:: aGentX rambles ::

:: post 8/8/8 and olympic game withdrawal ::

2008-09-15T14:04:00.000+02:00

yes, i am still alive...

so, it has already been a month since 8-8-8 and the Olympics games have come and go.

like millions of the earth's inhabitants, i tuned-in for the olympics opening ceremony in beijing, china - after running away from the office, hop on the bicycle and reached home in about 8 minutes flat.

like many, i have followed the live games on television (while working from home) on most days, and again the recaps at night on BBC or Eurosport channels.

like some, i didn't really bothered much about singapore's athletes' progress during the game. and not surprisingly, i didn't have much pride with the fact that "we" have won two bronzes about 48 years!

i can't even be bothered to 'bitch' about the dragging of our national flag during during the games opening and how there was not even a mention of singapore when the 'made-in-china' girl won the bronze in ping-pong and the aftermath drama about the sacking of the coach.

oh yeah, august was also the month of singapore's national day. and somehow, my patriotism to this date has diminished a lot since i 'moved' here some 3 years ago, as evident from my 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 entries.

there was no national day last month.

the point is perhaps, not reading a lot of local news, tv and other media and other self-promoting propaganda back home...i have beginning to loose steam of being pro-SG.

don't get me wrong...i love singapore and will defend it at any costs in time of war, after all, i served a large chunk of my adult life with the national service, remember?

it's just that i don't "feel" really that "every Singaporean matters" anymore.

being away on my own in liberal europe for the past 3 years has given me a fresh pair of eyes perhaps, and i'm getting a bit too uncomfortable with the truths in what i've known for sure.

damn those E!
x

:: i still could not resist... ::

2008-08-06T17:09:00.004+02:00

...not drugs, sex and rock and roll! but limited-edition LVs like this one.

what's so special about it?
- it's called "Monogramouflage" which is the result of collaboration between Louis Vuitton Artistic Director Marc Jacobs and Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, and was inspired by one of Murakami's major works, "Magic Ball."
- as usual, it's not available in LV Amsterdam by the time i called them up - the dutch could not be bothered with such stupidity like these :)
- luckily a colleague went to paris for the weekend and was able to (hesitantly) make a detour to LV store to get one for me .

i almost waiting to buy the iPhone cover as well, but was informed that it might not be the perfect fit for the iPhone 3G and it appears bulky too.

it looks like this will end up like my other purchase(s), unopened, in the box, and storing dusts.

x

:: ah...now we know ::

2008-08-06T17:00:00.004+02:00

an acquittance of mine, few weeks ago..maybe months, told us that he has met chris martin of coldplay at the central station of the hague - and had taken a photo with him and showed it to us.

we wondered why of all places he would be here....but today, we know the reason.

while watching this cool music video - i don't realised how beautiful this city is , until you see it from another person's perspective....however boring this place is for me socially, i still think it's a very very beautiful city. and maybe i was a lord in my past life with a huge parcel of land here... :)

:: my summer 2008 ::

2008-08-05T16:32:00.005+02:00

i think it's about time that my summer dance parties were over - especially when some english tourist came onto you at the dance floor and asked whether if i know any dealer who sold "K", and then, gave you a deep french kiss even when you replied you had no idea what it was all about.

time and place : paradiso amsterdam, 3/4 august around 2 am.

from club fuse in brussels, belgium or paradiso in amsterdam - i think i have danced a little bit too hard in quite a short space of time between them, just 2 weeks. its funny how many people that i have become acquaintance with by just being in those two clubs/events - the party circuit folks, whose idea of a good time is simply being in a hot club, topless, drink lots of water, no alcohol, eyes completely wide, full of energy and very touchy/feely/happy ambience and mood.

i still have some soreness on my neck and muscles from all those dancing, and to add to that, i fall from a stairs at an after-party club (whose location i shall not reveal, due to my embarassment :P)

i have been partying since 9 pm on a sunday until 10 am on monday morning, and i think i have lots 2 inches from my waistline easily, because the tight little skinny jeans (size 28 inch) has suddenly became rather loose....too much sweat i presume?

anyhow, if there is such thing as my personal summer anthem for 2008, i have to say its this song....click play below and dance with me...shall we or shall we not?

:: you'll never know where you will end up to... ::

2008-07-16T01:28:00.003+02:00

while going through a totally random blog-hopping, i discover this poor guy's singapore ID shown in some jewish blog ....

i guess there were making fun of his name....Batman!

be careful of scanning your IDs, y'all, you might even know where it might end up...especially if you have an ID photo that only a parent will love :-)

x

:: opps, i did e again::

2008-07-09T21:59:00.005+02:00

the 'neighbour' and i decided to spend last saturday night at his place - getting stoned, acting silly (and naughty) and watching some movies.

he decided to watch 'requiem for a dream' as a last go before we get too pissed and blacked out...

a HUGE mistake....well, i'm not sure if it was the bad choice or maybe the perfect choice.

the story was dark and bleak - the soundtrack, though is terribly superb if you are stoned (i meant, not fully alert because it was already 3 am in the morning :-P)
javascript:void(0)
after the movie ended, i made him promised that we will NEVER EVER ended up as drug abusers*, and that we will take care of our health and body, and we will live well and good into the golden years without much health problems and die peacefully...

click on the youtube clip below to see and hear the movie/soundtrack. imagine that you are high and drifting...you'll get my drift, x!

* i only meant HARD drugs, soft drugs like coffee, cigarettes do not count :-P

:: compare and contrast ::

2008-07-09T21:45:00.002+02:00

:: holland beat france - qualified for 2nd round, euro cup 2008 - 8 june, the hague ::

:: holland lost to russia in quarter final, euro cup 2008, 22 june, radisson grafton hotel, london ::

From Blog

time flies! and so have i.....

:: a wake up call ::

2008-06-18T15:23:00.003+02:00

ever since my return from the rome holidays, i have to say that i have been very busy meeting new social acquaintances from all over holland (and more). i have been attending dinner parties, drink parties, clubbing, playing chess, watching football, getting high and stoned, etc etc...

i don't know what has got over me - perhaps it comes at the time that i am feeling all FABULOUS with myself, that the realisation that there is nothing to be insecure about and that my self-confidence is finally there.

last weekend, SJ has gracefully invited me to a grand birthday party in amsterdam. the party itself was wonderful and well-organised, despite i know only very few guests there. but as the night progresses, conversations become easier with strangers-turned-acquaintances/friends and perhaps i became too reckless after that as a result - to cut the story short, i became less alert and awake.....and i lost my bag containing my iPod, Prada shades, sweater, house keys, bicycle keys and most importantly, the bag itself! it was a gift from a close friend from japan, about 7 years ago. i know that porsche design does not make that bag anymore, but it was special to me because it was a bag that had seen the world with me and a dependable bag too. it was my recklessness to get a mint from the bag (because i wanted to kiss everyone goodbye) that i just casually put it on a chair and went to say goodbye at the bar and, only to be distracted (or perhaps seduced) to a lounge upstairs for a special 'goodnight'. with my keys gone and sweater-less, i had to stay in amsterdam and wait until the next morning before i could get the spare key from my friend in the hague.

i believe that this little incident is a reminder for me. it's life way of telling me to perhaps slow down, and look around. i admit that i have been reckless with new acquaintances and didn't devote much time for myself. i am not as fit as before, since i have stopped going to the gym regularly, always not at home on weekends and didn't stop and smell the roses! it's time to stop, listen to my breathing, relax and pamper myself silly, just for me and by me!

i'm going to do that this weekend as i will be off to london. instead of the usual london shopping and sights, i guess i will spend quality time for some 'old friends' who are living there now as i have always been avoiding that and instead rather spending time by myself at bars and clubs.

it's time to wake up, or i'll be dead...x

:: hup holland ::

2008-06-13T02:43:00.000+02:00

it's almost 3 am now, and i just can't describe the feeling.

the dutch has beaten france 4-1, and also italy 3-0 for euro 2008. unless you have been living in the cave, you would have heard the news by now.

it was crazy...the whole atmostphere was electrifying, there were orange everywhere...i felt patriotic even though i'm not dutch...but hey, i am rooting for them and i think they deserve to win - they played superb game...

we all need great news, and the mood in holland is fantastic!

x

:: Oranje meets “300" : EURO 2008 is here! ::

2008-06-07T12:45:00.001+02:00

EURO 2008 is here....

And as a tribute to the Orange team - who I will be supporting, naturally....take a look at these photos of John Heitinga, Edwin van der Sar, Gio van Bronckhorst and Rafael van der Vaart (my favourite!) taken ala '300' movie.

This result is HOT!

What connects the Dutch football team, the testosterone fueled movie “300″ and brilliant photographer Erwin Olaf?

Oranje-fever. That’s what. It’s starting… We only need to get through the Dutch plsy-offs and the dreaded CL-finals and then Holland will turn Orange!
The AD newspaper commissioned Olaf to shoot pics of our heroes for their EC-special and the results are awe-inspiring.

