spirital musings, mundane rantings and far more baloney

BYE CRAZYJUNKIES

2009-03-19T09:42:00.001+08:00

MOVED. Have fun looking for me.

MOVED

2008-11-26T06:27:00.002+08:00

Everyone needs a new place to call home sometimes.

I've moved - http://imkelvin.wordpress.com

Link me! (:

WORDPRESS

2008-11-25T10:12:00.001+08:00

I'm wondering if I should switch to wordpress. Someone advise me!

RANDOMS

2008-11-17T01:37:00.001+08:00

Some random shots taken today.

HAPPY 21ST

2008-11-17T00:21:00.003+08:00

I don't think Xiang Jing will actually see this but if he does, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! On behalf of all the comrades in W408, thank you for the party and your time with us! :D

NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

2008-11-16T15:14:00.002+08:00

Here're some shots taken on Saturday night!

THE GANGSTER ACTOR

2008-11-16T01:43:00.003+08:00

I was volunteered by the girlfriend to act in her friend's production and so I did. It's interesting to note how the usage of the word volunteer has evolved over the course of time.

10 years ago: "I volunteer to do this for you!"

Practically NOW: "I volunteer my boyfriend to do this for you!"

The session was pretty enjoyable though I had to act as a spastic gangster. Back in Perth, I usually did the filming camera work and post-production editing. Hence, I thought of giving acting a try and then realised I failed terribly.

MONEY

2008-11-16T01:20:00.004+08:00

This is the latest addition to the family. We call him Money and this American cocker spaniel is only three months old! I had the ahem privilege of clearing his poop this morning and boy! - it was hard to breathe. It was my brother's idea to keep a pet while I was away. But apparently, he's now getting tired with all the maintenance he has to keep up with and so it seems I'm taking over. They say that dogs are really loyal animals and some argue that they feel more than us sometimes. I read of a story of how a depression striken dog commits sucuide by biting its own tongue after being put away by its owner. It's really sad but shit does happen.

There goes the saying, same shit different day.

Anyway, here's Money!

And that's my brother, without his pants.

LOVE

2008-11-15T03:23:00.010+08:00

I used to have a phobia of flying. I remember how my mind was filled with scenes of crashing planes when I first boarded a plane to Rockhampton, Australia for a military exercise. As the plane passed through clouds and shook, I would get so terrified and break into a cold sweat. To ease my unstable mind, I tuned to Hillsongs on my IPOD to distract me from my silly paranoia.

Now, the fear has left me. In fact, I've grown to enjoy the turbulence. Whoooosh! It's funny how this could happen upon discovering how short life is. My life, like everyone else, is a pitiful fraction of time.

Maybe that's why it's ironically precious.

As the plane glides in mid-air, I would gaze out of the window and watch the skies and terrains that God created. It also reminds me of how small Singapore is. And how we can sometimes be so arrogant to think that we're better than the rest just because we're doing better than our neighboring countries. By extension, it also makes me realise how insignificant I am to this world. If anything, I'm a vapor in the air - here today and gone tomorrow. If someone could love and value us so much, it must be a miracle.

In fact, it couldn't be anything humane; it could only be God.

MONTAGE

2008-11-15T03:05:00.008+08:00

The stifling and busy Singapore as it is. Once a while, I wish Singapore could take a breather. Maybe that is why her people are escaping aboard. Technology aids us in our lives; the Internet and computer for instance offer quick access to information and increase work efficiency. A technologically savvy country like Singapore is ironically busier than the under-developed Perth. The citizens of Singapore, in my modest opinion, deserve a higher quality of life.

And I'm about to find mine. Slowly but surely!

A walk from the Botanic gardens to the heart of the city could yield some random photos.

And how can we forget the girlfriend with the pretty smile? Heh. She saw the Asia Conference photo on the camera and remarked, "Eh your church like to spend money on advertising hor?" I was like, "OH YEAH!"

ONE WORLD & THE SUPREME MASTER

2008-11-12T17:20:00.007+08:00

These are two parodies we made in Perth about the Chinese restaurant that serve free vegetarian food. It seems, after some investigation, that the restaurant is operated by a queer religious group pioneered by a Supreme Master who promotes humanitarian work and some form of meditation. Hence, the terms "One World" and "The Supreme Master" have been the butt of our jokes during cell group and among those whom patronize the restaurant.

By showcasing these videos here, I'm actually publicizing them - whether indirectly or otherwise. Maybe that's why they have free food; so that tight budget uni-students like us will be so intrigued that free food actually exist and then discuss about them! Nevertheless, everything is done in the spirit of clean fun and stale humour!

Enjoy!

Supreme Products!

Cooking With Alp!

For more information of the above mentioned, visit:
http://www.oneworldcuisine.com.au/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_Hai

PS: I can't believe I'm actually posted their links. But oh well, something for free food!

