Goodbye LKY

Today the nation mourns for a loss. A big loss for us Singaporeans. Our founding father, Lee Kuan Yew has passed on after more than a month of hospitalization.

"Singapore has lost her father today. Singaporeans have also lost our founding forefather. We are all feeling lost and terribly upset."

It definitely hurts much more than the first time when the fake rumour went around. Because we all know it's real. The first thing I saw on my Facebook feeds this morning, everyone was sharing about his passing. I don't know Mr Lee personally nor have I even met him, yet he felt like a grandfather (one I never had). Tears just trickled down my face as I read the news.

Even though many of us moan about the current lifestyle in Singapore, many would rather to have it this way than living in our neighbouring countries. The reason why everyone flocks here is because Singapore is doing so well. From a land of swamps to what we are today, MM Lee has done it for all of us. He brought us the roof over our heads, that water supply we constantly have to struggle with our lack of natural resources, and the international ties we enjoy together with many other countries...

When I was a child, there wasn't even MRT. Today we have MRT, LRT and it keeps on expanding to bring all of Singapore connected. From the developing country we were, we are now flourishing. Mr Lee is the man behind all these. As many also complain about the lack of freedom of speech, the strict policies and a singular ruling government, we must also remember because of these solid foundations we built on, we have managed to become the modern city we are today. But we must also keep thriving to make constant improvements in this country, to carry on that legacy he has left behind. It doesn't have to remain as what it is, it has to improvise... and now the baton has been passed on! We need to make it a better Singapore!

NYE escapade - 東京(1)

東京

Tokyo.

My first time.

This was pretty abrupt. Barely a week before the trip, a friend chatted me up. During the conversation, he mentioned he was going to Tokyo to join a friend's birthday celebration. And out of nowhere, he asked if I wanted to go along. I knew him for maybe 7 years, we have met a couple of times during a trip or two when they happened to concide. It was the first time he invited me. Well, of course, I wasn't suspecting anything unusual or whether he had any motive... my only thought was he wanted a companion for the trip. So I agreed. He said he was burning his air miles anyway, and he had accomodation sorted, so all I need was to come along.

Booked.

I flew to Haneda on Singapore Airlines and sat with two very polite Japanese women. It was a night flight, so I managed some sleep on the plane. I arrived on 31st December, it was early in the morning and the tourist information counter at the airport wasn't even opened yet. So no free wifi for the trip (I read they do give out free SIM card). I sorted out the bus ticket directly to the hotel, arrived there but couldn't check in, so I left my bags and went into the city for breakfast.

The weather was freezing but I loved it.

So my friend, Adam, was only arriving later that evening, I decided to hook up with a fellow Singaporean friend living in Tokyo to have a little tour. I met up with Stephanie, an ex-intern in my company before, Stephanie is half Chinese half Japanese, so having her around helped a lot! She took me to Jiyugaoka, a hippy area outside the city centre to see the "Little Venice", we chanced upon a good ramen place and some cool boutiques. We also ended up in a tiny cafe serving awesome cakes, and regretted we didn't eat more that afternoon! LOL. But I had to get back to the hotel for check-in and also probably heading out for more food that night.

So when I got back, Adam had arrived. He was with his friend, Sebastian, who was staying next door. I don't know why but Adam did not bring a winter coat (haha!), he was probably travelling too much he forgot it was THIS cold in Tokyo. Thanks to all the NYE sale, he found a really good bargain at GAP. After that, all of us went to this quaint Japanese restaurant for dinner. It seemed pretty authentic with lots of Japanese customers, we had to keep our shoes in lockers, kneel or sit around a small table for food. The whole place was a bit smoky though and I was sure we smelled after that!

I decided to pick what the locals would go for, Hoppy beer with intestinal skewers. The boys opted for safer options, pizza and some sausage-alike skewer! LOL. I didn't realise I could get high on Hoppy beer as they actually mixed it with shōchū. After that, I could feel the heat on my face and had to get some snack from the convenience store to dissolve my intoxication.

We didn't have the most exciting countdown for sure. I was there whatsapping with the guy who broke my heart before (wrong move!!!) and making myself a lovely bath, while the boys headed down to the lobby for some champagne. Goodbye 2014 and goodbye to that jerk.