Go Orange! I have set my orange clothes to wear to work on Monday (where they will match against the tough Italy)

x

:: euro 2008, football and me ::

2008-06-06T16:39:00.008+02:00

:: me with my last soccer team...i've blurred the rest of my friends for their privacy and the fact that they don't' look like that any more now :-)::

surprisingly that this may sound - i do actually like soccer (or football...depending on which part of the world you are living). i was never good at it...just basic 'ball sense' but with no goal-scoring instincts, i was always a defender (because i have the stamina to run 90 minutes since i was a runner, and tackled other guy's leg to steal the ball, or a goal-keeper (because i am not afraid of speed balls going to my face (or balls!) since i was a volleyball player too).

and yes, i've been hit by a fast zooming ball at a free kick right up my own balls! serve me right for forgetting to 'shield' my family jewels, but i am happy to say that my 'two boys' are as good as new now :)

i grew up with 2 brothers who are fans of the opposite english teams (liverpool versus manchester united) and a dad who is neutral (arsenal) - but somehow, they all dislike everton for some strange reasons. as the youngest son, i learnt how to play it diplomatically of not taking any sides, even though i do like liverpool (partly because of ian rush when he was a player there, now coach :))

on the world soccer arena, my brothers are fans of germany, holland, brazil and england. no suprises there....since i remembered they watched almost all the live matches television in the wee morning hours in the 70s, 80s...and less by 90s since they are all married and moved to their own houses.

and without my brother's bickering and hogging the television, and having 3 TVs at home didn't help,watching football at home is no longer an activity that i used to do. on special tournaments like world cup and euro, my friends and i will watch them at a bar, pub or even a disco like ministry of sound....how bizarre. but i like it best at a coffeeshop where i could just wear my flip flops, shorts and t-shirt in the open air with all the fellow fans (or more likely soccer punters) :-)

now, in Holland, i had relieved those moments somehow...in 2006, there was a world cup and being true and integrated to my 'adopted new land', i am all orange and all for the dutch team (even though when i returned during the quarter finals in singapore)

::supporting holland in singapore @ clarke quay::

:: supporting holland at my regular bar in den haag ::

:: a documentary that made me cry ::

2008-06-05T16:52:00.005+02:00

i simply love BBC.... whether its channel 1/2/3/4 - they have among the best english programs and documentaries that should have been shown by mediacock back home.

i watched this french documentary (ÊTRE ET AVOIR) on BBC four last night.

it was a very simple documentary - George Lopez was an educator at a small school in France's Auvergne region, where in December 2000 and June 2001, he taught students between the ages of 4 and ten - in a single classrom.

i was awed and inspired by his true dedication and passion about teaching. his love for his students and his personal and yet professional guidance to his students' life were beyond words. you could sense it by watching this documentary - and it didn't help that he has one of the sexiest male voices (and the french accent too).

i cried at the end, because shortly after that documentary was made, he retired from teaching after dedicating 35 years of his glorious life to guide and educate young children.

i didn't remember anything about my kindergarten school days when i was 5 and 6 years old. i remembered walking on a high narrow beam for the first time, some kid in school shat on his pants, my super short school uniform with tartan red and white prints and that i cheated on a school race because i don't want to balance a stupid bean-bag on my head.

but for those kids in the documentary, i am sure they will remember those wonderful foundation of a great childhood that they will forever cherish.

if you have the chance to rent this documentary, please do...you will never regret it.

x!

:: my ear worm at the moment..::

2008-06-02T22:26:00.002+02:00

ever since i saw them at tonight's show with jay leno, i have been addicted to this song (again and again...while in singapore, rome, holland, play, work, whatever else...)

however, despite its rather repetitive lyrics, it has some hidden meanings as well ;-) and this video (although not official) is one of the best example of why apple mac rocks!

:: the pope, the molesters, beggars and homeless ...ah rome memories ::

2008-05-31T18:41:00.011+02:00

I've been back to Holland since last Monday (after the delayed flight from Rome due to some strikes by the airport ground staff)...and had been busy catching up with my housework, work, emails, meetings, and I didn't even have any time to cook at all.
There was so many things to write and share about my Rome trip, but ever since I've been reading the power of NOW!...i don't feel its useless really to talk about the past or even to think about the future. But for my sake when I'm older, I will try to put up some photos and memories about the whole trip. But I think the real reason is that I don't like the way I look in the photos - especially with my terrible hair. It was so bad that once I reached home, I went and cut my hair by myself..and look like a butch lesbian square-top hairdo.

On a social level, it's also been busy....4 appointments this week...lots of drinks, food and entertainment...and fun! :)

The wedding, especially, was very special. It was so special that they even have a letter from the Pope to wish them much happiness and success in their marriage life. And did i tell you that I saw the Pope twice while I was in Rome? And that I was also molested twice by lecherous Italian men in the crowded buses too?

Italians do it better...dont' they ;-)

:: rome fave - part 1.

2008-05-22T10:13:00.004+02:00

:: when in rome... ::

2008-05-20T14:49:00.004+02:00

it's already been my 5th day in rome - and i have been walking about 80% of my time here. thankfully, i have a wonderful pair of shoes, else walking on cobblestones of rome is a challenge to the feet.

it's raining today, and i have to stay in my room and trying to 'borrow' some unsecured wifi access in order to post this. it has been my umpteenth attempts to get online, it's not easy, but i'm not frustrated, after all i'm on holiday.

i've been to most sights of rome - the coliseum, roman forum, vatican city, trevi fountain, the museums, churches, etc...

rome is a glorious city, but its magnificence lies on its magic of the past - of the days gone by. rome today is somewhat dirty, polluted and noisy - and to a certain extent, a mini 'india or philippines' just like london or hong kong. i guess that's the consequence of global migration - the poorer countries flocking the so-called richer countries of the world. with it, there's more integration, i just hope and see.

but then, is there really no place like home? after my work stints in europe - would i want to return home and work and live in the soulless and competitive birthplace of mine? i just hope and see....

:: me at via della conciliazone leading to st. peter's - as laid by Mussolini, which some said ruined the medieval character of vatican city, one of rome's realistic moments::

>>back to the low-lands and off to rome >>

2008-05-18T19:30:00.002+02:00

after braving of 13 hours from singapore to amsteram via klm, having two days of sleeping like a hedgehog due to much deserved sleep - i am now in ROME at a chinese-owned internet cafe...

there's so much things to do and think about for work...but for now, it's MY TIME, and i just want to enjoy my holidays and yes, attend a wedding next weekend.

more pics to share, i promise...x

:: freakin' stress ::

2008-05-10T18:24:00.004+02:00

just like my trip from amsterdam to singapore, i am put on wait-list for a week!

my original plan was to return to netherlands on 12 may, but only 10 may was available. the other dates were also full, except 16 may - but that is the same date that i'm flying off to rome from amsterdam....now you can see why i'm so F**king stressed and anxious.

here are my options:
1. do the unthinkable - fly KLM, but they are also on full flight although I hope to have a seat on 14 may.
2. change my flight and hotel arrangements to rome to a later date - it will cost me more $$$
3. .....pray!

wish me luck folks...x

:: underwear overload::

2008-05-06T19:24:00.005+02:00

after the initial splurging on underwear shopping at (rather overpriced) newurbanmale, i have decided to buy more underwear online at aussiebum.com. i bought a wonderjock from aussiebum at SGD 39.90 there instead of SGD25.75 online price (exclude shipping cost which was 25 AUD or SGD 32) PER delivery, of course).

i guess i went overboard with my undies shopping :-$ (and yes, i have small waist - which explained why all sizes are XS, not the package size :P)

initially, i was quite sceptical that the delivery will take just 4 days from australia to singapore (from point-of-sale to door delivery), but i thought i just give it a try nonetheless.

true to its promise, i have my goods delivered on time as scheduled...and i am very happy with the quick and hassle-free shopping. i can't wait to try them on, especially with the swimming trunk as i really like the design and cut of it. but first, i need to start doing 500 sit-ups daily :P

on the other hand, i have yet to receive my alternation confirmation for the shirts that i bought at raoul until now, even though i bought it a day earlier than my aussiebum.com shopping.

perhaps raoul can learn something from this, other than the 1 week timeline for alternations, it should not have charge extra charges for alternations since they are supposed to be rather high-brand market. i have bought equivalent shirts before in europe and alternation is always free and quicker!

ps: what shall i do with the old undies? x

:: it's hard to pass the dutchie, even at karaoke ::

2008-05-05T04:02:00.008+02:00

even in the most unsophisticated and remote karaoke club, you can still find a dutch artiste somewhere-somehow.

what more annoying that one of my least-favourite dutch so-called celebrities - gerard joling....at least the spelling was wrong!

urggh...

on another note, a filipino couple-friend has invited me for drinks and dinner last thursday, which was a public holiday eve here.

i skipped the dinner invite and joined them for drinks instead. and i was introduced to a dutch couple, one of their sister and his nephew (who were here on a holiday from utrecht). for some strange reason, one half of the dutch couple (the older one) was avoiding any eye contact or conversations with me at all - only to find out that there is a small local chinese guy who is apparently also involved in this 'threesome' relationship. i didn't see him at first since he's really rather small :) and i had conversed with the dutch in dutch (duh!)....anyhow, apparently that local midget is very possessive with any asian who can speak dutch, especially with his so-called lovers....WHATEVER

speaking of foreigners in singapore, i was the only local boy at the party (other than that little chinese guy), who are singaporean. there were 1 malaysian chinese, about 15 filipinos, and 4 dutch in total.

talk about being a stranger in your own land...well, sometimes :-)

x

:: singapore and underwear shopping ::

2008-05-03T14:17:00.005+02:00

yes, i have already arrived in singapore since 28 april but i have been to lazy to blog.

i blame it on my continual jet-lag (i hardly sleep at night) and the fact that i'm still working from home in europe/american times...which screws up my body clock even more - thank god that i will never be pregnant.

the weather here has been uncharacteristically hot and humid, and i have 'gone commando' most of the times. this has prompted me to buy a lot of new undies and i am expecting a big shipment soon from aussiebum soon.

there is a particular underwear which i really liked, it's from japan (called dugas) - see below and it has little metal badges on its sides and a sewn-on badge at the back. it's very comfortable and sexy, my bum felt good ;-) but it's not really cheap, about 45 EU per pair, but I think i will only wear it on special occasions or parties ;-)

talk about shopping, i have also stocked up for the summer at raoul, giorgano concepts and camper shoes. for some reason, my colour for this season is full of light grays and bright pastels. this is especially so since i'm off to rome in 2 weeks for a holiday AND a wedding (with strict italian suit dresscode).