BACK IN SG

2008-11-10T00:53:00.009+08:00

I'm finally back in Singapore! It seems like a dream come true. But strangely, I am overcome with acute nostalgia for my days in flat 21. It's difficult waking up this morning not seeing my mates: Luke, Nade, Sanna, Carly and Amanda. I just loved the fact that we could all get along so well despite the diversity in cultures from where we came from. By the end of this month, most of them would return to America, back to their own universities. Sigh. I don't know what else to say. Maybe I wish I had been more proactive with all the outings and parties. Perhaps I have been mugging too hard in the library, absurd as that may sound.

Some snaps during Halloween!

Murdoch Passion

Shots at Alphonsus Birthday!

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

2008-10-28T20:55:00.007+08:00

I feel inspired by the girlfriend to blog about something mundane, yet something more personal, basically something more than just photographs that serve to consume bandwidth. But then again, you're probably hooked up on an unlimited bandwidth broadband plan so that shouldn't bother you anyway.

But not right here in Australia! Hah. Watching a couple of videos on YOUTUBE would cost about 50 cents. Though most residential broadband plans here typically enforce a 5GB downstream cap monthly. So it's really a BIG challenge for a heavy consumer like myself to survive here. But I'm doing just fine, if you have to know!

Anyway, the Australian dollar has taken a deep dive recently. So it's high time to buy some Aussie currency and then sell when the value goes up again. Just before I left for studies sometime during June, it cost SGD 1.30 for an Australian dollar. Now, it's pretty much on par. In fact, the exchange rate is SGD 0.95 for an Australian dollar! Wheeee!

Meng, Tiff and myself went to One-World restaurant for dinner today! Basically, this restaurant serves FREE and pretty decent Chinese food!

Why is it FREE? According to the owner, the ONE-WORLD restaurant promotes vegetarianism in response to Global Warming. But that's not all. Apparently, this has something to do with a new-age movement pioneered by a Supreme Master. Sounds like a cult is operating here. But who cares as long as the food is free and yummy?! Hah. I've got many other friends who patronize ONE-WORLD too. So that doesn't make me the only cheapskate. And now, I can finally rebut the notion that food doesn't come for free. Oh yes, it does!

FRIENDS

2008-10-26T20:15:00.007+08:00

Two of my lovely friends have gotten engaged. And everyone feels so happy for the couple! I am one of their privileged friends invited to dinner yesterday at Jazlyn's. It was a birthday dinner but it felt more than that! And we all had an enjoyable time talking, eating and taking pictures!

The photos are taken using a Canon 350D & Nikon D70 and are a little over-exposed though. Hah. And I only paid A$40 for my new NIKE jumper. Nice!

PHOTOGRAPHY

2008-10-19T23:43:00.007+08:00

I've recovered from my flu. It feels so good to be well again! But I'm feeling the heat of exams, assignments and presentations! Nevertheless, I'm so glad that I'll be coming back soon for the H-O-L-I-D-A-Y-S! Woohoo!

Anyway, I took these photos today using my friend's Canon 350D! The picture quality is so much better than that of my IXUS 75. I've just come to realise that compact cameras are pretty shitty. That's probably the trade-off for its portability. Also, I'm thinking of buy myself a D-SLR when I return. Perhaps during the PC fair?

I'm considering the following models though:

Nikon D90
Canon 1000D
Canon 450D

Would anyone care to recommend a good model for basic street photography?

Photos taken in Zion Praise Harvest!

And these are some randoms taken a week back using the IXUS 75. Notice the difference in picture quality!

I also shot these in school with the Canon 350D!

Lastly, I do need your prayers for journey mercy as I'll be travelling back by Qantas, notably the safest airliner in the world! It's frightening and equally exciting to know that there have been so much problems with the airline recently. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

GOTTA ASK HER

2008-10-14T23:25:00.003+08:00

I've just written and recorded a draft titled Gotta Ask Her.

It's pop/rock as usual!

Take a listen - here!

Some people question all the time
About their lives
In their past
What they're living for

I say there is beauty everywhere
Maybe that's what they are
Tryna to lookin' for

I don't care
If stock prices rise
Or the market falls
As long as you love me babe

I'm just the boy who loves the girl like you baby
And you're the girl who has great taste for me baby
Is she whom I've been looking for?
Is he whom she's been craving for?
Gotta ask her.

RUNNING A TEMPERATURE

2008-10-09T22:32:00.005+08:00

I'm running a temperature due to a flu. As flu is caused by a viral attack, it cannot be treated with antibiotics. My body's immunity will however fight this battle for me. Oh man. Quick! Tentatively, I'm greatly dependent on the prescribed Paracetamol to keep my body temperature sane.

On a brighter side, I'll be back in Singapore in exactly 30 days time! May God bless my Quantas carrier and provide me a safe passage back. Ha. It seems to be getting more dangerous to travel by air these days.

I'll just keep my fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, these are the church mates.

Okay, I'm going to bed. So much for now! =D

BARBARIC PURSUIT

2008-10-04T20:05:00.003+08:00

Here is a short film that I've done for an assignment. Check it out!