I was staying at Hyatt Regency Tokyo that night, here's my review on Tripadvisor.

You got mail

An email made my day the other day. But the one today didn't. I should have expected it but I didn't. I thought it would never come. Sometimes I hate being human. Why are emotions so complex? Can it be just happy and sad and nothing else? I wrote a very frank email the other day, I never fail to amaze myself with what I can express through words. I don't even know if they have touched someone or even made them cry. But I know I wrote it with all my heart and I hope the reader would feel it somehow. I hate goodbye emails because I am never good at saying them. But inevitably in this life, I have been made to say it countless times on many occasions. I think I am done, I just don't wish to say anymore goodbyes. Can I?

You're never far away

Grandma passed away on the 6th June 2013, she will always remain in our fond memories. Goodbye and love you!

New toys for home

After a couple of years, it's time to say bye to our old Samsung washing machine. It had been giving us countless power trips, the Dad never wanted to give up trying (oh dad, please!). Things do wear and tear. It still worked at the time we dumped it, but once it started the spinning, it just cut off the electricity. Then it got worse, sometimes before even it started to rinse or wash. So after a few weeks of fruitless tries and shopping, we finally found our new LG washer at the Harvey Norman Expo Sale. It was a fantastic deal because we bought the display set, it was further discounted. The only thing is the mum did not fancy the idea of a front loader (neither did she when we had the top loader). She got used to it only in the last year or so and started doing the washing (normally the old man does). So I know she just needs time to adapt, and this one is not any harder to learn - turn that knob and press play! Finally another thing off the list.

I also bought myself a mini fan. I wonder how I managed to survive the 32°C nights, sometimes I had to crawl onto the marble floor to fall sleep. That fan in the room shared with my sister just isn't enough anymore. Fortunately the last nights had been more cooling and I didn't even need to use it. Oh, but I have always wanted to get a mini fan like this, just wish that it's gold in color!

3 more days

... to the new year!

I can't help but look forward. There's just something about 2012 that I really want to bid farewell to! I don't know what, or perhaps I have reached my travelling quota this year and need a new one once 2013 arrives. And I know, I still haven't wrote about my America trip! I hope I can get some things done this weekend (fingers crossed).

So many things happened this year... good and bad. Seriously, a lot of bad things around me than the good. I want to give thanks that we are all still live and have a choice to choose to be happy. Some of the highlights for 2012:

1. My dear friend, Joy, got married.
2. Joy's wedding also became my first trip to USA. A new continent conquered.
3. FAB 4 reunited again at the wedding after so many years!
4. My mum got hospitalized, this is probably the first time in my life I saw her on a hospital bed.
5. My cousin is still in a coma, but good or bad, she didn't give up on her life after being taken off the life support.
6. I permed my hair for the first time, though many would say I didn't need it. It's not as curly any more but I definitely like them, just that it is damaging to the hair.
7. I left a job which sucked the life out of me, and am doing one I'm actually enjoying the work.
8. Sometimes distance or even years apart do not kill a real friendship, I have met up with many old friends this year! And I received Christmas cards from all the members of the FAB 4 gang, a rare occurrence.
9. I had so much good food this year, it's hard to keep the waistline from expanding! The most memorable has to be The Line at Shangri-La.
10. I found out "The Laws of Attraction" do work. Focus on what you want and bring it to you!
11. I did another solo trip, this time to Hanoi & Sapa. It was rough, but life's not smooth-sailing all the time!
12. I also did a group trip to Malacca and Bangkok. Both were awesome in different ways. Travelling also sometimes helps to put things in perspective, to witness what some people are really like.
13. I had my first spray-on tattoo ;)
14. I took a few months break in between jobs and those were my most fruitful time!

Bring it on 2013! Show me what you have got!

In search of happiness

Friends have left... to seek that true happiness that was lacking in their lives.


