The place I'll call home .....

At the beginning of this year, I made a goal and that was to be able to move in to my own home before the year end. Sad to say, this will be impossible now. Its October and I have yet to start my home hunting expedition.

 

Friends come up to me asking if I could wait till next year to make a purchase. I personally don't know. For me, I want to move on and move out for various reasons. Selfish it may sound but starting a family is one of the reasons even though Sandy insists that we do that only after 2 more long vacations.

 

I guess I want the freedom to move around, purchase my own furniture and enjoy the power of inner peace. I also have plans to convert one room ( the baby's room) into a music making room. Due to space constraints, I am not able to play and make music in my room now. This is something I miss a lot and thus, is pushing me really hard to quickly get a place despite the uncertainty we face with the economy.

 

Almost every night I dream of my house and how I want it to look like. The layout, the kitchen. Oh yes, I too will be able to have the kitchen all by myself. I can choose what to eat, snack at midnight and even make steak out of the kitchen. It all sounds good isn't it?

 

I even thought about house work and who does what. This is the time you will see me doing house chores which I will happily do after all, its my own place. If I don't take care of it, who will?  Sandy is the answer. I will help her with the simple stuff like placing the clothes into the washing machine, wiping the floor with the magic mop and maybe cleaning the dust that will settle on the television set. See, its house work right?

 

When little Mark / Sandy comes about, I will be very happy to wake up in the middle of the night and help prepare milk and feed if I need to. I like children because I still am rather child-like. I know I can connect with them and stay close. I will throw birthday parties and sing birthday songs with them as each year passes. Phew, I make it sound like I am already a father.

 

Whatever it is, the main pictures I see in my mind will be rosy and happy and that's when I get my own place. Even in the midst of uncertainty, if I need a place, I will want a place and this is where I can call the home of our own – Sandy and Mark.

 

 

Market uncertainty ..

Lehman Brothers collapsed. The question now is 'who is next ?'

Many American giants are finding themselves vulnerable in this financial turmoil as the on-going credit crisis see many lay-offs in MNCs. Good examples are Hewlett Packard, HSBC and Citigroup. These employers are now seeing many of their employees through the door with a golden hand shake.

So are we also hit in Asia ? Unfortunately yes. The down side of globalisation has shown its colors. We all thought with the rising of China and India , this two power houses can play shield to the growth of Asia. Apparently not.

Both India and China has seen tremendous growth over the last few years but things are slowing down as both countries are still developing but at a slower rate. Why ? Uncertainty. Projects are held back. Exports have taken a dive as every where else in the world consumes lesser.

No country lives alone. Local stock markets plunge when bad news is heard in Wall Street. When the US Senate passes a bill to rescue dying banks, Asia cheers.

We are inter-dependant. We survive on each others' growth and mourn together when losses are made.

Would it be better if every country go on the tracks of nationalization instead? If that happens, we in Singapore will sink faster than everyone else.

Do you now see why our government has injected funds into the ailing finiancial institutions belonging to the US ? We needed to cling on to a safety net that initially didn't belong to us. We needed to stay linked to the big boys and even if nationalization is going to happen else where in the world , we can still survive on dividends paid out to our government who in turn provide us with more GST credits. :)

And who is government ? PAP!

Singtel F1 spells trouble ...

This morning, I only managed to step into the office at 10.45am. My, I sure was late for work. No thanks to the upcoming Singtel F1 race that is to take place in the city starting Friday 26 September.

I was expecting slow moving traffic when I headed towards town but not traffic that crawled millimetres every few minutes.I felt so frustrated that I wanted so much to just dump my car there and make my way on foot to the office.

The purpose of having the Singtel F1 in Singapore is to bring lots of excitement as well as help boost tourism in Singapore but its seems all these are done at the expense of office-goers like myself.

I understand that the roads are going to be closed for a week and its going to bring nothing but chaos on all roads leading towards the city centre where the pulse of business markets are situated and what's worst, we still have to pay for Electronic Road Pricing (ERP). Shouldn't the Land Transport Authority shut off all these ERPs at this time?

Perhaps they should consider having the IU fitted in the F1 cars and charge them accordingly for using the roads. Brilliant idea isn't it?

Sandy turns 31 ...

It was a weekend of feasting as Sandy turns 31.

Old she may seem but can tell there is still a child-like behavior in her. This is perhaps what amuses me most. Naive. Simple.

We spent the weekends with close friends for lunches and dinners. Had lots of fun partying at Movida and Dragonfly. As age catches up on us, our drinks were slow. Only two bottles of vodka for two couples.

The birthday weekend ended with a romantic dinner by the poolside of Dolce Vita, at Mandarin Oriental. Just the two of us digging into some alfresco dining and admiring the full moon in the bright lit sky.

A surprise was thrown in by the friendly guys at Dolce Vita. They presented a cake to Sandy and of course, sang a birthday song too. My, she was really surprised.

I wish Sandy a world of happiness and never mind the age as its just another number. What's best is to stay young and happy and may OUR wishes come true together.

Brazilian martial arts ...

We went to Movida just to see this martial arts or dance event. It really inspired me to take up this sport.

A dormitory in Serangoon Gardens ...

Are Singaporeans an ungrateful bunch of people or are they just pure insensitive? Let's just compare this two groups. When we say a foreigner, we tend to picture a person as an expatriate but when we mention a foreign laborer, the picture you see is always soiled shoes and lousy odor. Two contrasting worlds isn't it?

 

I am referring to the recent debate on whether or not a foreign workers' dormitory should appear in the housing estate at Serangoon Gardens.

 

It was mentioned in the papers that residents upon hearing such news quickly stepped up petitions and protested against the plan to house as many as a thousand foreign workers.

 

Why is there such a huge reaction from the public? I cannot really relate. It appears Singaporeans have this wrong perception that these foreign workers are dirty, rowdy and a huge threat to the people living in the area.

 

Let's think about it.

 

These workers pay a huge fee to leave the country in seek of better opportunities and many of them have families awaiting their return. All they want is a better life when they get home after a few years but Singaporeans see it differently.

 

Singaporeans tend to degrade this particular group of people who work really hard for their money. We have to remember it is them who build our homes, our schools, our roads and like every Singaporean, they also contribute to the growth of our society. Without them, who do you think is going to help make our country a better place? Do you think Singaporeans would do the job of laying bricks and working under the sun? I really doubt it.

 

Singaporeans feel that they are a threat to security but look who is a worst threat? Is it our long lost Singaporean terrorist Mas Selamat or the Bangladeshi worker painting the walls of your new home?

 

On the other hand, we have a group of foreigners who hold a white collar job. They often called expatriates. These groups of people usually do not need to pay high prices to come to Singapore but in turn they get paid higher salaries than any locals when working in Singapore. For this group, we respect them even though they take jobs from locals but to be frank, they do bring along experience with them and thus, they too contribute to our society positively.

