ReLief

Many times when things happen that doesnt go your way, you ask why. You ask how come? You ponder. You worry. You get disappointed.

But most of the time, the onLy effective soLution is to accept the fact that it has aLready happened and get on with Life.

PeopLe say things happen for a reason, but itz better the reason be spoken than hidden and Left unsaid. Respect shouLd be given to another human being's choice to do something eLse and support shouLd be Lent and datz what we caLL, care.

No itz not true that in this worLd we Live for ourseLves, coz peopLe who do that wiLL not be happy.

The above are words for a girL I have kept my faith in. We may not be destined to be together, and itz no Longer important for me to pursue anymore. But I stiLL beLieve in you to shine in simpLicity once more. PLease, waLk your Life weLL.

Soon

After seeing the whoLe bunk of a dozen men change throughout one year, I have since become the most "oLd bird". As much as I wouLd Like to think that the new peopLe are considerate, homeLy and caring, itz sad that reaLity is otherwise.

I do not understand how difficuLt it can be to cooperate and keep the whoLe room cLean. The peopLe before them couLd do it, cant they? I can be very nice, but these seLfish peopLe have to Let me portray myseLf to be bad to them. WeLL, too bad, they juz gotta bear with me for another two months. Boys, wiLL aLways be boys if they do not get some kick in their ass.

So gLad, itz about soon I return home too. These peopLe juz heLp me decide not to extend my stay any further here. Money aside, I wouLd rather stay with peopLe who knows how to create a cosy and comfy environment.

Fuck the newbies.

The House

The four-room fLat in a LittLe corner of Hougang which used to fiLL a famiLy of six .. now occupies onLy 3 ; my sis, my Mom, my Dad.


Can't imagine how much dust my room is gonna be getting when I step right back in.

No Rewind, No Fast Forward

Understand that Life is a show of no rewind, and it cannot be fast forwarded either. I was not abLe to do that and Lived in seLf-deception. Now that I do, I guess I'm gonna start "pLaying" my Life again as I shouLd.

Enjoy the show, yours and mine, my frenz.

13th October 2007 's memories :

14th October 2007 's moments:

1st October

The day beyond words, three years ago, and now.

HAPPIUNESS

Issit worth fighting for what seems to be a better Life even if it means spiLLing bLood? Or issit for the sake of the country to ruLe with an iron grip so much so that onLy fear and unhappiness fiLLs the Lives of the peopLe?

I am just another human being. My words cannot be heard. But pray to whoever your gods can be, that the 4 dead are the onLy ones that wiLL be in a simpLe Land caLLed Myanmar.


I suppose the dictionary has got it aLL wrong .. watz happiness with juz i and not U with me?

不能说的秘密

ALways a LittLe sLower than the worLd, finaLLy watched this movie. The standard comes as a big surprise to me, coz I aLways thought Jay Chou was overrated in the superstar industry. But today he has proven himseLf to be the Jack of aLL trades, be it in singing, composing, pLaying (instruments), acting and directing. ReaLLy gotta take my hats off him..

And so moments ago I bumped into ImmanueL outside the room, and he reveaLed that "something magicaL happened to him". The picture as foLLows is taken from his bed....

No, you wun get the gize if you haven watched the movie. My fren, he is pretty much in his own worLd.

The SmiLe That Wasnt

When escaping hurts those who care, you know you gotta face it.

I'm sorry Jerms, Imman. No, our friendship hasnt change, neither has I. Let me make aLL up soon. Thanks for being such great friends, and I reaLLy mean it.

When ALL Is Lost

Im juz happy that I stiLL have you. You fuLfiL my Life, you bring me through ups and downs. You make me fLy. You are aLways here!

I simpLy Love my feet .. okie gone going for a run now.

When Jokers Meet

Long says:
ehh
Long says:
Laptop keypad spoiL how ah?
Stuffi - says:
go service lor
Stuffi - says:
which letter cannot type?
Long says:
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnn

An obviousLy stupid question with a siLLy answer ...

This reminded Stuffi a.k.a poLicer officer Ng Wee Siang of his PoLy days when more often than ever, the Lecturers Love to ask the Last seated peeps if they can be heard and they wiLL answer back.

Stagnant

A game of soccer sets me thinking far into my approach in pLay, which I haven reaLise untiL about today.

I was having a normaL kickabout with the campmates here, Like aLways, I pLayed as the Last man keeping goaL. As usuaL, my team wiLL compLain about me being compLacent becoz I aLways Lean my eLbows on the bar of the goaLposts and then concede soft, sudden goaLs. WeLL, they are right, I am simpLy Mr. CompLacent.

SeriousLy, I dun give a shit becoz I did not show enough respect to the other peopLe. The tag of "you-are-so-good" hanging on my head must be taken off becoz everyone wants to pLay to win and my attitude sucks big time. I apoLogise.

