Understand women?

If only you can understand German, this would be a laugh :D

Die Sprache der Frauen -- written by a man
Ja = Nein
Nein = Ja
Vielleicht = Nein
Es tut mir leid = Das wird Dir leid tun
Wir brauchen = Ich will
Entscheide Du = Die richtige Entscheidung müßte offensichtlich sein
Mach wie Du willst = Dafür wirst Du noch zahlen
Wir müssen reden = Ich muß mich über etwas beschweren
Natürlich, mach es wenn Du willst = Ich möchte nicht, daß du es machst
Ich bin nicht sauer = Natürlich bin ich sauer, Du Arschloch!

Moooooooo... they're back

and all over Singapore...



Wherever you see a piece of green, look out for these moo-moo. These cows first appeared about a year ago (when that's when I first spotted & kissed one), now you'll see a more stylish version.

A lot of people are wondering what are these cardboard cows doing here??? So am I. So here I am going to provide you with the answer. Ok, this is outdoor advertising?? Paper cows grazing on the grass and you call this some sort of advertising movement! Even adopting one PAPER cow costs $100 (read PAPER), it shows how all these money-making ideas are all over the place. And they won like (what!!!) 3 awards just for placing these cows islandwide? I thought it was some "Green campaign, protect your earth, plant more trees", geezz... I can't believe this! It's not that I'm against such marketing/advertising idea, but hey, this is kind of mis-leading isn't it! It would be really nice or even cool to have a better concept behind those moo-moo...

MIA no more

My dear friends (dear Joy),
I have so much to write, even more to say and lots to share...
But my passion has been lost, that desire has died and time is not in my hands...
Should I just say I'm lazy? LMAO.

Okay lah, the truth is I really want to blog/write. However everytime I wanted to do it, something else is just taking place and I haven't got that much concentration to put my thoughts together! Now I really missing blogging... like I miss that little polar bear, Knut!

Now I'm back and ready... Big plans big plans ahead. I can't say what's definite at this moment but I'm longing for a change, a chance and that kind of life a typical Singaporean will dread of (no stable income!). Haha. In fact, I dread of running low on funds too, but is being happy or earning money more important?? Before I get too carried away with all these, I better end here and start my slightly more interesting entries - coming up!!!

Thanks for hanging around, guys!

Basket, why is esplanade so easy to imitate?

Esplanade/Durians founded within IKEA. It's meant to be funny, though the pictures do not really show it!

B&J's Free Cone Day

That's today! 17th April 2007, an annual celebration internationally - wow, worldwide, so wherever you're, go find a Ben & Jerry's store!

I had the cookies & creams, yummi yumm yummm... always have time to Q for another! The news, B&J's has also joined Environmental Challenge Organisation (ECO) Singapore to fight against global warming... Wow, what is this wind that is blowing around Singapore now. Nothing bad, but hey this "Save the Earth" campaign seems to be all over. B&J's will be selling their 100% Biodegradable grocery shopping bag at S$10 with profits donated to ECO... very tempted to get one, shall find out!

UPDATE
Greedy me, I know... Yes, I know I shouldn't... but it's BEN & JERRY!!! So I got another cone of strawberry cheesecake. God, it's heavenly. And now I can promise no more (dairy) ice-cream indulgence for a month at least... I can do the sorbet/real fruit juice one, right? Fair enough?

My baby bear

Following the news some weeks ago, or was it months - that the Berlin Zoo wanted to kill the little polar bear because the mum has abandoned/rejected him. The situation landed poor baby in an abnormal growing lifestyle and there was huge discussion of whether it should live. Poor bear, I can adopt you!! Ship me to me, you can live with Tommy.

Quoted from Spiegel.de:
"Well, not quite. Animal rights activists, as SPIEGEL reported Monday, aren't so enthralled with the polar bear baby. They are concerned that Knut, who is being raised by human hand after his mother rejected him, is in danger of losing touch with the bear necessities. Some would like to see him dead.

"Raising him by hand is not appropriate to the species but rather a blatant violation of animal welfare laws," animal rights activist Frank Albrecht told the mass circulation newspaper Bild, whose front page headline Monday read "Will Sweet Knut Be Killed by Injection?"

Berlin Zoo is allowing Knut to be raised in such a way that the bear will have a behavioral disorder for the rest of his life, Albrecht believes. "In actual fact, the zoo needs to kill the bear cub," he adds."

Here's a BBC's video of Knut (which has translated the interview which was done in German to English). A better resolution one of CNN's one on youtube (this is a combination of both English & German), you can't help but feel so touched when you see him kiss his keeper. This famous little bear is also on Wikipedia now!