 

But think again. Why are expatriates treated differently from our foreign laborers? They both work hard for their money. They are only worlds apart when it comes to living conditions and spending power so is that the reason why we look down on foreign laborers who sweat it out for us. Are Singaporeans really materialistic?

 

Instead of trying ways and means to ostracize these laborers, why not show that we appreciate their help in building Singapore. We as Singaporeans have been painting the wrong picture to the world, telling everyone how ungrateful Singaporeans are especially after the huge publicity we gathered when our table tennis association wanted to terminate the services of a returning coach that helped the nation win a silver medal during the Olympics. Not a good sign right?

 

So let these foreigner workers share our gardens just like we allow the expatriate community share our roads and stay together harmoniously as one. Frankly without either group, we wouldn't be the Singapore today. We'll be building our own homes, mixing our own cement and washing our own clothes.

 

 

 

An acting Prime Minister ...

I read an article about the besieged Thai Prime Minister who played host to two cooking programs aired on national television – Tasting & Grumbling and All Set at 6am.

 

Isn't it weird to see the head of a government hosting non-political TV shows and what's funny is he decided to do it for the cause of food.

 

I can hardly imagine our local ministers doing a cameo or even best, acting on our ever popular sitcom Phua Chu Kang. I wonder what role will each of them take on if given this opportunity.

 

Perhaps, this could be done for a good cause instead of always having our television artistes Fann Wong and Zoe Tay performing those dangerous and nonsensical  stunts at fund raising shows. If former Speaker of Parliament Tan Soo Khoon can do a Jailhouse Rock, I am sure many of our current ministers can do the Y.M.C.A too.

 

I remember many years back, our former President, Mr Ong Teng Cheong played the piano on national television and that helped bring in a lot more donations.

 

If only Prime Minister Samak did the same but he chose instead to get paid for playing host … if only he did it to help the less fortunate then he wouldn't find himself caught trying to play Survivor now or better, if he wasn't the Acting Prime Minister for fellow Thai exile Thaksin.

late for work ...

As am typing this blog entry, I can feel the perspiration dripping
down my back,soaking my pink shirt.

This morning instead of driving, I decided to commute by bus. Now I
agree that there are more passengers than before. The buses I took
just this morning tells a story.

The story goes ...

Taking a slow and easy walk to the bus stop , I saw this familiar
double deck bus from afar thus I thought it's better not to miss the
bus and end up waiting for the next one. Well, I used to ride on 196
everyday until i purchased a car.

So I quickly boarded the bus and found myself a seat. Smiling to
myself and thinking am really lucky to be seated on a crowded bus. So
I whipped out my phone and started messaging friends and dropping
morning greetings. That was when trouble started.

15 minutes later, I looked up and out the window and realized my bus
went off course from the original route that was to Shenton way. Damn!
Wrong bus.

Obvious lessons were taught.

1: don't rush up a bus but check the number before boarding.

2: when on the bus, look at our beautiful trees and plants and forget PSPs.

3: don't send morning greetings because your friends who are on the
bus might be sleeping and likely won't respond. Those who are driving
will be forced to commit a crime. (driving and using a mobile phone is
illegal)

At 9am, am still on the bus. Frankly, I hardly get to work late and
thus am feeling anxious now.

Never mind. Its better late than never.

--
http://hidekram.blogspot.com/

Pathetic weekend...

Believe it or not I was forced under circumstances to head back home early on a Saturday night.

Its something I find very sad because Fridays and Saturdays mean hell of a lot to me. Sunday is obviously family day and thus Friday nights and Saturdays night should be spent out and not at home but but once again, I find myself stranded in the house with nothing much to do and I don't really think its home.

Is this what marriage life is about? Is it true that all the sparks people talk about really die off? Its sad to admit but it is. Forget about having a spicy side in marriage life, romantic talks or even simple dating like going to the movies. Its worst when you find a boring partner.

Nows its only boring stuff. You lead your own life, I lead my own. There is nothing else to do together and its painful. Very painful especially when you are caged in your own little room.

Can't believe that this is happening only after few months of marriage and it is pissing me off really.

Music rings in my ear ...

Have you heard the song Viva La Vida by Coldplay?

My. I have to say its really good because I heard it only once or twice but the darn melody stays in the head. The catchy tune and the interesting lyrics. Its just plainly amazing what music can do. It stains and stays.

Oh, not only music but words that strike like a cobra will stay too.

Right, let's not think too much and just allow the music to swallow me in.

Go hit the record store and grab Viva La Vida!

Its been a year but ...

I still can remember the incident really well and usually being a forgiving person and 'forgetful' one, I never keep these in my head but this particular incident still lingers around and I am very sure I'll never be able to forget it.

The feelings are still sore and it still hurts but what can I do and what can I say or who can I blame but myself. Am just pure sensitive, overly sensitive sometimes but that's me.

I try to let it pass but it just won't. It just can't. Not now, not next year cause its surely going to be remembered forever even though I don't like remembering it.

MacDonald's Sausage Mcmuffin with Egg ...

This morning I decided to join Lance for a quick breakfast at East Coast Mac's and I ordered a Sausage Mcmuffin with Egg burger. Its been a long time since I had a burger for breakfast and that's because I am known to skip breakfast. Yes, I know breakfast is the most important meal but for me, its dinner that ranks most important.

Anyway, what I received wasn't anyting close to a Sausage Mcmuffin with egg burger, it was just an egg between two pieces of bread.The paper wrapping it indeed state its a Sausage Mcmuffin with egg burger but my beef patty was missing.

I decided to be brave and headed for the counter. I informed the manager of the missing piece and without asking a single question, he brought me a warm Sausage Mcmuffin with egg. So what happens to the burger with missing parts? He took it away and dumped it into the bin.

I started to wonder how much food MacDonalds discard in a day. Its wasteful isn't it? I was thinking instead of throwing it away, why not just return it to me since its not dirty or spoilt. I could have eaten an extra burger but having it thrown made me feel really guilty for having reported this mistake they made in giving me a burger less sausage patty.

Perhaps Macdonalds should re-align their policy and not waste food this way. If only I had known that it'll be thrown away, I wouldn't have asked for another burger but that's me - yet another Macdonald encounter.

Yet another company event .. bowling.

So I won my first ever medal in bowling and perhaps the only one.

Its been some time since I rolled a ball but strangely I realised the stance was still there. Only the stance.

It was another outing arranged by the company and this time, they decided to hit the lanes at East Coast Park.

Actually I enjoy bowling very much but sadly, the friends I hang out with dislike this recreation and you want to know why? Chipped finger nails. Yes, these ladies are afraid their expensive manicure will break. Anyway, I don't see manicure as an art nor a fashion. You know what they remind me of? Don't scold me but it reminds me of Thaipusam.

Back to the bowling game we had, three games in a roll and the fingers ached. Must be my age but the younger girls also felt the same thus its not the age. Its likely due to the lack of exercise but fortunately I did my fair share of exercise this week. Straight after bowling, my colleagues decided to sweat it out along the cycling tracks - I cycled while some others jogged.