Another video on the random roads of Perth.

HANGOVER

2008-10-04T13:40:00.004+08:00

You are forewarned that this is an explicitly disgusting entry.

Now - at this moment - yes now, I believe that I'm suffering from what you would call a hangover. It is a terrible and sick feeling. And it makes me want to puke out my guts. It was really bad this morning when I got up. I tried to throw up during the shower but nothing came out. My stomach feels like a bag filled with really mean acids. I had 10 shots of whiskey, some potato chips and juice which I just discover is a deadly mix of poison.

I'm sorry to be putting you through my rantings. Especially something like that. I'm excited for dinner. Because I couldn't really eat during breakfast and lunch.

FOOD AND FILMING

2008-09-30T21:05:00.007+08:00

I know I've ranted much over the high cost of living here. But still, this serving of Char Kuay Tiao cost me SGD 9.

And guess what I saw this morning?

Bisexuality Day! Gee! I won't be surprise if a Homosexual Day exist?!

And these are taken during filming today! And if you need to know, yes, I have to wear that wig on my head for my role in the video! Ha

EMO HAIR

2008-09-27T23:53:00.005+08:00

I just came back from a showcase at UWA, University Of Western Australia. Named Search For A Star, this is an annual evangelical event organized by Zion Praise Harvest church which primarily reaches out to university students in Perth. I would picture it as a scaled-down equivalent of Emerge back home due to its modest-sized congregation. But honestly, I think that it is pretty remarkable for uni students to run the entire set, from the sound equipment, stage lighting, audio consoles to the drama and dancing. Having seated at the first row, I had a good view of slapstick acting and pretty girls dancing. It was nice and raw energy. But I was pretty annoyed that my digital camera could not capture properly due to the low lighting. Now, that reinforces the need for a D-SLR. What say you?!

And this shall be my new emo hair. No more blue adidas cap. I might consider dreadlocks sometime next year. But I'll have to consult the girlfriend first. Ha.

I was chatting with my cousin over MSN and she was quick to ask if life in perth was a havoc. Her exact quote was "wester country? haha clubbing, drinking, happening night life and all". Hah. I shall take this opportunity to address this misconception. Contrary to popular thinking plausibly formulated by the mass media, it's actually pretty boring in Perth. Can't you tell from my photos? Ha. The happening places are in eastern Australia like Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast. Perth is a place for retiree man.

And this is my story board assignment. Hah. It's a draft, so you might not make out anything out of it.

NOW AND BACK

2008-09-23T12:16:00.006+08:00

This is the longest hiatus yet. And I'm feeling pretty homesick. I can't wait to go back to enjoy the humid weather (as eccentric as that may sound), meet the folks, hug my girlfriend and savor all my favourite food. I'm already picturing in my head eating scenes of Chinatown, Geylang and the bean curd at Selegie. How can I forget the last one? Now that Spring is approaching, all the hibernating insects are thawing into life. Snakes will appear sometime in Summer, rampant in bushland. But I'm glad I'll be away.

Studies are taking its toll on me which I hate to admit most unfortunately. The next week is a study break for assignments to be completed and submitted the week after. After which, we'll await the major exams that commence in November. Most thankfully, I have only two papers which fall on the first week so that means I get to pack my stuff and get ready for my flight back to my homeland earlier than that of my mates who are studying other stuff. And I miss my babe, really do. Lastly, I'm thinking of buying a DSLR. Can someone recommend me an entry level model that ranges around a thousand bucks? I would prefer a Canon or Nikon though.

Some interesting photos here

This is a black matt-coated Lexus!

This is Zion Praise Harvest church in Curtin University.

A Sweedish Party.

ANOTHER WED AT NEWPORT

2008-09-11T19:36:00.002+08:00

Another Wednesday night at New Port!

BELOVED ONE

2008-09-04T22:35:00.001+08:00

My beloved girlfriend on my phone. Look how sweet she is! Heh.

STUDY BREAK

2008-09-02T00:51:00.005+08:00

A note plastered on our common door to keep our alcohol intoxicated mates from making too much noise! Shhhhh..

The next picture was taken on our way to Freo market to get our groceries for the week!

I reckon my cooking skills have improved since the day I came to Australia. In the past, I only knew instant noodles. But now, I can fix myself and even my mates some chicken rice, pasta and fried rice! Someone once commented that a man's ability to cook adds on to his net value. If that is true, I am worthed a little much more now! And I'm ready to impress and inspire the girlfriend with my 'signature style' pasta alla carbonara when I return for the holidays. PS: I've been persuading her to learn some cooking but to no avail. Maybe my delicious cooking might do the job. Heh.