It has since caused a stir... and look how many blogs are being set up for this little baby, named Knut. Unfortunately, most of them are in German. Here's one of them.

But my personal preference is this one with pictures and videos of baby Knut. Look, he's so playful... I saw him briefly on the news the other night on TV, and he's soooooooooooooooooo cute! Now I wish I live in the Zoo. I shall bookmark it so I can read about his life very often :))))

Now they are even selling it on eBay, oh my, when can I get one!!

BYOBD

What does that stand for????????????? Just in case you do not know that the local Government really enjoys using abbreviations, BYOBD stands for "Bring Your Own Bag Day".

For more detailed reading, please refer to this article.

Following IKEA's "Say NO to plastic bags" campaign, now there's an introduction to BYOBD day every 1st Wednesday of the month to promote less wasteful usage of plastic bags. 18th April, the coming Wednesday, it is also the Earth Day (I didn't even realise we have it here in Singapore till this campaign starts!). That is when everyone will have to bring their own "bag" to all the participating supermarkets/outlets as no plastic bag will be given out free, you have to make a token donation should you want to get one. Right here at Carrefour, the donation per plastic bag is 10cents!

Not very new to this actually, it has been this way all along when I lived in Germany. Same thing with the recycling bins - paper; plastic; glass. I have also began that recycling habit at home since the town council has been kindly collecting them every fortnight - now my dad has also been influenced by me. But not my sister whom like to trash every piece of paper into the bin.

Everyone plays a part to make this place more environmental friendly, so do your part :)

Dear Boss, I hope you wouldn't read

You know it's time to leave your job when...

• a simple task seems like a chore
• going to the restroom is more enjoyable than sitting in front of the PC
• punctuality applies to knocking off than starting the day
• playing Sudoku is less a torture than using Excel
• using Words makes you even more like editing your resume/CV
• you say "yes" to everything not knowing what they are babbling about
• the hole-puncher becomes your best friend and a source to release stress
• you dress according to your mood, and recently it's been all black (exceptions - Fridays)
  
• you rather wear the painful heels so they make you walk slower to work
• food is on your mind all the time (what to eat for lunch, what to eat for dinner, what to eat tomorrow, should I get Royce chocolate - if so, which one?)
• you stay up late on Sunday night, wishing Monday will never arrive
• you have zits and it's all because of work (good excuse, right)
• sitting among a bunch of bores do not bother you anymore

I'll keep adding when I think of more ;)

Many dreams, but which?

I have so many options but which should I take, what should I follow - my heart, my instincts or the morals and the (singapore/government) rules??

Give up my job and do a revitalising 2-months travel back in Europe (visit the Scandinavia & revisit other lovely countries)? Give up my job and do a 6-months stint learning a third language in the native country?? Give up my current job and hopefully take up one that allows traveling?? Give up working and go back to studies (can't afford overseas, only local - but nothing really suits my needs)?? Try for overseas studies in countries that charges minimal fees and work part-time? Set up a franchise fashion shop here in SG (this, don't think I have enough capital, just looked as well, the company doesn't allow franchising!)?? Stick to routine, get stuck in current job and earn the pathetic wages -- I really wouldn't choose this if I have an option!!

Shall look into it now......

Meow, the passenger

Something warm and nice to read: Mr Cat takes free bus rides

Switch, please

As the days go by, I'm more convinced I'll be out of this job. I loved what I was doing, I was even eager about every single thing that was going to happen or had happened. But 4 months passed, as I'm counting down to the end of my contract, I'm also very encouraged to leave. Most of the people in the team travel for business/work, they go to many places. But I have to sit down here in my cubicle, sorting out documents and helping to support them. It isn't very satisfying. If a degree can do so much difference, then the Government sector really sucks because of how much emphasis they place on it. A new place shall awaits me...

Blahh of the day

Amazing... just realized my blog entries are being publicized all over the internet. Here's a few examples:

http://www.local.co.uk/Inveraray/Shoes
http://technorati.com/tag/austrian%20food
http://technorati.com/tag/German+beer

Guess this is where the feeds/labels go to eh... or is it one of the enhanced features they have with Google now? Not very sure if I'm totally easy with everyone reading or chancing upon my blog... but well, this is INTERNET!

Someone just googled my blog-name again... last week. *whispers* appears to be from IDA too, I doubt it's me... err.. because that time, I already left for home!

In the wrong place

How?