These women really inspire me to run again and keep fit. They don't give up, they just carry on despite being tired and drained out. Can I do the same? I am sure I can do the same given my atheletic history.

Next week its cable skiing. That will be loads of fun trying to stay on the surface of the water. If it happens, you'll hear from me really soon.

For now, I'll keep this medal of mine as this is the only one I am going to keep as those I had from school have been disposed and I really regret doing so. How many more medals or trophies can I ever receive? Franky, none cause once again, my friends aren't into such. My friends only live the fine life and that's hitting the gym. Sandy does the same which is good but my best friend hates it thus my belly.

We work hard .. we play hard too.

Its almost a month since I joined this company but I have attended quite a number of 'mini parties' already.

 

Is this what Gen Y Singaporeans want during their employment? I think so.

 

In this company, colleagues work hard and they also play hard too but what's best is the people here are really fun and warmth.

 

This morning I decided to put on something shorter than my usual work pants or jeans, I wore bermudas. I know you are going to be really envious but too bad, you have to look harder for an employer as good as this.

 

I am happy where I am now and the work can be challenging but end of the day, I know whatever I do, my teammates will be there to support me even when I fall – this is very important.

 

Anyway, sharing a picture of my boss and the mini birthday celebration we had at Yarrow ( one of the many conference rooms we have ).

 

An aggravated ankle ...

On Tuesday, I decided to go for a run at East Coast Park with my colleagues and those who know me well enough also know that I am not someone who goes for jogs.

 

So after 10 years, this is the first time I put on those jogging shoes and jogged. My, it was a little tough at first but after awhile, the momentum picked up and I could feel the healthy me only to realise minutes later that I was panting really hard and my breaths got heavier and heavier and what's worst was the pain in my left ankle.

 

I remembered I sustained an injury at the ankle during my NS days while representing my unit in a Sepak Takraw competition that caused me to rest at home for a week due to a bad sprain. I thought I recovered but apparently it didn't recover fully.

 

This pain comes on and off and stays a little longer whenever I take part in vigorous exercises like soccer, basketball, volleyball and roller blading so can you imagine the pain after my jog on Wednesday.

 

Not wanting to stay in pain, I decided to visit a Chinese physician and there I was, being massaged at the ankles and calves. So what did the Chinese sinseh tell me besides my aggravated injury?

 

1) I lacked exercise

2) I sleep in too cold a room 

3) I consume too much cold drinks

 

Bingo! He said it right. I did all of the above and it has become a bad habit and now, I am really trying to kick these bad habits thus at work I take only hot green tea, I sleep at 21 degrees celcius ( no more 17 degree celcius) and I will try to join my colleagues for jogs every week.

 

Don't believe me? We shall see.

 

Wishing me a speedy recovery.

 

--
http://hidekram.blogspot.com/

Many thoughts but ....

This past two weeks past really quickly. Birthday celebrations. Meeting up with long lost cousin as well as lots to catch up at work.

 

During this two weeks, I had many thoughts that I wanted to share with you but too little time to do so. Many say time shouldn't be an excuse for not having things done but that's the truth. I lead a busy life. : )

 

Perhaps its also due to an unfriendly phone that doesn't really allow me to blog while on the go thus I intend to trade in the Omnia for another phone. I heard HTC Pro is coming out soon so hopefully that will enhance my mobile blogging experience.

 

The Chinese Olympics ended really quickly but am glad I managed to catch some games on television, especially the one that gave Singapore a silver medal. I won't go too much into this silver medal win as I know its everywhere in the forums now.

 

I had this thought about Tiger Woods while I was in the toilet earlier. I have no idea why his name suddenly settled in my head as I am no golfing fan. I put the name together - Tiger + Woods and what came into my mind was a forest full of tigers. Did you ever have thoughts like that or am I just plain weird?

 

During the National Day Rally, PM Lee mentioned about marriage and the long awaited baby bonus. Yahoo ...!! I will be richer when I get kids but like what Flying Dutchman said over radio. Instead of giving this bonus indefinitely, why not have it for a limited period only? I am sure with this in place, kiasu Singaporeans will surely make babies and by end of 2009, the population will increase by a tremendous percentage, don't you agree?

 

PM Lee also spoke about singles not making friends , being overly picky etc. Maybe the government might want to come out with more monetary ideas to spur on marriages like providing marriage bonus too but too bad, I aren't eligible.

 

Enough said, will blabber on again next time ....

--
http://hidekram.blogspot.com/

A Silver for Singapore ...

Its a Silver for the Singapore table tennis Women's Team and surely a proud moment for Singaporeans as our golden girls received their medals at the prize presentation ceremony.

I believe this is the first time that Singaporeans watched the Singapore flag being raised at an Olympic event. It took Singapore 48 years, a really long time and 48 years ago, television wasn't a very common thing.

So now that the team event is over, we are awaiting for more action from our golden girls when the table tennis singles games come up later this week. I believe there will be lots of pressure on them to do well as Singapore surely wishes for another medal.

So good luck to our table tennis team .....!!

An Olympic medal ... finally

Finally, Singapore will have a second Olympic medals and all thanks to our women's table tennis team. Yahoooo!

Many argued the fact that it wasn't really something to be proud of due to the fact that all the players who represented the Singapore flag were imported from China.

To me it didn't matter if they were not pure bred Singaporeans like myself, what mattered most was the fact that they delivered what they were supposed to do, the loyalty they have shown by training hard in bringing joy to the nation. You have to admit it wasn't an easy task but they did it after years of hard work.

Right now, we are only a game away from having Majula Singapura ( National Anthem ) heard at the Olympics and its definitely going to be a glorious moment for us all as Singaporeans when the gold medal really came our way but even if it didn't, we also know that the pure bred Chinese are far more superior in this game.

Tian Wei, Jia Wei, Yue Gu and Bei Bei, good luck and we must say you ladies have done us proud.

The Olympics ....

Its the Olympic fever right now thus how can I not write anything about this BIG event that is going on in Asia.

This is a time when people from all different countries, races and backgrounds come together to compete in a sporting event. When I meant different countries, its so true that I cannot figure out some of the flags. Not to say that my geography is bad but I don't think you know how the flag of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan look like ya?

This evening, I watched a wrestling event which I never knew existed in the Olympic Games and what's worst, I don't even know the scoring system. I just found that the game looked very similar to that of Sumo Wrestling, which is part of the Japanese heritage.

So watching it and with no understanding how the game goes, I just sat there staring at two white men fighting for a medal. Not knowing why and how points were awarded. Nevertheless, I stuck my eyes on the screen till a winner was declared.

OK, now picture this. Award ceremony, four medalists standing together waiting for their medals. As the whole world watches each of them receiving their medals, no smile was seen their faces. Grim faces receiving medals. They never spoke among themselves and I found it really weird. I wondered what were they thinking. Weren't they satisfied that they could leave Beijing with a medal?