that's what i miss the most - SHOPPING and i have been eating out everyday and i think all my efforts at the gym will go to waste as i'm having a little bit of a 'beer tummy' now. i'm about to go for a karaoke later, maybe i'll post some photos (oh yeah, i have a really short haircut now, i look like a butch lesbian now, i think )

have fun people! x

:: for the first time....:::

2008-04-23T19:29:00.004+02:00

.... that my new boss was reluctant that i have decided to go back fly back home to singapore (and work from home) only for 2 weeks! it was never an issue with ANYONE before. i told him flatly, if this is indeed an issue, i will quit! after all, it's my contract which provides a ticket for every quarterly :p
.... my dutch 'friends' (who i have only met twice!) said that i'm arrogant by default - because i'm singaporean and their singaporeans friends and experiences are apparently full of bitch-dom and whore-mongering.
... an american that i met at a party told me of this joke, 'they should only have 2 lanes at the airports - poor countries and rich countries' - upon knowing that i was a singaporean, which sort of enforcing the arrogance stereotypes.
.... flights with SIA to Singapore were all full until next week! i forgot there is long dutch holidays coming up, and this makes me happy that i have decided to be away from here - just like the thousand other dutchies on their way to asia for their holidays.
... i will miss queen's night/day celebration for the first time since i came to the netherlands.

there is always first time for everything, x!

:: restaurant review : London - Busaba Eathai ::

2008-04-15T21:59:00.003+02:00

if you like good thai meals at a rather affordable price (at least by london's standards), i would strongly recommend busaba eathai

it was so good, that i had 3 meals within 2 days at this bistro. i had visited 3 of their outlets throughout london. on the first night, i have to travel (by london red bus) from bond street to soho and ended up at tottenham court.

that's me - if i like something, i don't mind eating it over and over again, simple taste for simple mind.

the service is good, food is delicious but i have to warn you that the queues are long...

click on the photos for descriptions.... selamat makan! x

From Busaba Eathai...

:: love is stronger than pride ::

2008-04-15T20:42:00.002+02:00

what i really want to do now is to skate along east coast parkway in singapore, and listening to this haunting and mesmerising song many times over.

indeed, love is stronger than pride.

:: a celebration of life ::

2008-04-09T19:07:00.000+02:00

the realization that a colleague has passed away, and all that's left was just an empty desk (with some of his personal possessions) finally came through.

this morning was his funeral - at his hometown, zoetemeer. quite a few of us from work car-pooled and took time off to be there, one even flew from london just for the funeral.

it was a very simple funeral, yet very meaningful. there were moving eulogy from people at work and his family.

but it was his wife's speech that moved me the most. it was mostly in dutch, of course, but she translated the last part of the speech because she wanted everyone to understand something so universal, yet so neglected: love.

she said that in all their years of marriage, bram would always make sure to call her everyday (since he travelled to most parts of the world for work) and tell her that everything was good and how much he loved her. she ended her speech by reminding us to call our loved ones before sunset, and reminded them how much we loved them.

i did...i called my mom later.

this is not the first time that someone from work has passed away, i've had this unfortunate experience before in 2004.

what made this funeral somewhat special was the generosity of his family to remind us that what matters most is not when a person has gone, but the celebration of each other, as human beings when we are all alive and well. and i guess that was the spirit of the funeral - a celebration of his life. wines, beers and rosé were served after the ceremony.

instead of trying to comfort his wife in this difficult moment, i felt that she was reassuring me. she remembered our conversations and dinners together in krakow, and how we seemed to be connected spirituality. they trusted me as they sensed that my energy was a good one. we talked and we smiled, i hid my tears, but it was difficult.

before i left the funeral, i thanked her and her sons because they have shared a generous and kind man into my life - someone who is not only a colleague, but another fellow human being.

and with that, i have moved on.

:: rest in peace Bram Lavino ::

2008-04-03T23:15:00.000+02:00

i lost a colleague today - from a cancerous brain tumour.

i have received the news as i was having a teleconference with houston and london.
it was so shocking that i didn't know how to compose myself and trying to talk business - when it was too much, i told my other colleagues on the other line about the news.
needless to say that they were sadden too by the news, and we had the call postponed to a better time.
the work day was too busy that i didn't have much time to grief for his lost.

but tonight, i did.
you see, before he left for the hospital, on his last day at work, he gave me a cd recording of him playing the synthesizer - something which he did while waiting for the test results.

while listening to a track from music 'time to say goodbye', i completely lost it.
for a moment, i grief for his lost and yet, i am thankful to know him (and his wife and children).

his funeral is next wednesday, and i'm hoping that everyone will remember and celebrate his life.

i'll write for it in another entry, i'm sure.

x

:: london - winter to spring 08 ::

2008-04-01T13:12:00.004+02:00

just some snapshots of london, i used to be so tired of it, but now no more.
thinking of even relocating there... :)

x

:: back with the english (although it feels like to the indians) ::

2008-03-29T10:53:00.004+01:00

well, after a night out celebrating for a colleague's farewell (which was until 3 am), needless to say that i missed my 9 am flight to london.

i had to wait until 12.30 pm for the next flight and i arrived at the london office late (but just in time for a meeting though).

yes, i'm back in london (again!) but this time i will spend a little bit more time and hopefully less british pound as i'll be staying over the weekend and taking a day's off on monday - i wanted to go to the museums here.

i had been having dinner with my thai colleague and his girlfriend is an excellent cook. i was their first guest to their new apartment in east london, and i'm seriously thinking of relocating to london. work opportunies are many here (i've had many job offers, but never took any yet), and i think i can manage fairly well in terms of living here despite the cost of living.

london gets me everytime, let's just hope that i will not be delayed in flights again - as it has been that way since the past two trips, one way or the other.

ps: let's really have the english spring shall we, please god?

xox

:: of your loft and yourSELF ::

2008-03-25T17:14:00.004+01:00

with the easter long weekend finally over, i woke up this morning with the beautiful light snow flakes falling outside - and with that, i decided to work from home today :))

it has been a rather hectic easter weekend for me, apart from a dinner on easter friday, i've had drinks on saturday (at my place) , another dinner invitation on sunday and (finally) an easter lunch on monday.

talk about having a full weekend.

what i like best about all this is to see how my friends here live - a house can tell a lot about the owner personality and character, i think, well, at least the outer self.

one of my friend is a serious piano player, as a hobby. his indulgence to his hobby and the beautiful 'pure sound' of the piano (as he called it) is evident with his grand (ie: read really expensive piano). and it was real treat to hear him playing some classical pieces from chopin, schubert and beethoven as pre-dinner entertainment. i liked his house, the building used to be an old hotel, but the apartments have all been refurbished and renovated. the houses surrounding that building are all about 100 years old, so in the name of keeping the harmony, i have to say that it was a perfect blend of old and new.

another couple friend has a rather fun and lively personality, and it shows (especially with the easter egg hunting decors all over their living room). and with that, their loft is a two bedroom modern and contemporary apartment with pictures of horses and the dutch royal family (one of them works for the queen of netherlands).

i wonder what will my colleagues think of the apartment that i'm staying now when they come for a visit later this evening for a karaoke night with playstation...hehe,

it is that i care, but really how much of this apartment is reflective of my personality since all furnitures and decors are not mine. and i'm not really the best housekeeper in the world, but well, as long as i have warm bed at night and a roof over my head - i have to say that i'm contented.

:: singapore girl gets a makeover?::

2008-03-23T16:29:00.002+01:00

when i had to change my flight from london to amsterdam last week, the ticketing guy (who looked at my singapore passport) asked me if i have arrived from singapore via the inaugural A380 flight on 18 march 2008.

sheepishly, i replied that i did not (but a colleague got that chance when he make a return trip to singapore from heathrow next week, well...good for him).

no wonder when i thought i saw this advertisement in the guardian when i was in london, i thought the ad look a big different than usual SIA images.

the ad agency has (finally) changed, and its causing some discomfort to some people....i realised that in my last flight from singapore, the pilot made this last statement upon arrival "thanks for flying singapore airlines, the great way to fly...", was that the last time that i will hear it - now that tagline is no longer in used?

great way or not, i am still a sucker for SIA even though their krisflyer program is one of the suckest in the world....

ps: if you fly with me, i am great-ful to you? get it?....x

:: good friday dinnner ::

2008-03-22T16:46:00.000+01:00

i was honoured to be invited for a nice and quiet dinner on easter friday from a new acquaintance at his apartment in riswijk (about 20 minutes by tram from where i lived). like many of my close friends, he works in the creative/fashion industry and i have to stay that his apartment is, well, rather eclectic and full of contrasts - from prints, fabrics, textures and furniture. but it worked somehow, without having too much noise - and i learnt quite a fair bit about interior design, and i miss my own apartment back home in singapore :(

and yeah, did i also mention that his apartment is really huge...for a dutch standard, it occupied half of the floor of a rather high building (it used to be an office building). and he collects chairs too (and i mean chairs that are worth collecting type, the original designers prototype kind).

From Blog

:: more valentina hassan ::

2008-03-22T14:12:00.001+01:00

i love this chick....

gee, i think i'm addicted to her..x

:: bulgaria idol rocks! ::

2008-03-21T17:34:00.003+01:00

to entertain myself in this crazy easter weather (rain/cloudy/sunny/snow!/hail!) all in one day, see if you agree with me in this one....

:: valentina hassan singing "ken lee" ::

see her in the audition here...

she kicks ass!!!
love it!

x

:: why am i always away on my birthday? ::

2008-03-20T21:19:00.004+01:00

it struck to me that since 2004, i am never home for on my birthday, either i'm overseas or in an airplane. perhaps i just like to see my birth date stamped on my passport.