I'm very distracted. Not in the mood to work hard or concentrate, is it the long weekend or am I just a little tired of the things I'm doing. There is variety, however not the most exciting one, I still remember how much I enjoyed waking up, coming to work, learning new things and doing the things I was doing... Yet now, after I have gotten used, I am beginning to feel bored and weary of them. The new people sitting around me are such woods, they never seem to respond... Whenever there's food to be shared in the pantry, I'd tip them off; one time after my event, I even brought a box of left-over for them, yet I don't think it was appreciated. I feel sick even sitting besides such people.

People whom doesn't respond, doesn't talk, doesn't smile, doesn't say hi or goodbye! Sick, sick, sick...

I think it's time for me to move on again...

La laa la laa la la laa laa POP

It was Gala Pyjama Night!!

Music and Lyrics was on, it's in the cinema right now, so we were practically getting a free screening. Where? In Singapore Botanic Gardens. With the trees and mosquitoes. Actually it wasn't too bad, weather was kind to us, we had occasional breeze. IKEA, The Straits Times (Urban) and Golden Village has joined hands to get this Pyjama thing going... It reminds me of the Starlight Cinema at Fort canning, only that we need not purchase tickets for this, what more, they gave me/us freebies for coming! IKEA discount/vouchers and travel/sports bag.

After spreading the word around (I got it in my Inbox) and some hard work of asking around... I went with my sister. Hey, we brought our night-tee okay... pyjamas. We were the bear-sisters! There was a pair of duck-sisters whom were on the stage vying for the "Best Dressed Pyjama Team". We were a bit too late for that, goddamn bus...! Actually it's not the bus, it was just work, and then the journey to get there. By the way, the "Bananas in Pyjama" won the contest.

The film was actually so-so... I find the plot a litte simple and too predictable. Hugh Grant was lovely and especially saucy (with the dance moves) in the show, Drew Berrymore too, a little more passionate than I remember her in other shows! An OK romantic flick for someone who doesn't expect too much... what more to expect if you love song-writing! The sound system was pretty bad, I heard echoes the whole time and couldn't quite make it out when there wasn't even subtitles. Overall, it's quite a new experience and it has been ages I been to Botanic Gardens... Movie in the park, I guess I'll do it again!

My rating: 3/5

Like Rolls Royce

Tsunami preyed on Solomon Islands yesterday morning. Poor things... there was no warning.

My mum teased me,"Now you're spending all your $$$ (savings) because Tsunami is approaching..." I bought Royce chocolate home today, just because I suffer a severe craving for good quality chocolate. I visited Carrefour but was just not keen in Lindt or Nestle or Hersey anymore... Not even Meiji. I have always seen Qs at the Royce shop but never understood why until today.

I try it! I tried!

I have a very specific craving... only dark chocolate. So after chatting with the sales person (a true japanese), I decided to go for NAMA BITTER! It's a 20 pcs box. It has to be refrigerated... so she packed it with dry ice while I carefully sent it home and into the cool temperature. Dinner was over and we all couldn't wait. Sister was more anxious than me, I could see her waiting to jump onto my tiny box of chocolates! Attack!


So I carefully opened it, of course, it being the first time! It comes in such an elegant packaging that it seems a pity to tear everything open... But when I finally lifted the cover, I went,"WOW!" So so so heavenly and they're just mouthwatering. Divine!

I poked it with the plastic fork provided, slowly put it into my mouth... It just slowly melted... Immersed, the bittersweet taste immediately surfaced and you felt the endorphin rush. It made you happy quickly, like a drug. It made you addicted, like the drug too. Endorphin: Any of a group of peptide hormones that bind to opiate receptors and are found mainly in the brain. Endorphins reduce the sensation of pain and affect emotions - quoted from dictionary.com.

All in all, I say,"If you have not tasted it, give it a go... Royce is a must-try for its affordable and quality japanese chocolate!"

Glamour starts from here...

It was Singapore Fashion Festival - 23 March to 1 April... not Singapore Fashion Week that I have mistaken it to be (which falls usually in November)!! Anyway the point is, I caught one of the fashion shows held in the malls - one of my favourite UK brand, WAREHOUSE. River Island's was on Saturday, but I didn't want to make a trip down to a place some 500m away from my office on the weekend. I'm really bad at estimating distance, so don't take that as a gauge. It's about a 10 minutes walk.

The show started like 15 minutes late... I had 2 shots up at the New Asia Bar, so the delay helps to cool me down after those teeny but "powderful" alcoholic drinks. Work had been hectic, so I thought I should reward myself and do something I have always wanted to try. Go up there alone, order 2 shots or even 4... I think my limit is still 2. LOL. Unless I stay there for a few hours, I can perhaps try 4.

So back to WAREHOUSE, I snapped a couple of pictures... Here are my favourites (clothes):

Prost!