I don't know the answer but shouldn't they be mingling among themselves and shaking hands, sending well wishes to each other? No, they just stood there like robots. Somehow I thought I knew the answer to the grim faces. Afterall, the silver and bronze medalists were from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and guess what, they were all from the former Russian Empire. As in history textbooks, these countries formed only when the Russian Empire dissolved and guess who won the Gold? You guessed it right.

Kia Hiang Restaurant ... my grandma's birthday.

To celebrate my grandma's birthday, we decided to do something really different this time. Besides the normal 10-course meal, we decided to do karaoke too.

At the beginning, everyone seemed to shy away from the microphone but after some warming up, two microphones were not enough. Kudos to grandma for being able to sing along. Never imagined that she would ever pick up a microphone and dance with us all. They even called her 'Coco Yeung'. As to why Coco, I have no idea.

Have a peep at the photos below and see how we enjoyed the session.

Happy 43rd Birthday Singapore ...

Once again Marina Bay lit up with fireworks on August 9. If I am not wrong, this is the second time the National Day Parade is held on the world's largest floating platform.

It can be said that the National Day Parade is similar every year but as a Singaporean, its this day that really strengthens our affection for this beloved country. Its this place we call home despite how far you wonder to work, be it Australia, Europe or India.

Despite the rain, most people stayed on to watch the parade. It was reported in the papers that the last time it ever rained during a parade was 40 years ago. My, can you imagine Singapore being this young once.

As time passes, villages have transformed into skyscrapers and who else can we thank but our forefathers who did so much for this country.

Being a supporter of Lee Kuan Yew and team, I always wonder how it would be for Singapore. If it isn't for him, do you really think we would have our 43rd National Day.

43 years ago, this country was kicked out of the Malayan Peninsula. It wasn't a fight for independence but happens to be more of a disposal by Malaysia.

Nevetheless, we made it through and who else can we thank but our present Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and the People's Action Party.

It is him who allowed us our 43rd National Day, it is also him that showed us the way. Without him, we might just be nothing and only a small dot on the world map but today, we are still Singapore, a nation strong and free.

Let's strive together and believe we can bring our progress further.

Happy Birthday Singapore.

Another farewell ... at my new workplace.

I know its been a long time since I have come on to blog but forgive me as I have been rather busy at work - so much to catch up , so little time and with all these factored into the formula, it equates to stress.

Never mind the stress. It'll go away after awhile. After getting used to it.

I will not go into details about my first few days at the office but I thought I would like to highlight that for now, its a very warm family ast the office. Everyone laughed cried together. Oh, I meant it in a good way. The team was very close as I could tell it from Amanda's departure. The tears told the story.

I know the journey ahead is going to get tough but am sure with the team's support, I'll be cushioned as I am in safe hands.

I look forward to the new challenges ahead and hope to be able to fill the big shoes my predecessor left for me. She was really good in what she did and I have lots to learn from her but given a short time frame, I have to admit it was tough. Nevertheless, I'll be on my toes and learn as I go along.

Amanda, all the best in your future endeavours and to me, good luck!

Spending a day in Johor Bahru ...

The usual traffic jam lines both side of the causeway. Routine security checks and not so friendly immigration officers greet us at the borders. Tourist friendly? Think again.

I always find myself getting upset over unfriendly immigration officers. Afterall, these uniformed personnel are the first people to greet foreign visitors thus a smile shouldn't hurt.

Wrong subject huh? Should have changed it to something else but let's not kill joy.
Forget the hassle at immigration.

First destination was obviously food - bak kut teh. This corner store at Lion Hotel is a rather popular place for breakfast but for us, it was more a lunch as we reached Johor only at about noon. I have to say the soup was really delicious and we cannot find something similar in Singapore as those in Singapore are usually filled with a heavy pepper taste. Cost ? RM50 which equates to about S$21.

Its very normal for Singaporeans to comment that the meals or shopping in Malaysia is relatively cheap and its all thanks to the stronger Singapore dollar against a weaker Ringgit. This is one reason why Malaysia is still the place for Singaporeans to find a quick getaway holiday.

Shopping followed after the quick lunch and Sandy started on her expedition to buy shoes. I never understand what's with women and shoes. They love to buy lots of them but they always fail to realise that they can only wear one pair at a time. I guess she always wanted to be an Octopus. : )

I won't go into the details of what we bought and where we went as this will bore you further but I have to say the trip was fun and the seafood dinner was great. Look at the pictures and I am sure you will start drooling.

And yes, before I forget, a friendly reminder to all tourists who want to visit the Peninsula or any other country. Always remember to check your passports and make sure the immigration officer endorses your arrival and departure.

This evening, Sandy's passport wasn't stamped when we left. Can you imagine what will happen when she tries to enter again the next time? She might be prosecuted in court for leaving the country illegally as her passport didn't show proof of a legal exit.

All thanks to my sensitive ear that I realised something was amiss. I only heard the sound of 2 stampings despite handing over 3 foreign passports. Thus lesson learnt. Double checking never hurts but just one single error could lead to a disastrous outcome.

I somewhat saved my wife today. She owes me one now. : )

A day by the beach at Sentosa ...

Its one of those rare occassions where 3 brothers hang out by the beach, having lots of fun and of course, not forgetting red sunburns too. Sunburns are fun and they always bring me memories of my 'beach boy' days with my cousin Gregory. Whenever we went for a beach holiday, we'll head home looking really burnt - thanks to our hermit-crab hunting expedition.

Equipped with frisbee and a volley ball, four of us made our way to Palawan beach on Sentosa island. Weisheng told me recently that he likes the beach and I think I found the reason to this new addiction - babes.

Its surprising to know many Singaporean girls are now wearing two piece bikinis. I start to wander if its a liberal mindset or fashion sense.

During my secondary school days, I often visited Sentosa with girlfriends , in other words, female friends. I don't remember them wearing bikinis but instead they don swim suits.

What's funnier is they tend to wear the swim suits inside and on the outside, they wear t-shirts and shorts. All efforts to cover as much flesh as possible was the right thing then but now, revealing as much flesh is likely the 'in-thing' when visiting the beach.

I often ask Sandy to get herself a set of bikinis too but she refuses. Why? She's still from the old-school.

Ok, back to the fun we had on Sentosa. We started off with a volleyball
game between us. Weisheng and Junsheng were obviously in one team (they don't really have good ball sense yet. Still developing I guess - so I thought ) while me and only me on the other team. Yes, 1 versus 2.

I guess its age that's catching up. I aren't so agile anymore or likely I exercise so much lesser now that I can't keep up with their youth. What's worst is Sandy didn't even want to play volleyball so we stopped after half an hour so that we could join Sandy in the water.

In the water, we played 'Monkey' with the volleyball and frisbee too. Sadly, the frisbee decided to sink and we lost it - funny to know a three dollar China made frisbee wasn't made to float. So we bought another one which floated for S$5. S$2 more expensive than the sunken one.

We headed for lunch at one of the beach pubs which served pizza and beer. Junsheng also had his fill of Asahi beer. These guys know their stuff - Weisheng commented that Asahi was smoother than Tiger. Wow!