Most parents are too paranoid to allow their kids to venture aboard. But in fact, living outside of Singapore for some time can be an advantage, though it also means I have to fully take charge of my own laundry, cooking, paying of bills, grocery shopping and discipline. These are the common things that we as singaporean youths take for granted, don't we? We expect our favourite t-shirt to appear in our wardrobe the next time we look for it. We expect food to be on the dining table by 7PM. We expect our parents to settle our mobile and internet bills while we freely utilize them. Now, I've learned to appreciate my parent and those around me so much more. I feel I've growed in maturity a tiny weeny bit. Thank God!

SCARBOUROUGH

2008-08-28T12:21:00.003+08:00

This is Scarborough, one of the most beautiful beaches in Perth! The coastline spans a few kilometers and it's a great place for wind surfing. Most importantly, it's entirely natural - unlike Sentosa's (packed with imported sand), which I still thank the government for. Heh. No choice.

The sun is nice together with the cool air. And I was getting all the vitamin D I could get. Nice!

HAPPY 17

2008-08-27T01:33:00.002+08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Charlene!

Thanks for being the girlfriend. You've been a great companion and such a great encouragement. May you grow prettier and sexier each year!

NEW PORT

2008-08-22T00:02:00.003+08:00

We had a couple of beers last night at New Port, Fremantle! It was a fun time with the mates! Beers are really cheaper here. Only $2.50 for a glass! Pretty much the same for a cup of coffee anywhere!

DISCLAIMER: I'm not advocating the consumption of alcohol beverages =D

CUDDLE

2008-08-19T23:09:00.005+08:00

A friend of mine was sharing about a game she played recently.

It was a game of Taboo. And the word to guess was CUDDLE.

So the team player (a female) began, "What does the guy do after he has sex with his girlfriend?"

And a guy from the team shouted, "LEAVES".

Everyone looked at him.

WE JUMP

2008-08-19T00:21:00.000+08:00

Here's what we do on a cloudy night!

THE SEMESTER'S BEGINNING

2008-08-17T18:38:00.009+08:00

The presumptuous belief that Australian universities are lax is nothing more than a fallacy. Through the weeks, I am awarded chunks of text to read and digest. And these readings are dense and many times incomprehensible to me. The Old Testament though thick and mystifying now proves itself to be more decipherable after all. Being a media student, I have materials dated back to 1985 and I also study centuries old black/white films. So the solution I reckon is to read and re-analyze them.

I'm such awesome student you see.

Anyway, I just had my dinner. Oh yes - I cooked my own dinner. And it turned out pretty well after several practices. I had fried rice. And I cooked Chicken Rice for all my flatmates 2 days ago. We call this Family Dinner, where each one of us cook for the entire flat. And the interesting thing is that just yesterday only, a casual friend asked if I had any weed on me. I looked at her with my most funny expression and said, like noooo?

Now time for some recent photos!

This is Sauna, my Swedish flattie in her PJ!

A random picture of school.

Some friends.

North lake, where all the swans are!

Cottesloe Beach, where the hotties are!

Church mates!

SOME RANDOM PICTURES

2008-08-12T19:42:00.006+08:00

I stumbled upon a sign that read ..

7 DAYS WITHOUT GOD MAKES ONE WEAK !

How cool is that?! Nice pun!

Anyway, my flat mates are asking me for my south-east Asian specialty. And so I've agreed to prepare dinner for everyone this Thursday. Now, I'm thinking what to cook.

Noodles? Fried rice? Chicken rice?

Maybe I should pray about it! Hah.

And I found this in the kitchen when I reached home.

THICK AND THIRSTY! Very suggestive!

And check out what I found in the library toilet!

Yea, a condom dispenser! No Shit!

PICTURE

2008-08-11T20:15:00.003+08:00

My lecturer drew this on the blackboard and asked the class to interpret it.

..

...

....

The class went silent. Finally, a student put up his hand to attempt to answer.

It looks like an intricate piece of art. But I'm sure it's more than mere random lines put together.

The lecturer then stressed about how art and possibly film can be interpreted differently.

He went on, I see a ship arriving too late to save a drowning witch.

I was like ^!@*&#*&^!@

But yeah, it did make some sense. But not in the way I would like to think about it.

BASKETBALL

2008-08-11T11:57:00.001+08:00

Our team won the basketball's competition!

CULTURAL SHOCK

2008-08-07T13:13:00.009+08:00

Learning in Murdoch or possibly Australia should I say, is radically different from all the 13 years of education experienced back in Singapore.

Perhaps the hearsay amounts to some kind of truth after all.

In Singapore, students open their mouths in school. And teachers feed them with knowledge, formula and solutions. YUM YUM.

Hmm.. more food for you kiddo?

Over here, we're expected to learn for ourselves and IT'S SHOCKING ME!

There aren't really any points to memorize so that we can replicate on exams papers. But here, we are to grasp and internalize concepts. Taking my last tutorial for example, we spoke on the topic on institution.

Discuss institution!

Ehh.. you mean Singapore Institution of Management yo?

And tutors here serve as a resource than a teacher. So I reckon I have to mug and read up alot. This is bad. I'm so not used to this. And I foresee a heap of essay writings coming my way.