Have you heard of a microbrewery in Singapore besides Tiger (of course) and Brewerkz. Here's another one if you're not aware of - Paulaner. Yes, it's German. For your information, here's the Munich Paulaner (Germany), and here's the Singapore Paulaner. I'm very impressed with the germany's site, beautifully illustrated and animated ;) *thumbs up*

Last night, I was there for Stammtisch. In case you're wondering what's that, it's actually a monthly gathering for German speakers, don't get the wrong idea. You don't see a lot of germans, some... and in fact there are a lot of locals or foreigners (japanese, spanish, vietnamese) whom are fluent in the language - very impressed.

Inside Paulaner Bräuhaus (Singapore), you see painting/sketches of the Munich Paulaner... furnished with maple wood and dimly lit... It cultivates a very relaxed atmosphere for a drink or two. Not forgetting, they brew really good beer under "The german law of purity". Munich Lager and Munich Dark, I like both equally!

We were at the restaurant on level 2, food can be a bit pricey however the standard is there. I love their sauerkraut and mashed potato... simply wouldn't get sick of it! A few of us shared the sausage platter, Weisswurst and the infamous crispy pork knuckle, so it turned out fairly reasonable and portion was just right. I was with a group of locals whom have mastered german (already fluent), but we spoke in English throughout. I am very very surprised to know they are so similar people like me, whom have travelled a fair bit, love to travel, love the german language and so interested in their cultures... Thank you, I found you guys!!

I was mentally exhausted from work to be listening on the brewery tour, even though Alex (the brewmaster) was quite entertaining and his english isn't bad at all for a german. Here's some reading if you are curious about the process. And of course... pictures!

Thee men I know

I want to quote these from a forwarded email I received, just because it totally perfectly describes someone whom I know of that zodiac sign. It might not be applicable to all, but somehow this one paragraph just fits!

Mr. Cancer
The most sensitive man who can not stand rejection. He could be very funny, very quiet, suddenly very sad. Living with him could be very unexpected, for you will not know what is his next mood. Spending money is part of his good image, so he will be happy to spend money to take you out to a very expensive restaurant or buy a jewelery for you. He loves his mother, so try to be his mother favorite, but do not act like his mother! *yuckss... be his mummy's fav! and a mummy boy*

Mr. Leo
He can work hard like a mad dog, and sometimes can be lazy like a sleepy cat. When he works, he is very serious. When he parties, he can be a party animal. If he ask you out, you will sure have a fun and jolly time. Beauty is always in the eyes of the lion. *mmmm... so true, every single pretty woman he'll not miss* You have to be dignified to walk with the lion king. Your looks is part of his image and ego and he is very proud about it too. He likes to talk and not knowing that he likes to talk about himself.

Mr. Virgo
He will spend money carefully and spent it worthwhile. He will only be extravagant for his personnel pleasure. If he does not care about you, he will not even spent a dime to call you locally. Long distant special low rate call is also out of the question. *such a miser* The more he see faults in others, the less he wants people to see his. If you want him to change his faults, try to tell him gently or he could take it as an insult. A real two "P" , picky and perfectionist Zodiac.

Mr. Scorpio
He is sensitive and easily hurt and always feels lonely. He does not trust anyone but himself. Sounding so negative, but he has an amazingly charisma. He does not like people who never try to help themselves before asking other people for favors. He is the type of guy who mostly achieved his goal in life. He can not retreat or rest for long, for he thinks life has more questions and more answers to be searched. He is happy to know he is a complex figure. You may say something that you already forgotten, but he will remember every words. *sounds like you a-not, siong papa?*

The last Mr Bean story -- said to be

Mr. Bean's Holiday

It has just been released in the UK, why does the website says 3 more days to the release??

It's horrendous to Q for movie tickets during the weekend at Tampines Mall. We were there 740pm, and the next two shows were almost sold out... with the left-over seats that would make you leave the show with wringing neck. So we got the 1110pm timing which ended about 1am *yawn*

It's more like Mr. Bean's adventure/diary with his video camera... The usual silly Mr. Bean series except that this time he has a new companion; not his teddy bear, but a french boy, Stepan. And of course, it always helps to have a pretty actress in it, Sabine. It gets a little lame at some parts of the story, but nonetheless it's entertaining and perfect for families (kids)... Maybe also for older generation whom doesn't understand English/French, since the humor is demonstrated through his actions/body language. It keeps me awake throughout the show, so I guess it still works for me. The highlights for me are the scenes where Mr. Bean and Stepan got reunited again and again, that little boy -- he's quite a delight too.

My Rating: 3.5/5