with the movie, and toni collette - you ARE among my A list actress from now on.

Tony Collette was named Best Actress in a Leading Role by the Australian Film Institute for her brave performance as Sandy in the provocative drama “Japanese Story.” Sandy is an emotionally withdrawn geologist who is forced to chauffeur Japanese business man Hiromitsu (Gotaro Tsunashima) on a field trip around a remote desert in Western Australia. Faced with a life or death situation, the two strangers who seemingly have nothing in common are forced to find comfort and strength in each other’s company as they go beyond surface expectations.

the story was melodramatic alright (without being too much), and yes, it had a tragic ending - sorry to be a spoiler.

it was quick but it was memorable. without being like "the english patient", it was surreal yet practical.

i could feel the openess in the hearts of the characters and the pain that sandy had to endure. i love the wild australia outback with harsh deserts but glowing red sand dusts. i will be doing that - someday.

i had a japanese story to tell too, but although it did not end as tragically as this movie, the emotions are similar. too similar.

to "SD" of Ashiya-ku, i am sorry. but i am glad of what we have become and will forever cherish the memorable stories together - from Japan, Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. it was MY Japanese story.

:: arabian nite ::

.
- hibiscus juice, indonesian cigarettes and lots of conversation -

after stuffing myself silly with sashimis, sushis, udons and oysters at a japanese buffet at SAFRA tampines, i headed to Arab Street to catch up with my old buddies for few rounds of drinks.

the set-up was simple. old buddies and a spouse at having all sorts of middle eastern teas and drinks by the roadside - adjacent to the simple 'arab kopi tiam'.

we drank (sans any alcohol), smoke and chats. and boy, did we really chat...anything from local and international politics, current affairs, entertainment gossips and bitchin'...hehehe.

total time was 6 hours doing just that. and the total bill....only $5.

simple pleasures, simple life. it is good to be back to basic at time.

:: hunger pangs ::

it is after 1 am and yet i am still thinking of food.

although i am not hungry (in fact, feeling rather 'bloated' from the chinese seafood lunch with my colleagues), but somehow the images of food have prevented me to hit the sack....and my cat, Sumoki, has been waiting impatiently so that he can join me in bed.

and yes, he sleeps on my bed with his own pillows and blanket.

anyhow, back to my sudden desire for many things associated the taste buds. i blame it on the short gateway over the weekend at kuala lumpur, malaysia.

there, i had japanese, american, french, chinese, peranakan and of course, the malaysian fare , evertime for lunch, dinner and supper (i skipped breakfast though). and eversince, i had put on 2 kg of extra 'baggage' and my face is a little tad puffy.

tomorrow, i will be having lunch appointment with my customers-turned-friends , and we are planning for nasi padang at the famous hajah maimunah 's. my last time there was about a month ago, and i had some snapshots via the mobile phone which will serve me well for my bed-time drooling....

zzzz....burpp....!

:: wires, wires ::

:: 2 shorter k-wires and 1 longer one ::


Today is the removal of the remaining 2 k-wires from my 5th metacarpal bone from my left palm.

I had an early morning drive to the hospital for the day surgery, something which I have not been doing for many many months. I guess why the 'morning people' love the morning simply because it is quiet and cool, not many traffic, and one can get many things done.

As I had my pre-registration done, it was a breeze - within 30 minutes I was dressed and ready for the operating theatre. The last thing I recalled was the oxygen mask and by then, I was in deep slumber. Once I returned to the hospital room, I was still in deep sleep (perhaps I had only 3 hours sleep the night before) or could be due to the general anaethesia. I was awoken by my jolly surgeon Dr Chang who send me the wires for keep-sake and told me to see him in a week's time, I must be talking gibbrish with him as I cannot recall anything other than that.

I must have dozed off again. The 2nd time was the staff nurse who asked me to have my breakfast and get ready for home. I ate toasts and Milo, changed and guess what, I fell asleep again. I guess the Staff Nurse Delicia took pity on me and let me sleep for another hour or so.