Joy has gone back to America, I feel happy for her to be reunited with the husband. They will move to Canada soon. I guess there's a possibility I might be able to visit ;)

The time Joy was here, we learnt a lot about each other. Even though we were part of FAB 4, but we never really spent time together. I did with the other two separately. But it's funny how God played a trick on us. I was in UK, then she was in USA. Finally, we reunited again in Singapore. We discovered our hobby of painting nails and we are actually quite talented ;) She introduced a sketch group to me where I once again picked up my love for drawing. We swam. We celebrated occasions, ate and drank. We travelled. We talked a lot, from the past to the future, from deep sensitive issues to the larger things in life. She made me feel at ease being myself, she also made me think deeper. She made me see a different side of being human.

Thank you, Joy!


Stephanie, a temp staff from my past job, is leaving for Japan. She's going to be an English teacher, and she's only 24. Half Japanese and half Chinese, she's going back to her roots and hopefully brush up her Japanese language. That's an exciting phase and I'm glad she has the courage to do it!

Gambatte Stephanie!

What are we living for...

Again. I had some random thoughts.

We are all borned with nothing and will leave empty-handed. Yet while we live, many of us strive for wealth, power or even fame... We almost forgot about true happiness. And that doesn't come from those things we are striving for.

I visited Marisa with my aunties and uncle earlier today. Soon we have to say goodbye. Even though she has only about 17 years this life, maybe she has had a happier one than some others. She has doting parents, she was able to study, she was able to have what she wanted, she had a roof over her head, friends and never needed to starve. And in this world, some people have much worse lives than hers. Someone from the church came to say a little prayer for her. She said God is taking her back.

Again, it makes me think, is it often worth it to live without seeking true happiness (contentment)?

See you sometime somewhere

Saying goodbye is always one of the hardest things I have to do. I don't like the feeling of being left behind, nor do I like being the one leaving. A friend recently shared on her status,"Change is the only constant in life!" Isn't it? I am numbed. I don't know how leaving should feel like anymore. Even if its just leaving for a holiday, now I do it with fear and reluctance. But once I am really out there, I know I never regretted that decision to leave. If you're not happy, would you choose to leave? If leaving doesn't guarantee you happiness, it promises you the possibility but the certainty of leaving the unhappiness, would you choose to leave? So many of you might not know, leaving takes a lot of courage; staying doesn't, staying just requires more perseverance and tolerance. I am very confident my decision this time is right. Instincts? Gut feeling? Common sense? Foolishness? It might be all of them. The only thing I know is I am the one controlling what lies in my hands. Travelling made me realised the more I see out there the harder and further I am away from that simple happiness I am looking for. There are greed, material wealth, jealousy, envy and most importantly a heart that isn't pure and simple like those we seek. There is none of that willingness to let go of everything and live like the poor happy people, those whom are contented with the simple things in life, surviving to support their loved ones. Sometimes living in one of the top 10 most expensive cities of the world, I only feel disgrace, not a tiny bit of pride. What is there to compete? Who is wealthier? Or maybe they should measure who are happier...

One by one

The news broke.

Another one heading off to green pasture. First, it was a Thai colleague I work regularly with... Now another. I am certainly glad for them, at the same time, envious.

Keeping my fingers crossed for the day to arrive.

Bye 2011

After sorting out the finances, feelings and finishing things off at work, I am ready to face the new year. Here I am, going to bid farewell to 2011.

Next year will be a new challenge. After reaching 30, suddenly I feel adventurous again. Maybe I should do some investment. Maybe I should do something in future that is not for the sake of money, e.g. volunteering at an olive farm or vineyard! Filling bottles with olive oil, stamping on grapes... how carefree is that compared to slogging away in front of a computer??

As everyone gets more competitive, I get more the opposite. I don't want to compete, to be part of them, I want to do something totally the other way round. I want to hide, do my own things and not care about the competition. Living in a society like today stresses me out, they make us constantly worry about our retirement funds, about surviving the inflation, about how much the government taxes us and not improvising, about how most of us struggle to afford a roof over our heads.Why have things changed so much in 20 years? Why? Why? Why? Why are things not so cheap like the past, why aren't buses 25 cents... I would give up the MRT, LRT and whatever we have now if things could go back to the past.

Anyway, I have to accept life as it is, try to be contented as we should. Alamak. The older we get, the more we think. The more we think, the more we worry. Can I be a bit more retarded please? (but I'm kidding!!!)