We lingered around a little longer before we headed for the shower. A lousy experience was awaiting us in the toilet but I won't comment it here. If you want to know more, ask me the next time you buy me a meal. ; )

On the whole, it was a fun outing with my two brothers and of course, not forgetting my wife too. She took leave from work so that she could join me in getting burnt from the sun. I look forward to the next outing and hopefully this time we can have the whole family together. It'll be a really fun experience having a picnic by the beach.

Wake boarding at East Coast ...

Just two years ago, some smart fella decided to re-develop an unused lagoon at East Coast Park for a new water sport called cable skiing.

This is supposedly to be the first in Southeast Asia but as of today, am not sure if the status still stays the same.

Sandy and I would like to try it sometime but we are afraid we'll be clowns in the water without being able to lift ourselves up. Perhaps we should try it next week since Sandy and I won't be at work next monday.

If we never try,we'll never know right?

An active day ...

Its been a long time since I took my Marin bicycle for a ride and this time it was quite a distance that I covered and I have to say that I managed to complete a trip to Orchard and back, all in 4 hours without difficuly except for poor road conditions around Kallang.

The weather was a little cloudy but thankfully there wasn't any rain. I guess its better than under the blazing sun.

I managed to find a place to park my bicycle and was really glad to see my bike still there after 2 hours away from it. I would bleed tears if it was gone as this Marin bike was a gift from my parents when I was 16. I guess brand matters. ; )

Along the way back, I managed to stop for some photo taking with the help of my Omnia phone. I hope the pictures won't disappoint me as afterall, its supposed to be a 5 mega pixel camera.

I am considering doing another trip toward Tampines one of this days but let's see how the weather treats me first.

Will update more if I ever do that.

For now, enjoy some of these photos. Haha.

Test from Omnia

Just bought an Omnia thus trying to see if all works well.

The song for Sandy ... from the wedding party.

Finally we have received the full video of the wedding song I wrote for Sandy. Take a listen and laugh along. I know its funny. ; )

The lyrics can be found in my previous blog if you want to sing along. Haha.

My Wedding at Sentosa's Amara Sanctuary ...

7 June 2008 will be a day in my life that I'll never forget. If I ever do, something must be terribly wrong.

This post is to acknowledge the many efforts put in by the guys at Amara Sanctuary.

Despite the heavy rain that poured on us that day, the team at Amara Sanctuary went all out to shelter our guests from the Grand Ballroom to the Glass Pavilion and back. No complaints or grumpy staff. They delivered their services well.

I wasn't sure how many staff they activated to assist with holding umbrellas but it was all compliments and praises for the team at Amara Sanctuary. Kudos to Irene and team for making the wedding a happy event for us.

The buffet lunch also received positive feedback with great hospitality provided by the banquet staff. Excellent service.

Everything went well except for one - the many ants that turned up at our bridal suite. What to do? Its a jungle out there. ; )

Hey, fellas from Amara, if you are reading this, perhaps another complimentary night for us at room 768. ; )

Bowie and her Turkish ice cream ...

This video was taken in January this year when Bowie visited Singapore.

Am testing this video blogging to see if it works well. If you see this, the post is successful as I sent it directly from my mobile. Technology really transforms lives.

Luis Yu ...a new member ...

Look out for the new champion. He's a likely winner when it comes to 'Deiju'.

Memories of a strong friendship ...

It has been quite sometime since the Happy Six came out together for a round of drinks. As you know, Lance and Monica are now parents thus lesser time spent with buddies like me - a change to baby sitting Luis.

I remember how they used to be carefree and always attending our drinking sessions and stayovers. Those times were memorable. During dinner today, we reminisced about those good old days where we played hide and seek and getting highly intoxicated on Saturday nights.

Things have taken a drastic change now but the friendship stays the same. Only now more planning is required compared to previous outings we had.

Plans of going for a night stay in Bintan or Johor during August is being finalized. It has been one of our goals to visit Lance's hometown for seafood but it never realised due to busy schedules. We seem to be serious about this and we
Know it will happen soon.

Whatever it is, in short, this bond we have together will stay strong always and even if a new member joins the family, its still going to be a crazy outing for Mun, Clara, Lance ,Monica and us of course not forgetting Beatrice who often AWOLs.

Oh Sandy .. Oh Sandy .. Oh Sandy ...

Many friends have been asking for the lyrics of the song I wrote for Sandy. I'll try uploading the music too but surely not the vocals as I haven't invested in a recording microphone yet. ; )

A song for you – by Mark Chong

When I look into your eyes
I can see the smile
It’s filled with joy
Happiness and lots of love
I wouldn’t be here today
If it weren’t for you
I would be somewhere else
Still looking around
For love
Perhaps for you

So here I am with you
We’ve said ‘I do’
Whatever lies ahead
I know we’ll get through
So I take this chance
To sing you this song
For you I’m sure
Cause I love you
Oh sandy
Yes I do

We’ll travel the world
We’ll climb all mountains
We’ll sing this song
And let it live on
As we grow
In age together

We’ll teach our children
To sing our song
We’ll let them sing
And let them carry on
So they’ll know
How much I love you

We’ll learn and play
We’ll do things together
We’ll cherish our love
We won’t let it end
Like this song I am going to play for you ….

让晚风轻轻吹过
伴送着清幽花香像是在祝福你我
让晚星轻轻闪过
闪出你每个希冀如浪花快要沾湿我
命运就算颠沛流离
命运就算曲折离奇
命运就算恐吓着你做人没趣味
别流泪心酸更不应舍弃
我愿能一生永远陪伴你
命运就算颠沛流离
命运就算曲折离奇
命运就算恐吓着你做人没趣味
别流泪心酸更不应舍弃
我愿能一生永远陪伴你

We’ll travel the world
We’ll climb all mountains
We’ll sing this song
As we grow
In age together

We’ll teach our children
To sing our song
We’ll let them sing
And let them carry on
So they’ll know
How much I love you

My wedding photos ... bits of it.

Just thought I'll share some photos of our lovely wedding and a photo of a post-wedding party which saw the HK team knocked out by the heaps of alcohol available at Keppel Club. I will try to upload more photos once Sandy finds the time. ; )

Time flies pass really quickly. It has been more than a month since we had our wedding at the Amara Sanctuary and its been two weeks after our honeymoon in Japan. I have to admit the honeymoon was really enjoyable. I enjoyed every minute of it despite the numerous shopping forced upon me. You can check out the link below to see more honeymoon photos.

Please stay patient with me as we upload the wedding photos and the post-wedding party that looked so much like a gambling event but instead of money, alcohol became the stakes instead.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=ard6v2w9.7l1accv1&x=0&y=-2n0rpu&localeid=en_US

Back in blog world ...

Its been two weeks since we've returned from our unforgetable honeymoon in Japan yet I've not updated the blog. Guess what? I caught a rather nasty flu just few days after returning home.