Luckily, I soon woke up and decided to leave (and not risking to pay the full day room rate :)) and thanked the nurse and staff and left the hospital. It was a rainy day and thank God I did not fall asleep while driving home.

Looking at these 3 wires, I guess I must have missed them to be inside my skin. In their tribute, I am listening to Frank Sinatra's 'I Got You Under My Skin' right now

:: doubts, uncertainty and anything left unsaid ::

the morning went cheerfully - despite the fact that i was in the hospital to pay my dear surgeon Dr W C Cheang a visit at Gleneages Medical Centre.

it has been 9 weeks since the wires in 5th left metacarpel bone (ie: my palm) were inserted to help with the growth of the fracture - due to the result of an inline-skating accident. You can read more of the history here

anyway, the fracture has healed and the appointment has been set for next tuesday for the removal of the 2 remaining wires still inside my hand. somehow, I am rather excited about the thought of going to the operating theatre again. maybe it is the anxiety when one is being bed-wheeled from the hospital room, or the view (horizontally) from going down the elevator or perhaps the extremely cold and loud music in the operating theatre. i am always marvel with the wonders of modern science, but what intrigued me more was that i did not (and will not) feel any pain during the minor ops and will be dead asleep ;-)

on the work front, things have not been easy about the news of my resignation. new projects and works have been building faster than i could imagine, bossess are still trying to talk me out of the resignaion. i am mentally tired and emotionally to cool to be bothered. it is always easier to join an organization than to leave - that's my conclusion for the day.

:: the resignation ::

:: the resignation letter ::

It is not easy to leave your job, especially so when one does not have any compelling 'push' factor to do so.

After 2 years of faithful and dedicated service, I have decided to leave...it is not easy because of the many friendships cultivated and exciting challenges that I have encountered and learned.

I was in the same firm before, it was my 1st job when I graduated from the university, initially I was there for 3 years. I left and re-joined after 2 years because of new opportunities which was opened for me. For that, I am externally grateful.

But I had to leave. The new exposures and challenges in my new job proved too resist to say 'no'. I have always wanted to travel for work, and I have got this chance now. Singapore is getting on my nerves at times, I need to survive in a bigger pond, perhaps.

Wish me luck....

:: what is in the name ::

from one of those name generator website...

My japanese name is 小川 Ogawa (small river) 直樹 Naoki (straight tree).
Take your real japanese name generator! today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.

:: the pianist ::

I spent my lazy Sunday watching "The Pianist" on DVD and had to break the movie into two parts. Because I feel asleep in the middle of it.

Blame it on the wet and rather cool Sunday weather, or to the fact that I had too much too eat during lunch - and subsequent deserts for tea.

But seriously, I think the subject of the story is aluminium-thin. The only fact about the pianist and how he survived the war because of this gifted talent was only explained in the last five minutes of the movie!

The rest of the movies were melodramatic and what else? human sufferings in war-time Poland - but hey, we have seen "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's Lists" and other war movies which focussed on the same theme.

Did Adrien Brody deserved the Best Actor Award and the highly-published 'award-giving wet kiss' with Harry Belle during the Oscars? Well...let's just say he was the better ones among the other nominees in 2002.

My overall rating is 2 out of 5

:: my favourite pool in the world - so far ::

oh yeah...here is the pool ;-P


:: the ascott, kuala lumpur ::

I have always loved The Ascott, Kuala Lumpur so just one reason - the swimming pool.

Located on the 22nd floor at the roof of the adjacent Kirana Condominium, it faces directly the grand twin tower of Kuala Lumpur - with all its grandeur and lights at night. I have been there 3 times for the past 2 months and am going there again in 2 weeks time.

I will show you more pix to show my perhaps obsessive attraction to this pool, and yeah, I have not had my sun-tanning there yet, just swimming laps at the pool :-)