Here's one which just rocked me off my chair.

Topic: Critically evaluate the theory that the moon is made of green cheese.

I'm like *#$^*@&#^*$ ?!

It would really help if I've taken General Paper back in Singapore. But still, all these years of blogging should amount to something! (I know Charlene is going to laugh at this! RAWR!)

Chilling out in the winter cold.

FINALLY ENROLLED

2008-08-05T09:05:00.005+08:00

I finally sorted out my units yesterday after several days of running amok. I almost had to withdraw from my course because I couldn't enroll into my specified majors. It was excruciatingly distressing but I now have a greater reason to be glad and thankful.

=D

If the bible says that everything happens for a reason, then this adversity probably served to teach me to trust beyond what's visible or should i even say, hopeful. During those times, it felt like I was being discarded helplessly into some unfamiliar land with strangers I couldn't understand. Thankfully, I rely not on my own instincts otherwise I might just be awaiting my flight back to Singapore.

Here's the Bush Court where all the students chill out for a sunny treatment in the winter cold. I'm really starting to love the sun!

CAMPUS BBQ

2008-08-03T23:24:00.002+08:00

They say tomorrow's temperature will fall to 2 degrees Celsius. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

We just had a campus BBQ!

DIM SUM IN THE CITY

2008-08-02T21:10:00.003+08:00

We went to the city this afternoon to catch some Dim Sum at an oriental restaurant. And one of my friend insisted that I pay 2 bucks for a live strip tease which I politely and firmly declined. Hah. We also got together and cooked our first dinner. It was pretty fun bumming into each other's flat and meeting new people!

PARTY FLAT 21

2008-07-31T13:02:00.005+08:00

I'm having a little trouble enrolling in my units. Ahh.. I'll have to talk to my program chair in a bit.

Anyway, my flat is a party flat. There're 2 American guys, 2 American girls and a Swedish girl, making me the only chinese!

And this is my roomie aka room-mate, Luke!

Our fridge stocked with foooood!

And many bottles of booze consumed .. and counting!

PHOTOS

2008-07-28T14:24:00.003+08:00

Finally got the internet up and running in the campus! So here are the photos taken recently.

It's still so cold here. Errrkkk..

And guess what? I'm the only Chinese in my flat. My room mate happens to be some cool American guy named Luke. There's also another American guy in the next room and two other girls living together. Hah.

Watch this site!

More updates coming your way!

KEVIN'S IN PERTH

2008-07-26T23:21:00.009+08:00

Hi everyone from sunny island Singapore ..

Greetings from Perth! I'm presenting exploiting one of the free wireless networks outside my hotel which allows me to go online for a limited period of time. So when my session dies off, I'll re-apply for a new trial account. It's kinda dumb but a desperate situation calls for a desperate measure man!

I've taken lotsa photos but unfortunately, I couldn't get them uploaded because picture files are big! And when I exceed a certain amount of bandwidth which this trial account provides, I get disconnected. So it's really pathetic. But at least, I could still talk on MSN for a decent period of 15 minutes? Hah.

So what's up in Perth?

Firstly, it's really cold here. Everyone wears a jacket wherever they go. In the night, it gets even colder when the breeze attacks! The temperature falls between 9 to 17 degrees so it's pretty much free air-con for the city!

Secondly, food prices are crazy! A food court style serving say chicken rice will cost AUD 9.50. Take that and multiply by 1.3 (exchange rate) and that would give you a rough SGD 12.50! A 600ml bottle of coke from the supermarket will cost AUD 2.60 which is about SGD 3.30! And the final bomb is this - a plate of white rice (I'm talking about plain normal white rice you get from chicken rice etc) will cost AUD 3.50. It's $4.50 for a freakin plate of plain rice! I should consider eating the bark of the tree outside my campus whenever I'm broke.

Thirdly, Internet is very expensive! Over here, there aren't any unlimited plans such as those in found Singapore. How lucky you Singaporeans! In Perth, they charge by the amount of data that you download. So I have to actually disable images when I surf the web. I feel like I'm an online beggar now. Once, I was an online tycoon ripping off gigabytes of data via bittorrent everyday!

Fourthly, Australian television is airing much crap. Just check out Jerry Springer. This is something that our MDA will not tolerate! And I honestly think that our government is doing the right thing by putting the right stuff on screen. There's even this program featuring some psychic guy trying to connect to the death. And The Simpson's cartoons here seem more crude than what's showing in Singapore. It's interesting but altogether crappy at the same time.

BYE KEV

2008-07-23T01:09:00.007+08:00

A BIG thank you to everyone who came to dine at Sakae!

I have a wonderful time having you guys around. Your presence tonight has been a great encouragement to me. Now, it makes leaving singapore so much harder!

Here are 10 things that I will miss in singapore ..