While I am slowly recovering from the bad fever, aches and cough, Sandy also attracted the bug. Its her third day suffering. Let's hope hers won't last as long as mine but am sure her immune system is stronger than mine. Am always known to be the weaker one when it comes to health issues.

Once the bug is completely wiped out from my system, I'll be going for a thorough health check. This was something I promised my wife to do. Better be safe than sorry. :)

Not to worry too much, its just one of those routine checks which I haven't done for a long time. Its a good time to reveal the level of my bad cholestrol. It won't be surprising to know its on ridiculously bad levels especially with me being a glutton for fine yet unhealthy food. I guess I really live to eat.

I read somewhere that if we all chose to eat food we didn't like, there wouldn't be so many health issues around. Its only the food that we really love, that's where the danger lies. Perhaps eating in moderation can do some help as well as placing an exercise regime together will improve our health.

So delay no more, cycle, swim or simply walk up a flight of steps, that'll keep us in shape at least for a while longer.

Last night in Japan ...

All good things come to an end just like our honeymoon in Japan.

 

I always thought two weeks for a honeymoon is too long but seriously, its still too short especially when the destination is Japan. There is just too many things to see and do here.

 

Thankfully, we managed to eat lots of Japanese delicacies such as the puffer fish sashimi, whale sashimi and lots of other delicious dishes. We also managed to drink the different sakes ( rice wine ) , various brands of Japanese beer not found in Singapore and best of all, we got to make some friends as we visted the different cities.

 

The company we had with buddy Mun and Clara totally made the trip different and I hope they too feel the same about our companion.We laughed and had lots of fun throughout and if it was only Sandy and myself, it could have been boring. Oops. ; )

 

Anyway, I will upload the photos later on when I am back in Singapore and will try to give a more detailed experience in my next blogs.

 

 

Hotspring in Hokkaido ...

I wasn`t able to update my blog for the past few days as I was in retreat mode in the mountains of Hokkaido, enjoying the weather as well as the hotspring made available by mother nature.

 

It was surprising to know that remote parts of Japan do not provide internet access to guests. I always thought this was the most advanced country in Asia.

 

Today is my second day in Sapporo, another city town in Hokkaido. We took a long drive between towns and thanks to the GPS provided in the car, it made finding places so much easier.

 

The evening before scared me a little as we drove up the mountains while the sun was about to set, the roads were winding and we were above the clouds which made the road a little less visible. We had to go slow and I was pretty sure everyone in the car was a little tense as we slowly climbed up and down the narrow and winding road. I too was a little scared when suddenly you find your car in the midst of fog and visibility was really low at some parts. Falling of the cliff surely wasn`t going to be anything funny.

 

Will try to update the blog more often now but to every one back home, don`t worry. We are all safe despite the numerous tremors thats shaking Japan.



 

Tokyo - Day 3

We practically spent the whole day shopping rather than sight seeing. We skipped the Imperial Palace and the numerous Shinto shrines but never ever intended to miss any malls but that's impossible.There are just too many malls in Tokyo. Believe it or not, we haven't even covered the shopping area within our hotel's vicinity.

We managed to visit a food court similar to that in Singapore at Venusfort but interesting to know there were only four stalls - all Japanese stalls.

For dinner,we managed to find a Yakitori bar at Ropongi but only after plenty of walking from Tokyo Tower. In short, I walked too much and what's worst in a new pair of shoes didn't make things easier.

Supper at a push cart store that sold 'yong tau foo' was interesting . I'll upload the photos once am back home so you can see what I meant by road side stall. :)

We encountered many stumbling drunkards along the way and trust me, it was hilarious seeing these guys lying on the road and best, making their way into the train - drunk.

Yakuza - Japanese mafia were also spotted in Shinjuku last night as we walked around the red light district. My, they still wear clogs here. Shall update you more again later.

Earthquake in Japan

Tremors woke us up this morning at about 0845 hrs local time. The bed was shaking violently and we all thought we were dreaming thus I turned on the news to find out an earthquake indeed hit some part of Japan.

Till now we have no idea where exactly was hit as the news here are in Japanese without any English subtitles etc. This is something really interesting about the country - minimal English. Even when ordering food we do find it difficult but thankfully all of us are adventurous with food.

Tokyo- Day 2 ...

Finally we managed to visit a sushi bar / restaurant in Tokyo after numerous attempts.

 

You must wonder whats with the attempts. Whenever we tried entering a sushi bar, we were always told to leave however, with a stroke of luck, we managed to enjoy the nice delicacy in a typical sushi counter. Just imagine, one sushi master and only 8 customers seated just across the counter, laughing and enjoying the soccer match being played.

 

We made some friends there at the sushi restaurant and I have to say the guys there were really warmth, especially Yoshimasa and the mother of the chef. This meal we had will surely be one of the sweetest memories we`ll have of Tokyo. Of course, we`ll still be　looking for more of such encounters.

 

As usual, its shopping paradise as Mun and I have to carry a heavy load of shopping bags from one place to another. I really wanted to much to just give up and hail a cab but taxis here are really expensive.

 

I`ll update more later on as the time for this internet station is running out. Today, we`ll be visiting the Imperial Palaca as well as more shopping. My, the funds are drying up really quick .... scary to think even I succumbed to the temptations of shopping here.

 

As for meals, we`ll be on budget the next two days before we head to Hokkaido as we have spent close to S$700 the past two days but its all worth it.

--
http://hidekram.blogspot.com/
 

Tokyo .. a town of sinful shopping

We landed safely at Narita airport yesterday morning and immediately started on our shopping frenzy.

 

I just cannot believe that I too will be enjoying the retail therapy. I in fact bought some stuff - one pair of cheap jeans and an X-Japan key chain.

 

Will update again soon as the time　is running out on this computer. 100 yen for 10 minutes.

--

 

Japan here I come ...

Time hasn't really been on my side to allow me to write about my wedding however I promise that will happen when I come back from my honeymoon trip.

 

As I post this blog, its raining out there on the tarmac while the A380 is waiting for us to board. This is going to be exciting. A rare chance to catch a glimpse and even ride the A380 belonging to Singapore Airlines,

 

More details to follow when I find my next internet station.

 

 

Its time ...

In a matter of hours, I'll be her groom and she'll be my bride. After more than 10 years of staying close together and sharing life's challenges, we'll be pronounced man and wife at about 1145am (GMT + 8)on 7 June 2008.

Just 40 minutes away from the big day I have been waiting all my life, I start to reflect on how our relationship bloomed. 10 years is not a short period of time and given a chance, I wouldn't have allowed her to wait this long but nevertheless, the time has come that we come together as one.

I don't know how to really express the joy that's filling up inside me. Its surely an exciting ride ahead for us both as we engage in a new chapter of our lives. We walked together this far and I am sure we'll walk further, closer together.

I have written a song for Sandy which I'll share the lyrics in a later blog but for now, please wish us a blissful marriage and endless years of happiness together.

I will cherish every moment of tomorrow and lock them in my memory. Every smell, every sound and every laughter will be recorded and never forgotten, like this love I have found with Sandy ...