2004 - in bangkok
2005 - in phuket
2006 - in den haag (this is closest to home perhaps)
2007 - in a plane from singapore to amsterdam
2008 - technically speaking, in a train from amsterdam airport too ...

i think i will do it grand once every 10 years...a big party with close friends and family, that will take a long time..haha

ps: thanks to facebook, dozens of friends sent nice birthday greetings...thanks for reminding me the joy of growing old.
x

:: aGentX did London in 24 hours ::

2008-03-20T21:00:00.005+01:00

i was in london for just one night on a rather tight schedule, and for the time first, i think that i have finally given in to the idea of traveling for work really sucks!

here was my agenda:
monday (17 march)
0900-1300 hrs - work from home
1430 hrs - amsterdam airport
1530 hrs - depart to london heathrow
1545 hrs (uk time) - arrive london
1645 hrs - check in hotel
1730 hrs - quick shopping at the abercrombie (i know i'm a sucker, more story of that later)
1830 to 2330 hrs - meet up with uk colleagues for drinks and dinner
0030 hrs - back in hotel, sleep

tuesday (18 march)
0830 hrs - check out hotel
0900 hrs - arrived at work
1000 to 1630 hrs - meetings whole day
1735 hrs - heathrow express finally leaves (one trained was delayed)
1755 hrs - arrived at airport, missed the 1810 hrs flight
1920 hrs - flight delayed, stuck at airline lounge
2040 hrs - finally flight leaving to amsterdam
2300 hrs (netherlands time) - arrived at airport
2400 hrs - arrived at home

and back to office here the next day....well, you got my point.
it seems that london love having me around so much that this is my second trip in a row that i have a flight delay

ps: i'll be doing this kind of turnaround trip again next week....wish me luck!

:: learning dutch ::

2008-03-19T01:21:00.000+01:00

if anyone wants to practice their dutch with me, i will suggest watching this instructional video

i am dead tired, was in london for just 1 night, but the overall journey/travel time was killing me - another flight delay.

london somehow refused to let me go...more of that later.

:: what have i been up to ::

2008-03-16T13:01:00.004+01:00

sorry of lack of updates;
but a first in my personal history....
- 1st time dinner-meeting a blogger/reader of mine in amsterdam this weekend
- we ended up wasted - with lots of puking and other bodily fluids out of the body (not from the food...but from other substances...hihi)
- but it felt like we have known each other for ages
- is that how you feel too? especially if you read someone else's blog but didn't know them personally?

why am i writing in notes?
blame it in my work...i had enough of writing project proposals and agendas.

:: oh, where could he be? ::

2008-03-04T23:05:00.006+01:00

this fugitive's circle of influence has certainly travelled far and wide....

... from waking me up in the middle of the night - only to receive an MMS by the singapore police force, right here in the netherlands.....

.... to this terribly funny poster by talkcock.com

i hope this fiasco will end so, especially in the press releases. the more (late) information they are trying to give, the more ridiculous they appear.

:: a rose by any other name is still a stinky rose ::

2008-02-29T14:24:00.009+01:00

i really hate to talk about politics back home in singapore, i'm not an expert in this, but as a fellow citizen who still reads daily news abroad...there are many occassions that just get to me (ie: pissed)

this is a classic example:

i wondered how many spin-doctors did it take to come out with this story - another journalistic brilliance by the state media.

(ps: could not find the online news in channelnewsasia.com anymore)

first - this did not sound so right (jobless singaporeans will be angry, again more jobs go to PRs...)

second - let's justify... why singaporeans are not enough (have more kids people!)

before finally - just say that good things, shall we?

just get over it shall we? if singaporeans do not have enough talent pool because of skin colour, bad body odour, cannot speak dialects or whatever reasons...just say it so. there is absolutely no need to sound so politically-correct...we all know the real truth (sometimes meritocracy sucks!)

the brain-drain in singapore should be discussed openly, there's no need to be sensitive about it. singapore talent pool bucket is leaking, instead of pouring more water into this bucket, we should find out what make it leaked in the first place?

let's get real, for once....shall we, singapore? x

:: where is limping waldo singapore??::

2008-02-28T23:35:00.006+01:00

yes, i'm back in the netherlands and was too busy to blog about anything...but this is OUTRAGEOUS!

it's time to WAKE-UP and not boast talk about being first class infrastructure, system, civil service whatsover!

i'm terribly terribly pissed by this....x

:: sleepless in Singapore and it's all about food ::

2008-02-20T22:24:00.004+01:00

:: menu of the day ::
finally, since my arrival last friday i am able to get a peaceful sleep (about 13 hours in total...hehe) to make up for the 'lost time' i supposed.

feeling rather fresh, except with rather puffy eyes, i am all set to go out and shop, and boy, i didn't disappoint, except to discover that what i know all along - not everything here is cheaper.

nevertheless, there were some sale items at ben sherman and topman which i liked (end-of-season, well..there's no winter here, so items from that season is always a bargain).....

after that, i went for chinese new year lunch organised by my office here. nobody (except the secretary) knew that i was in town...and my colleagues thought i was crazy that i just make a quick home-trip for this lunch (as if!) it's not the company silly, it's the delicious food (courtesy of mandarin oriental hotel). but it was really nice to meet and catch up with some colleagues who i can refer to as friends - even though half of them didn't turn up.

:: the "yu sheng" (salmon raw fish salad), before being tossed and devoured, and created a whole lot of mess at the otherwise civilised dining table ::

i am still not exercising and feeling rather flabby...x!

:: singapore ok meh? ::

2008-02-19T10:50:00.000+01:00

things i don't miss about home...

#34 - stupid campaign signs that are just annoying without any effective results...

#02 - stupid litters everywhere, especially burnt hell notes and joss sticks at public places..

we are really lagging behind in cleanliness and civil-mindedness (blame it on foreigners? or just all of us??)

ps: i still have a habit of keeping my litter in my pocket/bag until i find a dustbin, a proud trait of mine since 7 years old :-P.. x

:: drink driving arrests - when 20 becomes 90 ::

2008-02-18T05:56:00.010+01:00

berita harian, singapore malay's only newspaper (and the thinest in pages and actual content) reported that "SERAMAI 90 pemandu telah ditahan kerana memandu dalam keadaan mabuk dalam satu operasi yang dijalankan Polis Trafik di serata pulau awal pagi semalam?"

Translation : A total of 90 drivers were detained due to drunk driving in an operation that was conducted by the Traffic Police islandwide early yesterday morning.

however, this is the real story (i know as I was stopped thrice by the traffic police that very same morning), as reported by the straits times.

Yesterday's roadblocks went up at 3am, and within 31/2 hours, police had nabbed 20 suspected drink drivers, 17 of them men."

the real fact was :

In all, over the Chinese New Year festive period, 90 drink drivers were caught - and only 20 were arrested yesterday morning.

i really wondered about the editorial integrity of berita harian, and i have always detected lots of tabloid sensationalism of this newspaper, which makes me bizarrely thinking why did i subscribe to it in the first place.

i guess this is no suprise to me since even the death of a wrestler makes into its prime news/front page, that shows a lot about its readers' demographics :P

jangan marah ah....nanti kena jual! x
(don't be angry, lest to be sold)

:: singaporiffic ::

2008-02-17T17:16:00.005+01:00

:: view from our dining/drinks tables from oosh @ dempsey (minimun spending required, i don't think its worth it since it looks like someone's house that i know..heheh) ::

7 different bars in 5 hours, that was my personal record last saturday.

having some friends from netherlands (who were here on week-long work congress) made it all worthwhile and fun as the places that i brought them were the places that i was familiar with, and in all intentions, no pretenses.

it started with raffles' hotel courtyard (for pre-dinner singapore slings ), ossh @ dempsey (for dinner and more cocktails), mox (because my friend M read about in a wallpaper guide book and insisted to go there. the part-owner, mok, who is a personal friend, unfortunately, wasn't there that night), tantric (for look see and another round of drinks) and cafe del mar at sentosa (for final pit stop before heading home at 5 am in the morning).

:: cafe del mar has the looks, but not sure of the ambience thought, maybe it will in time ::

it was fun because i was able to catch up with both my old friends and new ones, at the same time, well at least in my stop at cafe del mar anyways.

you may go the fanciest places all over the world, but without the right company, it will be meaningless. believe me, i've been there before so many times (usually with business-related events) :)

i really had a wonderful time that i didn't bother to comment about the service and atmosphere of those places, but in general, we had it good (i was not sure if it was because of the company of Caucasians ;-) with me). nevertheless, it didn't really matter as i was very happy to meet up with all my old friends and new ones. like the dutch would say, het was gezellig!

ps: i had to be checked 3 different times by the traffic police who had an anti-drink driving operation (which was good, considering that they arrested 29 people that night!) a safety message from aGentX "don't drink and drive, y'all"

:-) xxx

:: aGentX has landed ::

2008-02-15T03:06:00.004+01:00

the usual long flight, good flight crew and great seat(s) to stretch and sleep. with excellent movie choices at krisworld (watched michael clayton, atonement, and japanese's invitation from cinema orion - more of them laters, i hope).

sadly, i didn't get much sleep.

and the first thing that i saw on my desk was the stack of letters (mostly bills, couple of chinese new cards and sales promotions in christmas / new year's past).....

and second thing, was to rough-play with my dear cat, sumoki who i miss a great deal! (no, i didn't choke him in the photo below - although it looked like one)

it's gonna be a long day today - with some work, and lots of entertainment to do tonight....wish me luck!

x

:: pictorial - SIA lounge, schipol amsterdam airport ::

2008-02-14T10:22:00.001+01:00

13 hours more before reaching home.....