Chilling out with the notorious partners-in-crime
Playing the guitar for cell group
Listening to Miranda's preaching
Attending Saturday service with everyone
Having Pastor Kong/Tan inspires me
Having meals together at BEST coffee house
Walking Charlene back home
Talking to Charlene on the phone
Meeting Charlene for random movies
Pacifying Charlene when she's annoying

It feels so humane and sometimes even natural to take things for granted. Like the people we meet in our mundane life. When I come to realise that I won't be joining my cell for meeting this weekend, I feel a sudden strange discomfort that stirs up within me. But I reckon that it's just natural to feel like that. I mean, who wouldn't?

On a lighter note, Daniel was baptized last week! Here're the photos!

The photo collage plastered at Frontier Community Centre (next to Jurong Point). We had the privilege to be part of this nationalistic movement! Hah!

But a great pity I'll have to give this year's national parade a miss!

THE RED CHAIR

2008-07-20T23:21:00.003+08:00

The quest @ Ikea for a red chair.

We actually spent over 2 hours!

Can you spot the three people inside this photo?

SEASONS FOR EVERYTHING

2008-07-19T10:28:00.011+08:00

I have been excruciatingly lazy to blog though I have many things in my mind - hence much to say, grumble, rant and ramble about. So this morning, I've decided to do just that!

Aren't you glad?

This is an old newspaper article published about a week ago. But I am still very inspired by what was spoken by the judge who passed the verdict.

As you may have known from the recent spate of news since about a year ago, one national serviceman committed a grave offense when he took his rifle and 7 rounds of ammunition he had been issued with and fled out of camp. To hunt him down, police mounted an intensive manhunt, with more than 200 officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, Police Intelligence Department and the Police Special Tactics and Rescue. 20 hours later, Dave was caught by the police with his rifle and bullets at a public toilet in Cathy Orchard Cineleisure. Reports have suggested that he committed the act in the midst of severe emotional stress after a failed relationship with his girlfriend.

This unfortunate saga has even found its way into wikipedia.

Justice Yong Kwang says:

'MY HEART hurts for you that so young a man will have to spend some of the best years of his life in prison and have to undergo so many strokes of the cane, but I trust that you understand a deterrent sentence is unavoidable in the circumstances.

Dave, you have had a very hard life. I hope that this unfortunate and traumatic wrong turn in your life will make you much more mature and a whole lot wiser and that you will spend the next few years reconstructing your young life.

I hope that you will pursue your studies, listen to good advice from counsellors and learn many skills while in prison and that, upon your release, you will have a life full of meaning and purpose to honour the memory of your grandmother and your beloved younger brother.

It has been written, 'To everything there is a season'. There was a time when you loved, there came a time when you hated. There was a time when you felt you wanted to kill, now is the time for you to heal. There was a time you were broken down, now is the time to build yourself up. There was a time when you were at war in your being, now is the time to restore peace within.'

The different seasons of life as spoken by Justice Yong Kwang is also illustrated in the bible in the book of Ecclesiastes. No wonder, it so threw me off my feet when I first read it!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven

2 A time to give birth and a time to die;

A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

3 A time to kill and a time to heal;

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance.

5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;

A time to be silent and a time to speak.

8 A time to love and a time to hate;

A time for war and a time for peace.

Truly, the wisdom of God surpasses all human knowledge and understanding. I believe that the judge must have prayed really hard before passing the verdict, having noted that a deterrent sentence is unavoidable in the circumstances.

ANOTHER LIFE TRANSFORMED

I have a friend in my group who experienced a radical transformation in his faith by this incident. He was an officer whom was involved in conducting military exercises for the company which Dave belonged to. When the event broke out, an investigation was carried out and he was found to be indirectly responsible for certain glitches.

At that point, there were news that he would be charged by the military court for negligence. A staunch Buddhist then, he desperately sought help from the many temple gods he knew. Sharing his testimony with me, he described how his life started falling into a million pieces as he anticipated legal action against him. As a result, he picked up heavy smoking and isolated himself. Infertile with his own efforts, he decided to believe in Jesus Christ and found genuine peace and new strength. Shortly later, he was left off with a hefty fine instead.

And today, he is a pious believer and fervently serving God!

MY CHICK

2008-07-15T12:58:00.000+08:00

SO VINDICATED

2008-07-09T23:36:00.004+08:00

Greg invited me to join a Singapore Poly music contest together with Trixia.

So here we are!

CLARENCE'S 23RD

2008-07-08T23:13:00.007+08:00

Dinner at Clarence's was nice and neat!

We were treated to some of the most yummi-licious dumpling, chilly crab and roasted duck as a celebration for Clarence's 23rd birthday.

And he was really thoughtful to have gotten me my present!

Being a theological junkie, these books are definitely a must have!

PREPARATION

2008-07-04T00:39:00.005+08:00

3 more weeks to departure. I am excited for a new change but still, I'll miss everyone! It's in the middle of winter in Perth so it'll be really cold. I was told that the temperature could be as low as ZERO degrees at night. Gee, I hope I won't have to get up to pee at midnight and realise that the toilet bowl is frozen.