The time has come , the time we have all been looking forward to - 7 June 2008.

Solemnisation at Amara Sanctuary, Sentosa ...

In 7 days, Sandy and I will say the famous ' I Do ' at the Amara Sanctuary Resort on Sentosa, a rather newly opened hotel in the island.

I had many friends who complained to me about the distance of Sentosa but I have assured them that its easily accessible now. Its no longer the Sentosa that was 15 years back whereby the only transport is either by cable car or by a ferry ride that's about 10 minutes.

For you who haven't been there for ages, a bridge linking the two islands have been built quite a number of years back, allowing visitors to the island easy access.

I have included a photo of how the Glass Pavilion looks like so do not be alarmed by the relaxed and casual atmostphere. So if you decide to overdress, you'll probably find yourself being stared at.

My advise is a t-shirt and jeans will be sufficient and for ladies, bikini and jeans will surely catch lots of attention and draw the crowd away from Sandy so if that's what you want, go put on a bikini top. For me, don't be surprised if I appeared in shorts.

13 days to go ...

Sandy is finally going to be mine in 13 days. I wonder if she'll get used to being introduced as Mrs Chong. I believe it'll take some time to have that effect kicked in.

Its only 13 days more and I still feel that there are still many things undone and one of which is the purchase of a new bed. That's likely the first furniture we are ever going to buy together.

I haven't gotten my shoes, haven't collected my wine, haven't finalised the guests list and I haven't received the table arrangements too. Look at the amount on my 'to do list'. Its scary isn't it? So the next time you wish to throw a wedding bash, do consider these things carefully. ; )

But seriously, I aren't regretting throwing this big party of ours. Afterall its a once in a lifetime affair and its always nice to celebrate it with close family and friends.

I guess to make this event a successful one, I have many people to thank. I'll be updating my blog at 'kramfriends' so that I can put my thank-yous to each and everyone who has played a significant role in my life as well as contributed to my wedding in any way big or small. So keep a lookout. However, I have to tell you that its not going to be that quick as right now, I still have lots undone. Perhaps it'll be completed by September thereabouts.

Enough said, I shall come back to update you more about the wedding. Somehow or rather, I do feel I have neglected this blog but it won't be for long until I start contributing to it like how I used to.

Anxiety .. stress ...

All these years I thought I was managing my life well but never did I realise I would succumb to anxiety due to high stress levels.

Guess its a mixture of work as well as the wedding preparations which are long overdue.

Haven't been myself lately and I start to ponder how my other friends managed to cope with nagging wives. Phew, they sure can nag till the neck falls off.

Glad mine is still intact with the body. ; )

Am taking some time this weekend to relax a little and sort out some of the outstanding chores which are pending and outstanding. See, tending to the chores would likely bring me more stress, so how to relax?

Frankly, maybe its right to say that I like to and want to handle things on my own. Its not about not trusting others to do it but more like trying not to burden others with my responsibilities. That's me. I tend to be responsible for what I do and what I cannot do. This is why and how I end up stressed.

There are plenty of things to do but not enough time, not enough hands and all at the same time, not wanting others to be stressed up over our issue.

Enough said, I guess I am still looking forward to my big day despite the number of chores I am about to face. Afterall, its our day. Perhaps, am just lazy or is it something else ....?

7 June 2008 ...

Times flies really quickly. In just one month, Sandy and I will be married.

Its been a long walk together, going through many squabbles and arguments but we are still one. One heart, one big love.

Wedding invitations are on the way out to relatives and friends. Did you get yours? If not, be patient. Oh, unless you are the group coming from Hong Kong. ; )

Seriously, Sandy and I didn't do much planning for this big day. Its not going to be fanciful. Its just a party for us all, just like how friends get together at each other's homes. This is exactly the same, only that my 'living room' will be able to accommodate more than 200 guests.

Let's not expect too much from both of us. We'll mingle, we'll play and we'll cheer. That's the only reason why we are all coming together on 7 June 2008.

A little anxious over this big day but am certainly hoping 7 June 2008 will not pass me by quickly as I want to enjoy every minute, every hour and feel what's going on inside me. I am not going to rush. I'll just try to capture every moment I can with my bride Sandy and of course, everyone present.

Its a pity some friends cannot make it due to various reasons. Work, health etc. But all have sent me well wishes. Everyone of them have.

I tried visualizing myself in clothes I am to wear on that day. I see myself walking around, clowning around and taking pictures. I am who I am even on that day so forgive me for my jokes and funny acts.

Right now I am still thinking if I should perform on that day. If I should play the piano at all. See, few months back I performed and my best friend's wedding and I realised noone was listening, no one paid attention and I am really afraid of that as I didn't want to be any other lounge piano player. OK, excuses and more excuses.

I shall stop here and not say anything more. Let whatever is going to happen on that be a surprise for you and me so don't try to pry open this golden mouth of mine. It'll stay shut.

So in 30 days, I'll be the groom and Sandy my bride. In 30 days, I'll be a grandfather and she'll be a grandmother. Sweet and nice isn't it?

My Music's online ...

I have finally uploaded my first piece of music - Love Pain.

Am a little excited about it yet a little afraid the music isn't at all that wonderful. Hearing some comments from you will surely be useful and perhaps, help me make better music next time.

I do have some other compositions which I'll share with you next time and hopefully, they'll be nicer than this trial song I have decided to put up with Imeem.com.

Maybe, it'll also be useful if you know any other cool sites where I can upload my songs for easy download.

Anyway, am just so glad I managed to put this up as I know some friends are waiting to hear my music but I haven't had the time to polish and refine those melodies just yet. And yes, as I may not be the best person to write lyrics, perhaps if you know someone who is interested, you can drop me a line too.

Enjoy the music and if its too yucky, its fine. Just tell me so I can improve.

Thanks in advance. : )

Baby Cot ...

At work today, I was wondering at what age do children switch from a baby
cot to a bed. See, my job requires a little bit of paternal instincts and
maybe that particular instinct requires some time to train and nurture.

So what exactly is a baby cot? That I know for sure. It looks exactly like
a cage. Now, if you are a pet lover and have visited a pet shop at least
once in your life, you'll likely be able to visualise a puppy running
around in limited space because it's fenced up by a perimeter of plastic
and metallic fences. Now, imagine that you'll bend over to pick up the
puppy with your hands. Ta-da, that's exactly how a baby cot looks like if
you switched the puppy to a baby. Am I making sense here? Maybe not.

Forget the baby cot and the puppy fence. ; )

Another farewell ...

Pricoa has lost an effective manager and a good friend.

Vivian Lee served her last day at the office yesterday after giving a 2
month notice. Its been a short work stint with Vivian whom I report to but
she's one cool boss who works with a heart and brings lots of cheer and
laughter to the team here.

This morning as I stepped into the office, I peeped into the room only to
find an empty desk with a chair neatly parked. No more morning greetings,
no more poking fun at one another.