:: high-mile club on valentine's - i wish ::

2008-02-14T06:32:00.004+01:00

while polls showing one in four Thai teens will celebrate St. Valentine's Day by having sex (and the police is planning to swoop on motels, malls and parks to ensure youths behave themselves on the "Day of Love"), i'll will be making my way to the airport real soon for another long-haul flight home to singapore.

my agenda is so busy right from the moment of my arrival tomorrow

0625 - eta to changi airport
0700 - collect my car
0750 - get my car parking sorted out
0830 - at home, distributing european chocolates and stuff to mom and cat, chit-chat, relax, shower, see what needs to be fixed at my house.
1200 - 2200 - work from home, teleconferences, emails, blah blah...
2300 to 0500/0600 hrs - night out with friends and visitors from holland.

so i won't be jet-lagged, i'll be taking these pills in abundance.

happy VD!
xox

:: today's beautiful weather makes me randy ::

2008-02-12T19:34:00.000+01:00

the weather lately has been wonderful - sunny and cool, and not too cold (except at night when it can reach freezing temperature). i could never understand before why anyone would want to talk about the weather - blame it on my country of birth which has only rain and sun.

i took a walk during lunch today and i saw beautiful flowers of purple and yellow popping out from the luscious greens. i'm not putting too much hope that spring is here, at least not yet as the temperature for the next few days is still expected to be single digit and even minus five at night.

but still, everything looks much better when the sun is out, even though i was freezing my ass off being outdoor during lunch, with just a jumper (but luckily its cashmere! ;-))

on days like this, sometimes you really wish that you have your loved one(s) to take a walk with....and just enjoying what nature has to offer, and yeah, to do what the song is playing ;-)

in 48 hours, i'll be back home - where its humid and hot, but i will be more appreciative of it, i promise...x

:: pictorial - chinese new year in the hague ::

2008-02-11T20:14:00.000+01:00

this is especially for lancerlord, who still send a nice chinese new year email (albeit delayed this year since he didn't have internet access during the holiday period). xie xie!

and yes, i still have my annual chinese new year lunch next week at the mandarin oriental ;) and to collect my ang-pows from all the married friends and their parents...hahah.. x

:: oh no, they didn't just post my ugly face online ::

2008-02-11T20:03:00.000+01:00

now i know what is like to see your photo in some party website and regretted that you didn't comb and not like a lump of shite...

note to self : next time, when you are totally in party high - do not allow anyone to take any photographs, especially since you do not know where it will end up and even worst if you are next to a stunning french beauty....

:: RIP Ah Meng ::

2008-02-08T12:52:00.001+01:00

Ah Meng (1960 approximate - 2008)
photo: The Straits Times

THE Singapore Zoo's most famous and well-loved Orang Utan, Ah Meng has passed away on Friday due to old age. She was approximately 50 years old.

For many Singaporeans, the Singapore Zoo is synonymous with Ah Meng, the Sumatran orang utan. In 1971, Ah Meng was confiscated from a Chinese family which had illegally kept her as a pet.

I will miss you dearly, just when I have plans to visit the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari for my short home trip next week :`-(

You are more of a woman than many other local female 'celebrities' ....x

:: gong xi fa cai ::

2008-02-06T18:30:00.001+01:00

it's been 3 years that i've not been celebrating chinese new year at home in singapore, and yes, i do miss it even though my family does not celebrate them per se.

somewhat, i am able to visit my chinese close friends, exchanging mandarin oranges with lots of prosperity and good health wishes, some snacks and packet drinks. it's simple really, no lunches and dinner.

in order to make it up, i'll be 'celebrating' here in the hague, where apparently there will be a red carpet (literally) to usher the year of the rat...maybe i'll put some photos here ;)

Gong Xi Fa Cai to all!

:: where is my iPhone, damn it! ::

2008-02-05T23:04:00.000+01:00

come on, apple!

the iPhone release in asia was supposed to be in 1Q 2008, and according to my calendar 1Q is almost over. basket! knnccb....

instead, you released a 16GB iPhone and 32GB iPod touch today...damn you! i'm sick of waiting and i'll be poutin' and prancing with madonna's hung up and acting like a spoilt bitch....

f**k u, x

ps: sorry, but i don't do hacked phones....ever!

:: all will be revealed....tonight! ::

2008-02-03T14:17:00.001+01:00

Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries solves Natalee Holloway Case, or will he?
The world awaits tonight...live at 9.30 pm dutch time on SBS 6.

This is doing to be so big that American ABC network has bought the broadcast rights of this report.

I'm getting excited......x

:: amsterdam, my neglect ::

2008-01-30T23:41:00.000+01:00

i think that amsterdam is not given enough respect from yours truly.

throughout my stay in the netherlands since 2005, i could actually count the number of times that i've been there. it has nothing to do with the distance (about 50 minutes by speed train, taking MRT from Choa Chu Kang to City Hall is longer than that), or the transport cost (it's fully expendable anyways) and it's more lively and modern than most dutch cities (that's why it's a tourist-trap).

besides the usual tourist haunts of the red-light districts, the coffeeshop where you can smoke weed till you get enough high and more sex shops/clubs, amsterdam boasts fine and wonderful bars and restaurant.

case in point: last weekend, my colleagues 'forced' me to get out of the hague for some drinks and dinner....little did i know that the night out will ended up of me returning at home at 8 am the next morning....and with that...enough said.

here's what i had for dinner at morlang

and pre-club drinks at herengracht bar before i can't recall what happened next ;P

i told myself that i should make more weekend trips to this most-misunderstood city....x

:: fashion trends - how right/wrong are they? ::

2008-01-29T12:40:00.000+01:00

disclaimer : i am not a fashion expert, but i do know how fashion works (well, for most times at least). those fashionistas snobs are trend-setters (and so they like to think) and the fashion industry works out trends well ahead for mere mortals like me to just simply follow.

but how many of these 'trends' do people (and major mass-market fashion retailers) actually hit the mark? we all know that the current fashion shows right now are for fall/winter 2008 - and damn it, winter 2007 is still not over....but that's how the industry work. they give inspirations and creative exchanges to designers all over the world on what to 'sell' come fall/winter later on this year?

let's re-cap what was the top 10 fashion trends for fall/winter 2007 from milan, new york and paris fashion shows in 2006, and compare that to what hit the stores really.

personally , i have seen 4 of the top 10 picks which have hit the major retailers quite a bit. they are the 'shiny set', 'long and layered', the soft parade' and 'tone on tone' ...

major retailers like zara, hnm, uniqlo and cos (all which i frequent quite regularly) have stocked up enough influences on those trends. i'm sure other influences are also quite spot-on but it did not catch enough attention from me as i don't see myself wearing those clothes on me.

in all fairness, i think these trends are powerful and influential on its own, and it gives a lot of inspiration and ideas on what kind of clothes to shop in the next seasons to come. if one thing that i've learn to spot on trends was to save me the embarrassment of choosing the colour of the season, the fit and the style of (say, the black fall/winter shirt details). it could be boring, because when you shop, you will see most clothes are similar and one that you are already and you might loose your sense of personal style....

so, if you want to be lazy to know what's coming up for spring/summer 2008, read on....

where are my eighties clothes? x....

:: ban, ban, bang Singapore ::

2008-01-28T16:00:00.000+01:00

yes, singapore police has banned the complaint choir from performing in public - just because they have non-singaporean members in the choir!

honestly, this is nothing new, i have grew up with so many bans of music and videos in the iron-city-state-proud-country of mine.

i remembered the song 'physical' by oliver newton-john was banned because of its sexual innuendoes. even a decent song 'i've never been to me' by charlene was edited because the word 'fought' sounded like fu*k".

the F words are used here like nobody's business in tv/music videos, advertisements and in all media possible, which really is a NON-issue. there is even a song here which repeated this line.."i'm from holland, where the f*ck you are from?" - was it offensive? nobody here is bothered at all and it was a hit last summer...

this ban by singapore has reached a lowest low in my opinion, because it is so so lame...i'm not offended by the lyrics and i don't think they are funny too and honestly if they provide a free public performance, i don't even bother to watch...these 'complaints' are stale news...things which i know all along are embarassing 'singaporean' traits....but please, not every singaporeans are like that...why harping same old boring stuff?

if you bothered, click on the video (sucks audio quality though) but the lyrics (which are also lame) are listed below.

We get fined for almost anything
Drivers won't give chance when you want to change lane
The indoors are cold, the outdoors are hot;
And the humid air, it wrecks my hair
Those answering machines always make you hold
Only to hang up on you

When a pregnant lady gets on the train
Everyone pretends to be asleep
I'm stuck with my parents till I'm 35
Cause I can't apply for HDB
We don't recycle any plastic bags
But we purify our pee

*chorus:
What's wrong with Singapore?
Losing always makes me feel so sore
Cause if you're not the best
Then you're just one of the rest

My oh my Singapore
What exactly are we voting for?
What's not expressly permitted
is prohibited

"Ooh"

When I'm hungry at the food court, I see
People chope seats with their tissue paper
To the auntie staying upstairs:
Your laundry's dripping on my bed sheets
Please don't squat on the toilet seats
And don't clip your nails on MRT

Stray cats get into noisy affairs
At night my neighbor makes weird animal sounds
People put on fake accents to sound posh
And queue up 3 hours for donuts
Will I ever live till eighty five
to collect CPF?