SuddenLy I remembered some footbaLLing peopLe who had toLd me before, that my styLe of pLay has become conservative. UnLike the past, I dun attempt to dribbLe past peopLe anymore. I dun turn peopLe inside out and outside in anymore. I dun attack freeLy anymore. I juz become .. defensive, Like in my own Life. I've stopped going after improvement and to better myseLf.

WeLL, therez no right or wrong, everyone evoLves through time, but you know it when itz time to change. Sometimes, you wiLL need someone to give you a kick in the butt to get you going ..

Watz ur position? An aLL-out attacker, or a Laid-back defender?

Aunty Agony

Today, together with two of my mates, we went to do faciaL. Men doing faciaL is no Longer something uncommon, itz juz Like women doing contact sports ..

Aunty Agony does it best, pinching and squeezing. The pain is extremeLy unbearabLe! At Least, I know that the price women pay to Look pretty is more than juz money.

Since we are on good reLations with the Lady boss because of subsequent visits, she treated us to dinner on this day. The three of us, with two of her staff, ate our hearts out at the steamboat buffet. Had wanna pay her but she simpLy turned it away, but made a simpLe request that we wiLL not forget her when we return to Singapore. Lady boss sure is cute despite being in her forties.

She did not have to request, for she has aLready earned herseLf a sLot down memory Lane.

Months back in a University in Taichung, Taiwan. We pLayed in jeans against the schooL team pLayers and scored a win. For this goaL, I can repLay it over a 100 times and not get bored. Juz Look at the move that resuLted in the goaL .. simpLy beautifuL! And I'm juz proud to be part of it.

In the EngLish Premier League :
LIVERPOOL 6
SUNDERLAND 0

In Singapore :
MESSINA GREATS 3
PROTEGE FC 1


DoubLe Happiness Strikes Again...

For me in Taiwan, I juz hope to keep striking a doubLe week in week out. It wiLL be the perfect antidote for a Monday bLue.

My neighbour and I.


My car-mates @ Ferry terminaL.


On the ferry to Cijin.


@ Carrefour where I spotted a Lady purchasing a chiLd.

The hospitaL days, ok I was trying to Look to be in pain. But in fact I was in pain!

The tower in Hengchun town on that day.


President Ma? We'LL see in time to come.


With the beer promoters. Pretty faces but damn powdery!

The Banquet That Wasnt Quite

In conjunction with Singapore's NationaL Day ceLebration, there was a dinner heLd in the camp Last evening. Invited guests are mostLy infLuenciaL peopLe from town and around, which incLude the mayor, poLice, hospitaL head nurse, contractors, Laundry man and even beauty parLour staff! The whoLe event was a tribute to the Taiwanese LocaLs for their ongoing support for our presence as and when we need. This is wat the Chinese caLL "关系".

However, preparations have aLready taken pLace through the past few days. Setting up the whoLe dining haLL to be Like one banquet took time and effort, as we are obviousLy not trained in that fieLd. It ain easy for fifty men to be the event organiser, the entertainer, the chef, the waiter, the management and everything that is required of an event Like that, but we did.

There were rehearsaLs for the performers, the waiters and everyone invoLved and things Looked pretty good for the actuaL day. StiLL, somehow, some of us knew that there wouLd be a screw up somewhere, and we were spot on ....

From the moment we presented our first dish, aLmost nothing has gone to pLan. Instead, everyone was heLping everyone and not to their designated tabLes, but it was great fun and good teamwork. So much so, the cockup of the first dish presentation was forgotten and we received positive comments from aLL the peopLe that mattered. WeLL, datz just the way things work everywhere. You juz need to pLease the most important peopLe, everything wiLL turn out fine no matter wat.

This evening brought my memories back to some time ago when I worked in banquets. I couLd vagueLy remember some unforgettabLe moments .. maybe I wiLL just jot down some of the common things you see and rare ones that you dun :

1. Cutting of fish. This dish come as the 2nd or 3rd if I can remember. It can be fried in sweet and sour sauce, or steamed in Light soya sauce. Itz easier to cut the steamed fish because you just need to sLide the knife across the two fLanks of the body and therez absoLute zero sweat in removing the bone. However, some waiters tend to cut the beautifuL whoLe fish into sort of a mince to the disgust of the guests. Fried fish requires a LittLe more care, using the same method to cut the steamed one, but I have heard of a fish head fLying off the tabLe onto a guest!

2. CLearing bowLs. BowLs are usuaLLy used for shark's fin soup, fried rice, and ee-noodLes. Waiters often sweat hard having to hoLd the serving pLatter on one hand and stretching out to grab the used bowLs. Sometimes, some may Lose grip of the bowL they are grabbing, and it ends on either the Lap of guest, or if Lucky, right into the handbag of some Lady who pLaced it at the gap between two chairs. Sometimes, some may stretch too far for the one bowL, those on the pLatter toppLe onto the shouLder of the guest. If itz juz fried rice, the guest shouLd heave a sigh of reLief. However, most of the time, itz shark's fin soup that Lands on them.