I have so much to write about the past 2011, I shall start another entry on that.

I hope you guys are ready for 2012 in less than 30 hours!!!

Gone

(fluff)Friends is gone. Another game losing money and decided to close down the app? But they had done so quietly and so many are angry about it because they spent real money on it. I never have the habit of spending on things like that, I probably don't understand how people get so obsessed and began to spend their money on online games that would not give them anything back, except a few minutes of pleasure. Oh well, some people do.

Bye my beloved virtual Tommie. He's the pet giraffe I have in (fluff) for years. Afterall, I still have the real one by my side :)

Celebrations of life

Today I attended two celebrations of life. One totally opposite of the other. While one celebrates the birth of a child, the other celebrates the end of journey for another.

I feel so tired now, it's tough to be feeling so happy in the day and then swing to the extreme end in the evening. It aches to see a friend being so upset, and then us being helpless. I would never be able to put myself in her shoes, to know that feeling of losing your child, your own blood and flesh. The monster, cancer, is ruthless. I have lost cousin, auntie and uncle all to cancer... and once again, it hits someone again. I hate this thing called illness, if life invents such things, they should give us cures. If there's a will, there's a way, but it seems like there's none in this case. The little Char has fought so hard for her life, yet you never gave her another chance? I hope she's at peace now, no longer suffering. It was more painful to see her living on oxygen tank and bleeding from the tumours.

R.I.P Knut

This is specially designed for my favourite polar bear, Knut. I found all these photos online, most of them my favourites of him. I still remember when I first heard about him, I used to follow his blog daily. It was in German, but I always tried to read it. Fortunately as his popularity raised rapidly, they made translations available... and I could understand it more easily in English. I still think the best was in its native language as they might have quoted what Thomas said. I watched all his baby videos and browsed all his baby photos, and I felt like I know him... even though he was in Berlin and here I am in Singapore. His close relationship with Thomas also deeply touched my heart, how humane has Thomas made him. After the sudden death of his zookeeper, I also gradually lost touch with Knut's blog. But whenever I hear news of Knut, it never fails to bring a smile to my face. Knut is gone now :( Suddenly. Forever. I know I will miss him and his name always deeply engraved in my heart.

March sucks big time!

I really am beginning to hate March... It's the worse month so far, everything bad is happening.

With the horrifying earthquake and triggered tsunamis, threat of nuclear meltdown and danger of radiation in Japan, and now everywhere else are beginning to get earthquakes too, e.g. Taiwan and Manila. Then my boss got ill and travel plans cancelled. And now, even the cute polar bear has to die!??

My sister shared this link on my wall and this morning when I read it, my heart ached. Knut, my favourite polar bear has collapsed and died! How could it be?!! He's only so young! It was devastating when his keeper, Thomas died... and now suddenly Knut's gone forever too.  

Dear Knut, I hope you've found peace and a happier place to be in. You'll always be in my thoughts. Auf Wiedersehen!

Goodbye 2010

It's the end of another year. Time always flies, doesn't it?

Looking back, so much have happened the past 12 months; I am thankful I am still alive and jumping and everyone at home is still well and we're looking forward to the new year. There's so much coming for me in January - close friend's wedding in Sabah, training in Scotland, seeing friends in London... What a great busy start and I hope all things will fall into places thereafter. I better find some time to do some spring cleaning before I get lots of loots back from UK :D It'll be Chinese New Year 2 days after I get back and I hope I can fit into the cheongsam top I bought for the occasion by then... LOL. No overeating in UK please!

So, actually I am writing this to give thanks to things that have happened this year, the good and bad... and no, I'm not setting new year resolutions. I guess my aim every year is the same, simple, to live happy, for me and for everyone I love.

Here's the thank you list (in no order of occurrence):

♥ Thank you ♥

I made many new friends and maybe 1 enemy @ SingTel.

I won Photoshop CS5 @ the Adobe Launch.

I won worth S$300 tickets to Riverdance.

I survived a bike crash in Taiwan.

I survived a maniac climbing onto my bed in the middle of the night in Taiwan.

I had a short and sweet time meeting someone new.

I realised some people are just not worth any time of our life, so get on with it!