Stuffs I've yet to get and should be getting soon:

Sweater
Haversack
A new mobile phone
Travel bag
A new wallet

Stuffs that I'm taking over with me:

Macbook!
Digital camera
320 GB External Hard disk
Guitar!
Tooth brush + Shaver
Myself!

Stuff that I have yet learn to do:

Fry an egg
Cook pasta
Fix a vegetarian meal
Learn to wash my underwears

People I'll think about:

Cell group mates
Parents
Charlene
Partners in crime (you know who you are!)

CHANGES

2008-07-01T13:08:00.005+08:00

Looks like MR NETS has a new found friend to replace him in Perth!

Since so many people are complaining about Windows Vista , why not get an indie old skool Windows 95 with full fledged USB Support? It's a technological breakthrough Yo!

Selling at S$49.90!

PS: I really like the note that says "Do Not Make Illegal Copies Of This Disc"! Haha! It's so Microsoft-ish.

And today while doing devotion, I encountered the word whore-mongers and thought it sounded kinda indie.

Ephesians 5: 5b says "No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God"

In another version, an immoral and impure person is termed a whore-monger.

And thefreedictionary.com defines whoremonger as a prostitute's customer!

So take heed all ye horny NS guys and coffee shop ah pek!

NEW MACBOOK

2008-06-26T00:15:00.009+08:00

They tell me that Perth is a boring place. And in my mind, it portrays an image of a dense vegetation with a couple of zinc roofs. But I can be happy because I have my new Macbook to accompany me!

Pardon me for the previous entry. It was impromptu, vague and poorly written - yes I know! I ended it quite abruptly because I was somewhat playing warcraft and blogging at the same time. Being essentially me, I can't really do two things at the same time. It's really sad you know? I had to chew and finish my gum at one spot before walking to where I want to go. Like how I can't munch popcorns to a movie at the same time.

Okay, I don't think my witty (dumb-wit you say?) sense of humour is working now.

But anyhow, I'm rushing to catch a movie in an hour's time. So my fingers are speeding lightning fast on my keyboard. The gist of this entry is to tell the whole world that I've gotten a new Macbook for $1000 and am extremely pleased with what my hard earned money had gotten me.

So, this is what a thousand Singapore dollars, some diligent internet sourcing and adept negotiation skills could bring you too!

White Macbook

- Core 2 Duo 2.16 GHZ
- 1 GB RAM
- 120 GB HDD
- 8 X Super Drive
- Foofbag
- Tiger OS-X
- Leopard OS-X Family Pack

Check out the pictures here!

I also managed to install Windows XP on it! Yay! :D

And best of all, I zhng-ed it with 4GB of RAM and a Seagate 320GB HDD.

Now, that's POWER!

HAPPY 21ST SHERRY

2008-06-21T13:07:00.000+08:00

Happy birthday Sherry!

GUESS WHO?

2008-06-21T11:26:00.002+08:00

Who is that pretty girl with her face facing the bucket? HEH

And check out this particular post by her.

who remembers our dear old HEMAN from childhood!

you would think it was such a funky, original name. i mean, it's HEMAN. he's the man? yeah. -.-

but here i am to dispel such a notion! because Heman has biblical roots!

1 Chronicles 16: 41-42

"With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, "for his love endures forever." Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song."

now we know. Heman was a musician-turned-hero!

CAPTIVATED

2008-06-19T23:28:00.006+08:00

I just couldn't believe what I saw!

My cover of Captivated is on Sidney Mohede's official site!

Check out his site here - http://www.sidney-mohede.com/information.php?type=tubeme

And I'm putting it up if you have yet to see it! Hah.

I still think I sounded really off though. Hah.

SOMETHING NEW

2008-06-18T22:59:00.007+08:00

I just did a spiritual test online and to my amusement/amazement (whichever appeals to you), I find it pretty accurate. Basically, it tells you what your spiritual strengths are after you attempt a few sets of multiple choice questionnaire. Click click click.

So if you're interested, you can go to this site - http://www.churchgrowth.org/cgi-cg/gifts.cgi?intro=1

And here are my results.

Spiritual Gifts | Strength Points

Evangelism - 16
Prophecy - 10
Teaching - 17
Exhortation - 16
Pastor/Shepherd - 8
Showing Mercy - 13
Serving - 7
Giving - 17
Administration - 14

The result shows that I'm dominant in the area of teaching and pretty lacking in serving and shepherding. Looks like I've something to work on.

Anyway, I'm ending my work really soon. It's time to study, get good grades, get first class honors, be a faithful christian, find a good job, marry a hot wife, earn lots of money and finally meet God face to face - as in literally. That's the rest of my next 50 years in short. And I feel like some kind of dairy product tagged with a 50 years expiry date.

BACK FOR MORE

2008-06-16T21:50:00.008+08:00

A new entry! Aren't you glad?