*chorus

Singaporeans too kiasu! (so scared to lose)
Singaporeans too kiasi! (so scared to die)
Singaporeans too kiabor! (scared of their wives)
Maybe we’re just too stressed out! (even the kids)

"Ooh"

Old National Library was replaced by an ugly tunnel
Singaporean men can’t take independent women
People blow their nose into the swimming pool (and pee too)
And fall asleep on my shoulder in the train

Singapore’s national bird is the crane (the one with yellow steel girders)
Real estate agents’ leaflets clogging up my mailbox (en bloc, en bloc, en bloc, en bloc)
Why can’t we be buried when we die?
No one wants to climb Bukit Timah with me

*chorus

There are not enough public holidays
My neighbor sings KTV all night
Wedding dinners never start on time
My hair is always cut shorter than I want
Channel 5 commercials are way too long
Why do men turn bald?

At first it was to speak more mandarin
Then it was to speak proper English
What’s wrong with my powderful Singlish?

People sit down during rock concerts
We have to pay for tap water at restaurants
ERP gantries are everywhere
But I can still see traffic jams on the road
All the bus stops have tilted benches
Cannot access playboy.com

*chorus

:: stranded in dutch winters ::

2008-01-28T12:55:00.000+01:00

so,......
i couldn't get any confirmed flights until thursday.
and i couldn't
get away from the office next week.
which only means that i will only be flying back home to singapore on valentine's day, only 1 weekend!
but still it will be better than nothing, and at this rate, i can keep my quarterly tickets and let it for someone else to use instead.....
any takers? ;-)

x

:: Men's 10 Worst Fashion Sins ::

2008-01-27T22:49:00.000+01:00

It takes a no-brainer to know that these 10 are so, so wrong:

Pants that are too long/too short
White socks with dress shoes
Mixing patterns
Ties too long/too short
Stained clothes
Waists that sit too high/too low
Scruffy shoes
Wearing handheld devices on your belt
Over-layering
Mismatched belts and shoes

from Forbes.com

My #1 pet-peeve is the picture above (i don't care if you have a Macbook Air, iPhone, dildos or other fancy gadgets...you are not impressing anyone, get it?)

:: for you, a thousand times over...:::

2008-01-26T23:58:00.000+01:00

i have just watched the kite runner movie tonight and the cinema was not-suprisingly, a full-house. and boy! the movie didn't disappoint, and having read the book twice (once with audio book in my iPod), my tears just could not stop flowing...which was not embarrassing for some reason as many in the cinema were sniffling too :) and my personal circumstances now (i went with the movie who is 'my kite runner' ...makes it even more emotional somehow)

i wanted to wait and watch this back home in Singapore (due to afraid that there will be no English subtitles for the Afghani and Pakistani dialects, but luckily it was 'defaulted' in the movie)...and of course the more expensive ticket prices here :)

this was one movie where i would recommend to everyone - you just need to watch it once. even if you have read the book before, the timing of the movie i felt was just nice. the cinematography was superb and the casting (especially the young hassan, ahmad khan mahmoodzada who won the critics choice award 2007 for the best child actor) was excellent and i can't wait to get my hands on the soundtrack.

just like the book, it didn't fail and it kept my spirits up and i do feel a lot better now.

ps: i hope to be back on this week for a short trip for family and chinese new year with friends (and of course to catch the sun)... after that, i think i will be terribly busy at work shutting between the hague and london :(

x

:: send the clouds away ::

2008-01-24T14:58:00.000+01:00

i have not been 'chatty' this month, as evident from my lack of any updates lately.
after all the 'highs' of december and lots of party and fun at the start of the new year, this month is depressing personally for me. i shall not dwell about it (i've never been public about my personal life in here anyway), but let's just say that 'when the lovely flame dies, smoke gets in your eyes'.

other than that little bump, things are very much good for me, especially when career is concerned, i'm going to move to a new project which will mean more traveling globally and a personal challenge of new role and responsibilities. so i don't really understand why do i get depressed a lot, until i realise that i might be suffering from SAD also known as winter depression. i like to stay in the house, do not go out at all (other for grocery shopping) and my apartment is a total mess. i will be lazing around whole day in my bathrobe, laying on the couch watching tv or in bed reading...

with all the gloomy and darkness surround most of the time, it's not suprising that 40% of the dutch feel more depressed in january than in other months. if not for my weekly routine of going to the gym, i think i would have ended up being more depressed than ever before. fortunately i'm not suicidal and i have started to pick up the pieces (including change the blog look a bit) and booking for a flight home to singapore soon and get away from this c**t weather, even thought it will just be a week before i return.

ps: do not listen to amy winehouse when you are having the blues...x! you might ended up taking crack

:: my lustful object of desire ::

2008-01-15T20:46:00.000+01:00

apple did it again ..ahhh...

:: achter de vuurwerken ::

2008-01-02T21:15:00.000+01:00

hier voor de nieuw jaar...maar vuurwerken zijn bizaar voor mij sinds het is illegal (hehe) back home..

ik moet nederlands praten voor 2008, meer en meer...

you've guess it..i must polish up my terrible dutch...x

:: my closure and prayers for 2008::

2007-12-31T14:37:00.000+01:00

in a few short moment, i will be busy deciding on what to wear for tonight's new year's party at a friend's house - and i will always end up feeling nostalgic and emotional.

there are many tragic incidents which need my closure for 2007 - and to move on to stronger and bolder year ahead.

however, this man's death - is the ultimate tragic event that has happened to me (even though not personally), and as if to complete a race, i have finally completed this book by 5.00am...and i would like to end the note of this year's blog entry with this beautiful poetry...

"i swear i will not dishonour
my soul with hatred,
but offer myself humbly
as a guardian of nature,
as a healer of misery,
as a messenger of wonder,
as an architect of peace"

- school prayer - dianne ackerman'

have a good 2008 everyone, love you....x

:: pictorial : keerstborrel ::

2007-12-26T19:54:00.000+01:00

the bar that i frequent always organise a boxing day borrel (drinks) with lots of pre-dinner snacks :)) i think they have outdone themselves this year on their christmas decoration, it was fantastic!

:: merry christmas ::

2007-12-25T13:07:00.001+01:00

:: st paul's cathedral, london, winter 2007::

sorry for the lack of updates - i have been too busy with the year-end activities, or rather social events like drinks/dinner/lunches, and yeah, i was away in london the last week.

the bad news is that my flight from heathrow was delayed by 6 hours on sunday! due to terrible fog, the good news is that the airline lounge was comfortable for quick naps and readings with free food and drinks, so i really can't complain but to wait.

had a wonderful christmas eve dinner last night with my foster family here, it was all worth the hassle and the drama from the trip home to holland from london.

hopefully i'll be able to update all the pictures soon...

have a good one y'all, x

:: dutch internet sensation is now in Oprah! ::

2007-12-04T22:19:00.001+01:00

in less than 6 months, since i wrote about her being discovered in youtube and will become the next pop sensation, Esmee Denters has made it....very very quickly.

she was in oprah - and you can watch the show here

now, that's what i called the speed of light to sustained stardom...good luck esmee! but slow down with the brooklyn accent though..

x

:: singapore's sexual revolution ::

2007-11-29T23:18:00.000+01:00

another one from youtube.

as reported by Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley

another chicken & egg debate....and see the NMP whose famous quote that 'anal sex is equivalent to drinking water using a straw through water' or something to that effect...

:: blast from the past ::

2007-11-29T22:55:00.000+01:00

as i was cycling from the gym tonight, suddenly a tune kept ringing in my head...it was none other than the theme from 'the young and the restless' - also known as nadia's theme (after the ABC television network lent the music for Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci's performance during the 1976 Summer Olympics)

i remembered vaguely about nadia's feat in the olympics...i was so young then, but my sisters were raving about how good she was, how pretty and how much grace and strength she had as a gymnast. somehow these thoughts remained in my memory all these while, especially the tune.

so tonight, i have decided to review this tune and suddenly memories of the past came flooding back. it was all nice. just like this tune, it was beautiful, but a little sad at the same time.

we are always told never to look back to the past, but for me...the past defined who i am today. having come from a really large family and being the youngest, each of them has definitely influenced me in someway of another. i remembered that i entertained their friends who visited us by dancing on the table - that has definitely set the stage for me to dance on table in my growing up years....

so tonight, relax and watch this clip - and just remember the happy times of the 70s...and keep the gratitude of having that wonderful memory in your mind.

is this why older people like to talk about the past?
X

:: when kids are having more balls ::

2007-11-26T15:25:00.000+01:00

as a trained anti-protester police personnel (well, during my national service days anyways) - i know what it is like to break a riot ...just in training, never real - hardly such opportunity in singapore anyways :P so learning how to use the tear gas, whack rioters with big and long batons, and arresting them was all but in theory and some practical lessons.

but...

last weekend, i saw couple of PETA anti-fur campaigners...with their gruesome posters of animal cruelty in front of high-fashion boutiques (although escada seemed to be the main target). i am fully supportive of their cause as i avoided anything that is made of fur - fake or real - and fall/winter 2007 season which is full of fur this time didn't help either.

today, there is another round of many student protesters in front of the 2nd chamber (ie: dutch version of parliament). it's fun to see these kids protesting about the 1040 compulsory hours to be in school ...throwing eggs and stuff with few getting arrested by the way.

they sure learn young, these kids. their voices are crying out to be heard - and i think everybody heard them.

when will my country mates ever get such opportunity in their lifetime, back in the 'tropical paradise' of the lion city...i wonder? too much of comfort factor made many of our balls shrink, perhaps?

never cross any picket line...X

:: sinterklass (and black piet) are in town ::

2007-11-17T20:21:00.000+01:00

as a non-parent myself, i can safely say that it must really be nice to be a child in the netherlands. the dutch in general, i think are very good parents - and i have seen many instances where parents really have quality time with the kids. no wonder netherlands is one of the best place to raise a children, from a survey that i read somewhere sometime ago.

last week, accidentally i discovered that sinterklass (the dutch santa claus) is in town! read about the dutch history of this famous man in this article.

and you can click on the picture below to see the brief pictionary of the visit that day.

i like the Christmas festivities here, because it transcends cultural and religious beliefs - it's all about being good for kids from 1 to 92 ;-)

can't wait for year end holidays, x!