3. Serving drinks. Drinks are served throughout the whoLe banquet. So, spiLLing a gLass over a guest is part and parceL of most banquet dinners. From my observation and personaL experience, spiLLing comes from factors such as, poor hand baLancing of serving pLatter, and physicaL and mentaL pressure from carrying many gLasses at one time Like a circus act, with guests Looking with amazement. I wiLL never forget this one incident where a man from the very front asked for 4 beers. Stress factors incLude the man being in the front and many peopLe are watching, and aLso the 4 beers. So,this waiter got 4 mugs from the bartender, headed towards the man, took 1 mug and Leaned over pLacing it on his right side, and then, the remaining 3 came pouring over his suit. The man stood up aLmost immediateLy whiLe the manager hurried over to cLear the embarassment.

Okie that was a personaL experience.

I wish I couLd teLL u more, but tiL next time then ..

EventfuL Hengchun Evening

Last evening there was an eye-opening event in my town. The peopLe hoLd it annuaLLy, and itz simpLy amazing!

Known as the InternationaL VauLt CLimbing Competition (or something), teams fight to see who reaches the top of the tower first by cLimbing their assigned grease-fiLLed piLLar. The participants haiL from towns aLL over Taiwan, and itz said Hengchun has aLways done itz peopLe proud through hosting the event and winning it. The winning team bags a whopping NT600k and wiLL take home the winner's fLag at the peak of the tower. It is beLieved that the winner wiLL vie with spirits for the fLag and therefore whoever owns it wiLL have good fortune the whoLe year round. Not surprising, that the fLag has aLready been a bidding item even before this day, specuLated to fetch around NT300k. This is such a popuLar event that the town was buzzLing with crowds and media companies and even an appearance by PresidentiaL eLect, Ma Yin-jiu. I had a bLurred picture taken on my K800i as he made his way through but pictures have to wait due to connectivity probLems.

Once Ma kicked start the event, as I stood there watching the competition Like aLL other peopLe around me, it made me feeL so much Like one of them. UnknowningLy eight months have passed since I came here and everything was juz extremeLy warm to me. It may not be where I beLong, but this is where you feeL accepted Like one of theirs. PeopLe ranging from bubbLe tea seLLer to the nurses and the driving coach and cafe owner .. their hospitaLity has been fabuLous.

That evening, we bumped into our LocaL fren, Joana, and from then, the rest of the evening was hers. Joana is one we met at one of the town cafes months back. She was heLping the Lady boss that time and due to her Loudness (for taLking very LoudLy) and outgoing character, she became our fren. Not a bad catch, cLean face and Lasting Look, but ... too Loud. Anyone who wouLd Like a rare LOUD Taiwanese girL as partner can come find me.

ExactLy four fuLL months .. I guess I wiLL return back to Singapore with more than a heavy heart.

T4XI

After a fuLL week of pure work, a Saturday getaway was juz wat we needed. Went Kaohsiung city and caught Taxi 4 .. which turned out to be LargeLy disappointing.

The movie began weLL, with humour, a LittLe road action and a good introduction to the footbaLL mad city of MarseiLLe in France. I wun even have dozed off if they repLayed the whoLe segment for the rest of the 90 minutes. However, somewhere near the middLe of the movie, I drifted away .. no idea if it was due to fatigue but there were simpLy too much speech and too LittLe Taxi-in-act.

1 out of 5 popcorns .. yes, itz that poor. Expectation comes with excitment whereas faLLing short of the expectation turns excitment into no Less than juz disappointment. I reckon I made a great Loss out of the money I paid.

This day wasnt a good one too, we had two cars and ended up spending the day in separate ways due to miscommunication. On my car were aLL peopLe who dun even know the ways around the city, and we were pretty much "foLLowers". WeLL in order not to Let the day go into waste, and being the most "senior", I brought them to Carrefour to do some groceries before heading to an externaL isLand caLLed Cijin, where the Taiwanese peopLe go for seafood. Juz a pity, for seafood is simpLy not for me. I'm aLLergic to it since chiLdhood.

We met up the other car at past midnight in a Snooker centre and pretty much made it up. WeLL, we're guys and most things are easiLy resoLved.

At the end of the day, on our way back to camp, those on my car thanked me for bringing them to Cijin for the seafood. It was a good gesture.

The Gift of Giving

I can understand as to why and how come some peopLe are more appreciate to LittLe acts of goodwiLL than others. They must have "given" before as weLL.

In my car, they are the camp chefs. They wake earLy, they prepare breakfast. They cook, they wash the utensiLs. PeopLe who eat, wiLL juz eat and go. How many wiLL reaLLy think about how much effort has been put in to fiLL their stomachs? No, I'm not trying to say I do, but juz the reaLisation of something simpLe.

In giving, there comes no better gift than Learning how to appreciate many, many smaLL things that one may have taken for granted.