I have a wonderful boss and apparently an exciting job.

I found long lost friends on Facebook.

I realised my obsession for DOMO.

I cut my fringe, enjoyed the bangs for a short while (looked young all over again, now I'm missing it).

I did pilates again.

I lived with a cat.
I travelled alone again after 5 years, the last in 2005.

I saw a friend I missed in Ho Chi Minh.

I travelled for the 1st time with my lil sis.

I bought my 1st Kate Spade this year and then got a 2nd.

I found my flip phone and it's Samsung.

My Blackberry has been good the past 1 year.

My Toshiba baby has survived me 3 years and still going strong.

My parents ♥ me. My friends ♥ me. I ♥ them.

I am happy.

p.s: I'll add more tonight if I think of more ;)

It's gonna be a good good day!

Tomorrow (or actually later today) is my first day of school... (just as BS would describe it). Well, it should be bedtime now but I guess I need to blog about the excitement before it's gone!

I have done tonnes of preparation, yet I still think it's not enough. I was trying out the clothes and then I realised I haven't had a pair of shoes that would go with anything and everything! I need new pants and skirts, and I didn't manage to get those recently except quite a couple of new tops. I have some from many years back (which are likely to go to donation bins), and some recently that aren't very appropriate. I dug out clothes that I kept, some for ages, and ironed enough to last me at least 2 weeks! I took out the notebook which I bought months ago, and I knew it would come in handy one day, tomorrow is that day. I also got myself a silk shirt from British India the other day after the 1st interview and promised to wear it on the first day of my new job. I bought myself a Christmas Starbucks tumbler and am very eager to have it on my desk soon!

I am very curious how things will go tomorrow. But somehow I have a good feeling that this time round this is going to be a good journey. You know the phrase "Better late than never!" and this is exactly how I feel. I gotta admit I am a late bloomer, everything better comes late for me... Like how crappy my English was, and now it is a world difference, not the best but it's a world apart. And to think that I could top the Scrabble competition at my ex-company competition, no one believed my English was really bad. The same goes for the men I have met, the horrible ones that I blindly believed were the best, and I am so glad I see things differently now. I am very certain now, which are the ones to avoid and what are the types I do want to keep by my side :)



On the side note...

Goodbye Sneakers.

Today I also donated a pair of sneakers I bought from London many years back, still in excellent condition, but I bought it on impulse and it turned out to be too tight. Running Lab at Tampines One is actually collecting them for The Salvation Army, in return they will give you a S$50 voucher for purchase of running shoes (the promotion is till end of November). I didn't want the voucher as I don't need any running shoes, but it feels good to know the shoes will be put to good use at least. So if you have any old running shoes/sneakers you want to throw, you know where to go now!

Murderer at home

My iron at home is dead, thanks to the lovely sister whom always kills things accidentally with her poor product knowledge! It is barely a few months old!! I threw the last one away which we all loved because it was risking short-circuit due to the broken cord. How am I going to iron my shirt for my interview? Sucks.

We mourn for our loss

2nd October - Singapore lost one of the greatest women, Mrs Lee Kuan Yew. She dies at age 89. I am sure most of us (citizens and residents of Singapore and perhaps many others) are saddened by the sudden news. My condolences to Mr Lee and his family.

So long...

My stay at SingTel is coming to an end... I enjoy every experience that comes with every job. I leave with new friends made, a better perspective of the working culture in the company (and whether I would like to stay longer) and also to handle very difficult people (which happens at every job). I will miss the people here after spending 8 months together and I have definitely hit it off with some of them (some whom haven't been here longer than me)... Imagine I have 3 farewell lunches & dinner with the different groups, I am indeed very lucky.

It has been a ride... At one point, I almost wanted to give up because the poor project management and communication skills of my project manager. He's tactless, doesn't possess very high EQ and doesn't do his job very well if I may say... He's okay on a personal level, but I don't see eye to eye with the way he works. Sorry, if you happen to read this, just being honest! Worst of all, he went to spread rumor about how much I was earning to other colleagues whom are getting lesser, not very professional, fat cat! That's the reason why I really despise him. Compared to the other project manager I was working with on the previous SingTel project, man, there's no way to compare...