:: i'll be lonely another day ::

2007-11-14T21:07:00.000+01:00

if i am given a kiss everytime i have forgotten how cold the dutch autumn can be, i guess every inch of my skin will be covered - at least 100 times over!

as i was cycling home from work today, i regretted not wearing enough warm clothing - a prada-like overcoat which i bought in hong kong was indeed fashionable and felt and looked it, but it was not warm enough for this turbulent harsh cold wind in the hague.

feeling a lot of self-pity and cursing myself for not having my gloves with me (my hands were freezing and almost felt numb)....the music in my iPod (the same song that is imbedded here) didn't help in shaking this bleak, dark and hollow feeling inside me.

i suddenly felt.....very, very......lonely.

it was not yet 6 pm but the darkness in the streets was unbearable. the more i think about this loneliness, the more miserable i have become. despite the cold, i deviated the route home to my favourite take-away chinese dinner, and think about suddenness about this lonely-fear-factor.

i decided i must blog about this.

as i was going through my mind about this topic, i remembered that i wrote about 'is one really a lonely number?'

the more about i think about it, i realized i am feeling less and less lonely. i started to think about all those things that i have always wanted to do - like the books that I've bought, going to the gym, errands like re-arranging my wardrobe, etc etc.

it is strange. because when i first started thinking about it, i longed about having a companion tonight, someone who is real and warm.

as i am writing this, i do not see that need of having anyone tonight - when there are many other things that i can and will do - like reading my much overdue magazines which are piling up next to my bed.

i think i will do that, despite being a bit cynical if whether i am avoiding my inner emotion about being lonely.

i guess i'll be lonely another day, and will not turn down any coffee or drinks request from new friends that i am going to make.

ta-da, x!

:: back to the dutch workday ::

2007-11-12T20:12:00.000+01:00

the first day of being back to the office is nothing short but non-stop activities - i officially ended my day at almost 5 am in the morning.

i met up with 2 new colleagues finally face-to-face. i have spoken and conducted job interviews with them over the phone before, and its good to finally put the face to the voice.

one of them turned out just as i expected - a big momma laughter, braided hair, english-african accent and full of joy to talk to - i didn't regret my choice and was happy to hand-over my job to her.

i had a 'team appreciate dinner' at a posh hotel in the hague - hotel des indes. the food was a bit pretentious for my liking and so was the dress code, but what can i say - the service crew were gorgeous and their attention to service and details were excellent.

the photo is blurred to protect the innocent, except me of course!

the irony is that i was the only non-team member of that particular team, but some sort of a guest (who used to be part of that team, but has been involved still in their projects - long story!) - so it was kinda odd as my group dynamic was not as 'tight' as compared the rest.

but i guess after much food and drinks, that doubt was all cast aside. as the only one who live in the hague, the rest of my colleagues wanted to party the night away (as they flew in from the UK that morning and hardly know anything fun about what to do in the hague). even though i am not dutch, but i felt as a 'host' to the hague, it was my responsibility to show them how to have a good time (as all my dutch colleagues have since gone home!)

undeterred, i brought them to one of the sleaziest clubs in the hague, but it was the only one that was opened until 4am and it has poles on an elevated dance floor..what more could you asked for?

and i have to say it that we all had a wonderful time, even though i was freezing my ass off cycling home at almost 5 am in the morning - with all my cough and cold still at bay!

and of course, with a perfect excuse to stay at home the next day :-P

i should stop doing late-nights...x!

:: when being on a break really means otherwise ::

2007-11-11T11:52:00.000+01:00

i have returned to The Hague - after spending 1.5 months in Asia which included some holidays to Macau and Hong Kong and catching up with families and friends.

the truth of the matter is that, even though it was supposed to be MY break, i didn't have much chance to do so.

with the hari raya festivities back home in singapore, the catching up with some work in Kuala Lumpur, shopping and Halloween in Hong Kong and not enjoying the 'casino country' of Macau. i guess the real reason for my long absence from blogging is that the fact that we have a real family tragedy.

the unfortunate and devastating news that my 19 year old niece is dying and the doctors gave her just 1 month left to live.

it was tough - i wanted to stay positive and provided as much peace and calm to her, making her happy - i wanted to remember the moments of her being alive, not to grief about the passing. after all, we are all dying by the day.

do you think this make sense? am i selfish to be away from home in another continent, another season?

i am still processing my whole emotions towards the whole matter, and returning to my cold and gray apartment in the netherlands didn't help either. i shall not go into the mode of depression, its not fair when someone who is so young and decent has been robbed of an opportunity to live. when those who are alive and well are not grateful of the wonders of life.

after all, miracles do happen. i believe in that, i really do...

god bless, X!

:: doing a repeal on paper ::

2007-10-16T17:51:00.000+02:00

last week, a lawyer friend of mine (who i met at a bar with another friend who was with his brother and sister-in-law-who happened to be in town for a night out) handed me a stack of documents about a petition to be addressed to the prime minister and parliament about the repeal of 377A penal code. i found out later (from the newspapers) that he is one of the main proponents of this 'movement'.

you have to write your name, identity card and address (all deemed rather personal particulars about something conservative like this issue) and signature at the petition.

surprisingly, i didn't hesitate..even though i didn't really read all the contents end to end (rather legal jargon sounding though :)) and i signed and included all my personal particulars. with all my heart and intention, i do support this petition - all i can only say is that "it's about time, really"....when will we ever learn and mature as a country if we keep sweeping these sensitive issues like this under the carpet.

i think being in the netherlands for the past two years have taught me a lot about respect, diversity and freedom of everyone. you could also joined this petition online by clicking on this website.

good luck to those who are working hard on this, you will have my support!
x

:: overdue bebel gilberto concert review ::

2007-10-15T17:21:00.000+02:00

i have not been posting anything for quite a while because i'm simply tired and lethargic - being home with the tropical humidity and heat have made my coughs and runny nose worsen...let's hope i will be alright for my holidays in macau and hongkong in a week's time.

now, back to the concert...i'm not a good reviewer, so just read on what the straits times have to say about that (click on the right picture for more). they made one mistake though...she sang from all her albums...not just her first (tanto tempo) and latest (momento) but also from her second one.

she was MAGICAL, and even though she didn't sing my SONG, she sang my second favourite "simplesmente" and many times i wondered if she is really singing 'live' or recorded - she was THAT GOOD. two of my concert companions were also delighted by her concert despite the face that they have never heard of her at all, just based on their trust in my personal taste :) besides her remarkable voices, oh what showmanship! she is like an old friend who is truly warm and personable with truly magnetic stage presence....

I love love her, and I am blessed to be able to watch two of my favourite artists of all times - she and Madonna. what more could i have asked for? oh yeah..except for no more coughing and better health and fitness soon.

cheers, X

:: back home, beatches! ::

2007-10-02T11:26:00.000+02:00

after the long and tiring flight from amsterdam - with a totally full flight (never seen it that full before and even more unhappy and tired SQ cabin crew members), yes..i am home (for now).

i am very tired and the anti-jet lag pills didn't help much...but i am still looking forward to Bebel Gilberto's concert tonight.

i hope that i am not getting any flu soon (i had nose-bleed while on the plane and my ass/seat was so hot due to my body temperature - even though i wish i had some hot ass myself :))

Cheers..X

:: dirty drawing? not quite.. ::

2007-09-20T13:42:00.000+02:00

this reminds me of my college days when we thought that our school logo was 'obscene'....well, dirty minds will have dirty thoughts ;)

:: slimmer thighs, hips and tummy in 30 seconds ::

2007-09-19T13:03:00.000+02:00

just trust the quirky japanese...i love it...

:: prinsjedag today ::

2007-09-18T22:30:00.000+02:00

today is the day where the queen of netherlands delivers her speech from the throne to joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

but that is not the highlight.

the highlight is the procession of the golden coach and you can see the photos here...

you see, on the stroke of one, the Queen, normally accompanied by other members of the Royal House, leaves Noordeinde Palace for the Binnenhof, escorted by court dignitaries and a military escort of honour. it's a truly spectacular sight for the royal fans and admirers alike (like me).

but this year, i decided not to go, even despite the sunny but albeit cold weather today. i decided just to say at home in my bathrobe and watched it live on the television.

i had already seen it before, when i first came here in 2005 and the closest photo that i got then was the one shown below.

having lived and work in the hague for more than 2 years now, it's really nice to see so many dutch and tourists alike visiting this lovely and historic city for today's event.

i went to KFC after the procession (tuesday being my chicken dinner night) and i saw a lot of them are waiting for the ministers for the post-senate discussions, and this is just opposite the american book centre where i frequent on a weekly basis.

to me, its not an attraction since believe it or not, i have met so many of these politicians in the hague at the surrounding cafes and bars near to the binnehoft. and i think i am beginning to really feel like a local 'hagueian' after all.

i love it to be at the place where the queens and other important government people walk and move around freely. i even cycle so many times at the route where the golden carriage passes just once and year - and yet, i don't even know and see where my president and prime minister go to their daily office back home in singapore...and its sad.

how i hate the elitist government folks back home...i have seen so many of the government offices and monuments here than i have ever been in all my life back home. we should have a monument's day too...

peace,
x

:: grammar test, it's elementary my friends...::

2007-09-14T09:42:00.001+02:00

You Scored an A

You got 10/10 questions correct.

It's pretty obvious that you don't make basic grammatical errors.

If anything, you're annoyed when people make simple mistakes on their blogs.