The atmostphere in the office has changed drastically after her departure.
Perhaps what she said is correct. Give it some time and everything else
will be normal. So what's normal at a work place? Just minding your own
business and not interacting with fellow colleagues. Frankly, the group
here I work with are a bunch of very happy people and we get along really
well.

Vivian, always approachable and nice to her subordinates makes us laugh all
the time with her own laughter. So its true that laughter is the best
medicine and its as contagious as yawning. I guess Vivian and I both have a
similar personality. We are very accommodating and always say 'yes' and
that's one very big reason why she has left. She took too much upon
herself. I guess she's a very good example to what I don't want to be.
Always giving in to others and taking more responsibility every day and
after a long period of time, you just burst and shouting out loud on how
miserable you are.

Oops. Am I sending the wrong signal to my colleagues who might be reading
this. No, I aren't complaining. Am just discussing about personality and
how heroes always die young. Heroes take the world's burden on them and
that's too much thus they fumble and die. I aren't no hero. And don't think
I'll be anyway. ; )

As for Vivian, she'll always be mother hen to the many children she has here.
We'll miss her heaps and who knows, our paths might cross again some time,
some day.

Food on bus ...

In Singapore, there is a certain fruit which is a no-no when boarding a bus. And that's the durian.

We all know it has a very strong smell and if you don't eat this fruit, chances are you won't like the smell of it too.

Seated on the bus now, I could smell something else. I smell food. Cooked food to be exact. Carrot cake or fried noodles but its stinking the bus and I know for sure this smell is going to linger in my nose for awhile.

It isn't exactly smelly. It just causes the bus to smell and that's exactly what happens when durian is brought on a public transport.

So my point is this. If cooked food smells and eventually leaves the same effects just as a durian does, so why can't durian be allowed?

Let truth be told. Its not the smell that the bus operators are afraid of, they are merely afraid of the thorny fruit which could be used as a deadly weapon especially after two months failing to re-capture JI terrorist Mas Selamat.

Right. Just kidding.

Song Writing ...

I happen to chance upon a blog / forum on song writing. Songcraft seems to be a platform for aspiring song writers to exchange and talk about their works and what's best is they'll have a get-together on Friday at Fort Canning Park.

I am trying to squeeze some time to join the group of people behind Songcraft and hopefully pick up some tips from the people there. I am not too sure if I will be able to make it as you know my wedding is round the corner and there are still lots of things not done yet.

Its inspiring to know there are people out there who share the same interest in wanting to write a musical and its comforting to know that they are doing what they can in placing some effort to make that dream come true. Perhaps I should start making contacts there and who knows, a collaboration might make things a little easier to make that dream a reality.

Its two months away ...

Our wedding is drawing closer and we are talking about 60 days away. As usual, nothing much done yet on our end. Well, afterall its going to be a casual get together with family and friends.

So what's outstandng?My.We have a long list of 'to-dos' to put in place. My clothes, my songs, the guest lists and the purchasing of wine as well as program for the day.

I have been telling friends to come dressed casually as I do not want to overdress myself. If I could, I would love to wear denim jeans on that so you know what to do.Come in your pyjamas. Sandy is unlikely to allow me to dress casual but let's see what I can do to convince her.

The day's program will kick off at 530am with a Chinese tradition of hair combing. An hour later, gate crash at Sandy's place will take place to escort the bride out of her home and to my parents' place. I have a feeling that there will be lots of funny games as we try to break in to snatch the bride and I will have to count on my section of six brothers to be present for the tortures.

Just for you to know, the following are my brothers - Weisheng, Junsheng, Hanwen, Jiaping, Edwin and Tsu Jungg. These guys will represent me in any games that is to be played. Afterall, I am the groom and I shouldn't be involved in being mocked at.

The line-up on the other side of the gate will be Clara, Louisa, Shio Cheng and Ellen. Four ladies versus six gentlemen. What do you think will be the result? :) No comments here.

So after all the home visits, we'll set off to Amara Sanctuary where the solemnization and lunch buffet will take place. There, its going to be fun, fun and more fun as that's where Sandy and I will greet the many guests attending the wedding lunch.

During lunch, we'll want to mingle around as much as possible. Afterall, the guests are here for us thus we'll take as much time to interact as possible. In the midst of lunch, we'll also do our tea ceremony which could take up an hour as we do have many relatives. :)

Once all is over, Sandy and I plan to just stay in the room and stay sober as we know we'll be tired after all the activities.Its also to escape a bunch of guests who carry thoughts of making us drunk. Looks like I have to send some hitmen to take them out first by making them drunk instead. So who can I count on I wonder as all of them seem likely to be defectors and will not pledge loyalty on that day.

Perhaps on that day,I shall declare alcohol free. :) Its a sacred day afterall. Yes, that's what am going to do. The best of all tactics is to retreat and retreat I shall.

Behind bars ...

Just met up with a friend recently who was thrown behind bars after getting caught for selling contraband cigarettes. I wasn't at all surprised this has happened to him as from young, he was exposed to many undesirable activities.

He wasn't someone who could study well and likely mixed with people from the secret societies. He visited back alley gambling dens which often resulted him to seeking illegals loans from syndicates to fire his bad habits - gambling.

This chap has got all the courage to do all the weird things which no normal person would do. He very often leaves Singapore to hide away from creditors seeking him and I would believe he would have had bad incidents which ended with blood and bruises.

Now that he has come out of jail, I hope he will be able to change his life and his ways. I am sure the period of 6 months behind bars would have allowed him to reflect on his wrong doings and bring him back on track to a clean world.

This will be a good time for me to see if the Yellow Ribbon project set up by the government would really help ex-convicts move on with life. Its sad to know that many ex-convicts out there find difficulty in settling down and finding a job. I am sure a handful of them do find the correct path but a bigger percentage of them might end up back there again as the society rejects them each time they try to lead a normal life.

To be continued ..... As my bus ride ends soon.Visit again should you want to read about life in prison all from the eyes of someone who's been there.

Leslie Cheung ... a fallen star on April Fool's

Five years ago on this very day, Leslie Cheung ended his life by plunging down The Oriental hotel in Hong Kong. As rumours started spreading, everyone thought of it as an April Fool's joke but not until the late night news confirmed the incident. Leslie indeed took his own life.

In Hong Kong, fans of Leslie are more likely to be mourning than pulling pranks today. Afterall, a hero of canto pop needs to be remembered on this very day.

I believe most part of the world with a Chinese community, some sort of tribute will be made in memory of the boyish looking star. Popular for both his love songs as well as movies, this chap will surely be remembered fondly for his contributions to the Hong Kong music and film industry.

Of all the songs he has, my favourite would still be 'Yau Shui Gong Ming'. What's yours? I wouldn't really say that I grew up hearing his songs. I didn't. It was only this particular song that had an impact on me. His other songs were indeed good but this seemed more meaningful and relates to my life somehow.

Never mind the song's relation to my life and how it impacted me but let's take time off today to at least listen to one of his songs. Perhaps by tuning in to your local Mandarin or Cantonese radio station, you will likely hear Leslie's songs again.