As far as people with bad grammar go, you know they're only human.

And it's humanity and its current condition that truly disturb you sometimes.

The It's Its There Their They're Quiz

:: happy ramadan ::

2007-09-13T13:21:00.001+02:00

"Muslims usher the fasting month" (the headline on the left)

Happy Ramadan to all fellow Muslims!

Watch how the Muslims here (mostly from the Middle East cultures) celebrate it in the Netherlands (in Dutch, of course!)

15 hours of fasting...thanks to long summer still :-)

:: last weekend round-up - Malaysian food festival ::

2007-09-11T13:08:00.000+02:00

since i missed it for the past two years, i decided to pay a visit to the malaysian embassy this time. as i never really missed any asian food from singapore, it was still nice to be able to enjoy the familiar cuisines (but terribly expensive..nasi lemak is 25EU while it is only 0.5o cents for the same standard in KL). the food was good, but cold...and the indian summer temperature didn't help either..

the malaysian expats that i met there were nice.
and as usual, i spoke to them in bahasa malaysia, they replied in english!
maybe being from singapore makes them think they we only speak english or mandarin....even when my bahasa malaysia is of united nations standards :P

malaysia boleh!
x

:: I am very happy today...::

2007-09-05T21:43:00.000+02:00

Decisions....decisions...decisions...

:: this bothers me ::

2007-09-05T10:41:00.000+02:00

when the idea of "the world is getting smaller" is practically taken literally.

if i want to see eiffel tower, i will go to paris - not tianducheng, a residential area on the outskirts of hangzhou in east China's zhejiang province.

they are trying to make mini paris in china - and it further enforces the chinese are the world's biggest copy-cat where anything goes.

and i thought everybody said that singaporeans have no soul....but this is major! after thousand years of history and civilisation, they are still quite clueless...aren't they? but then i hope i am not bothering the line of stereotyping, but this ain't just right.

peace,
x

ps: picture are taken from reuters

:: this is THE song for me ::

2007-09-04T00:26:00.000+02:00

only god knows how many times that i have listened to this song...over and over again.
when i need some assurance, calmness, peacefulness and tranquility, wanting and longing.
while in a plane while it circles up the air waiting for landing, on a long train ride in some unknown places, in the cold hard winter in bed, missing....yearning and looking for the answers to unknown questions.
in my car...driving in the wee hours of the morning...feeling lost and confused.
in all my emotions.
in all my sorrows and joys.
this is the song that does it for me.

this is perhaps, one of the most intimate secrets that i have ever shared in my blog...ever!
x

:: a diplomatic weekend ::

2007-09-03T17:39:00.000+02:00

i was at a friend's farewell do last friday.

as the consultate general of the australia embassy in the netherlands, it was time for him to go home after 3 years of glorious and wonderful experience here.

just like so many people that i know here, i met him and his partner from a regular bar. and indeed, there were many familiar faces from the bar - including the owner, Rob, at my friend's party.

as a diplomat, my friend has one of the best addresses in the hague, but nevertheless, it was still a bicycle ride for me, even with my suits on :) he clearly knows his diplomatic skills well and an excellent host - ensuring that everyone has enough drinks, snacks, company, chit-chats, etc.

and then, a stranger came to me and offered his handshake and said "Hi, I'm Stephen..."

not knowing who he was, we spent some good time talking about a lot of things really, like the maiden flight of airbus A380 from Singapore to Australia, the concept of time and space, his last trip home (with the prince and princess of netherland) australia, singapore, etc....

he excused himself and proceeded to 'meet people who he has not met before' and still i have no clue what he does for a living (nor i cared really).

only later i was told that he was the australia embassador here ;-) and people who worked with him said that he's a natural nice guy...a real diplomat...

and i have to say, that i'm very impressed - to experience a true-blue diplomacy at its best, and makes me wonder why some of my singaporean counterparts are still stuck-ups.

diplomats or a pauper, it always pays to make someone happy and be cordial and polite to everyone....everytime.

that was my diplomatic weekend, at its best...
x

:: heroes world tour in singapore ::

2007-09-03T00:44:00.000+02:00

two words: 'i'm jealous'

photo courtesy of casual chin, my friend.

:: remembering Lady Di ::

2007-08-31T14:58:00.000+02:00

It's been that long, 10 years ago today.

I remembered watching the news on television on that day, I was stunned when I broke the news to my mom. My mom was stunned too, we both felt the grief and shocked.

Lady Di was indeed the "Queen of Hearts", to me and everyone else.

Let's never forget the grace and charm and all the good work that she has done.

And may she rest in peace forever!

:: this week's summary ::

2007-08-31T13:57:00.001+02:00

i guess i should start doing what i have first starting blogging on 3 nov 2003 - that is to photo blog instead of writing so much nonsense.

my social calendar was full last week - had 5 dinners and drinks invites, squeeze in dancing on the streets event, cat-sitting - and also the ONE FULL MOON .

life is good, live it!
x

:: aGentX mobile cam of the week ::

2007-08-24T13:22:00.000+02:00

location : hoek van holland (corner of holland)

:: decisions, decisions...::

2007-08-24T10:18:00.000+02:00

this is what i would do every morning...laying out 2 choices of outfits on my bed

life is tough :P
x

:: agentX does cat-sitting ::

2007-08-22T22:20:00.001+02:00

do you remember my neighbour's cleverest cats - the ones that pee/poop using the toilet?

i am honoured to be given the keys to their apartment to help them to 'cat-sit' while they are away on a holiday in the UK.

i do not know which one is more gracious - to be trusted with a house key (heck, i have only met them once for tea!) while they are away....or to be given a chance to play and look after their cats (knowing that i have a cat, sumoki, myself).

nevertheless, it was a wonderful evening routine (prior to dinner) that i will pay them a visit ...feed them, flush the toilets, play with them, and cuddle and pet them.

so when a story of how a cat was killed and dismembered back home, it really disturbed me and made me all emotional.

in this instance - i am touched by the human kindness (my neighbour's - for their trust in allowing me with their house keys) and the warmth and joy that only pets can share. nothing can beat the feeling of having to pet and play with these lovely creatures...

love all,
x

:: madonna's latest tune leaked ::

2007-08-21T21:44:00.000+02:00

you wanna hear it?

'the beat goes on' - featuring pharell, well, the link is here...

enjoy,
x

:: happy 49th b'day, Madonna ::

2007-08-16T07:52:00.000+02:00

like i have said it in 2004 and 2006 (i missed it in 2005 - so sue me, i was in paris!)

Happy Birthday Madonna! You are still the best and i can't wait for your next album coming really soon.

always a fan,
x

:: when 'bear-band' is the new Take That ::

2007-08-15T19:07:00.000+02:00

forget the crappy and over-make-up boy-bands, introducing Bearforce1 - the world's first real 'bearband' in the world!

hurry...they are looking for members and they are from holland....of course!

:: when choosing a holiday is more stressful ::

2007-08-14T19:09:00.000+02:00

i have almost 2 months of vacation days to be used up until end of the year.

i have more stress deciding when and where should i go for my holidays, rather than working.

and the usual suspect for holiday location will be london (again!), paris (again!), barcelona, lisbon and berlin. i'm not into relax holiday, but party, shop, food, drink, culture and arts kinda person :-$

help!
x

:: thank god for NDP live webcast ::

2007-08-09T13:05:00.000+02:00

my most favourite part of the NDP is always the march pass.

i could not remember how many times i had witness the parade 'live' as a spectator (during my school days), as a participant (during NS),and as an official (also during NS). this was before the good-old-days when the main reason for not going to the parade is to get the goodie bags and staying overnight just to get the tickets!

the other favourite part is when everyone stood up and sing the national anthem, it always make my heart swell especially since i would be wearing my smart and starched police uniform for the NS duties and standing at full attention with a salute in place.

i would always sing the national anthem loud and proud - the same gusto is also with the national pledge.

but this year, i have to watch it from home (deliberately working from home today) - far away in the cloudy and wet Dutch weather. no holidays, no fireworks, no nasi lemak - just a singaporean son celebrating from afar.

but its ok - it's good to know that the weather back home is perfect for her glorious birthday today.

i heart SG,
x

:: happy national day, my homeland! ::

2007-08-09T12:37:00.000+02:00

if there is any 'singapore song and music video' that has given me a tinge of home-sickness (and tears and goose-bumps), this has to be it.

there is no in-your-face-patriotism images (you know the type - one with the chinese/malay/indian/others in their traditional gears, family potraits, the harbour, airports, and other national icons to drive the point that we have prospered and must continue thriving).

after all, nothing is more important about the idea of home.

home - one word says it all.

happy birthday singapore!

majulah singapura,
x

ps: ironically, the NDP website has no clear info about how old we are? 42?

:: once a kiasu, always a kiasu* ::

2007-08-08T10:10:00.000+02:00

i am glad that i made the right decision of not attending the national day luncheon last weekend.

this email (left) which the association sent last night has proven some of my doubts about the pathetic behaviours of some singaporeans here - which are so shameful that i think that they need to be punished and sent for re-education program ala the north korean communist way.

"...people complaining about the contents in the (goodie) bag instead of being appreciative, and to see some guests nicking extra goodies on their way out thinking nobody saw.."

kiasu. kiasi. forever discontented and ungrateful shameless singaporeans. by forever complaining about everything will make you a better person in the world? by stealing extra goodies that will make you rich? f**king hell... stop these incivility for goodness sake, you will be a much better person spiritually and morally, believe me.

however, kudos are also in order for the fellow singaporeans which i am proud of - who tried to create a sense of kinship among us who are living in this foreign low land of dykes and windmills.

like that being said, it's no wonder i do not miss the 'singaporean-ness' at all while i am here,
x