These are the photos taken on the first day of the BIG BANG CAMP.

WOOF! How can we forget the Ubin dog?

I finally took some time off today to meet the girlfriend. As usual, she was looking spicy hot in her LITTLE MISS SHY tee when I met her. And we watched THE HULK, a marvel comic story about a scientist metamorphosing into a green looking abomination after a failed military secret experiment. Well, the story was a action packed buster with guns, explosions and several bawling scenes of the HULK in anger but sadly, it lacked a good plot as compared to Iron Man. Universal studios made the right move to release THE HULK right after IRON MAN - both marvel based material. There was also a short scene in THE HULK which Iron man, the industrialist of Stark Industries was featured.

Staring Edward Norton ..

And the incredibly hot Liv Tyler, daughter of Steven Tyler - the lead singer of Aerosmith!

But it only cost us $6 each so I'm not complaining. And during the show, my baby covered my eyes when Edward was making out with Liv on the bed. Hah!

ADVANCED STANDING

2008-06-04T23:15:00.001+08:00

Just received a confirmation of advanced standing.

Whee! 36 points sound like alot!

THE CUTIE

2008-06-04T00:34:00.003+08:00

The girlfriend seemed to be very pleased when I told her that Perth is a boring place. She even gloated when I shared that the campus hostel will house the guys and girls in separate locations.

What a cutie. Heh.

That was a salute I supposed?

CRYSTAL TABERNACLE

2008-06-03T02:01:00.016+08:00

It was 1.30AM in the morning.

I switched off the lights but still, I could not sleep. In the midst of darkness, my hands reached to the side to feel for my guitar. I retrieved it out from the bag and started playing as I laid on my bed, randomly plucking chords. And a familiar old song gradually filled the rhythm.

You Laid Aside Your Majesty

As I began mouthing the words in my head, I started to remember when I first learned the song. In church but of course. Soon, reminiscence of Crystal Tabernacle became vivid. My mind, like a old tape recorder was playing back the beautiful memories. And surely, a wistful sense of nostalgia filled me. I thought about my mentors - Pastor Kian Cheng, Bian Hin, Jeffery, Beetin. These are people of great faith and courage. Notably life changers whom I am deeply grateful to. Although I do not subscribe 100% to each and every of their convictions and beliefs, I still respect them alot. For the simple fact that they have loved me and always wanted the best for me.

This was my first group in 2001. Some 7 years back. This photo was taken outside church after a bible study. Then, despite being modest in our number, we were so full of zeal, passion and joy.

These were some of my closer friends. Jiemin, Weiliang and Eugene. This photo was taken after a youth talent contest. This was when I performed my first ever written song with Leeyi, a dear sister.

Some of the seniors having a great time before my camera. This photo was taken during Pastor Bee Tin's wedding.

Leeyi & Myself. Don't ask me about the hair. But Leeyi was one of the few whom I could really share my heart with.

Some photos taken at a church camp.

These were taken during a Pasir Ris Park BBQ outing in 2002. We had an indoor BBQ due to the rain.

Have I also mentioned that I was once a Sunday School teacher? Zhang Ting was my wonderful co-worker.

Okay, guess what? I'm feeling a little exhausted now. So I shall stop posting photos and get back onto my bed and try falling asleep again.

BEDTIME STORY

2008-06-02T01:18:00.001+08:00

BEDTIME STORY

You're beautiful to me,
Your smile is so perfect
Makes me want to brush my teeth
You're gentle and so gracious
Like a princess of my wishes
You are my dancing queen

You're beautiful to me
Though sometimes you can be a little naggy in-between
But if you're to ask me how I feel when you're around me
It's magic deep within

Just like a bedtime story that puts a child to sleep
Tales of fighting dragons and a princess' true love's kiss
Until the end of story, there is
A happily ever after they'll kiss

You're beautiful to me
And if you're cinderella I'm a dwarf down at your feet
And if you're the beauty
Damn it makes me now the beast
You're beautiful to me

And if your name is Wenting
Now it makes me just Kelvin
You're beautiful to me

FINE TUNED

2008-05-29T11:35:00.005+08:00

A few moments ago, I was practising some songs and was led into worshipping . So with my guitar, I played several chords and prayed like I used to do.

Many times, we picture God as a potter and ourselves as clay to be mounded by His hands. But this time, I see God as a choral director who makes beautiful melodies out of our lives - yes - this time using a guitar. I was shown that the different strings that form the guitar are like the various areas of our lives. To produce a chord, the musician must strum across the strings. And unless these strings are fine-tuned, the chord will be audibly distorted. And it becomes a bad sound.

I sense that God is fine-tuning my life in a very special way.

BUT MY IDOL IS JESUS

2008-05-22T23:00:00.009+08:00

David Cook won.

No, he's not a chef. Katong Laksa? NOOO! Never mind.

For sometime, I've discovered a very interesting pattern about me watching American Idol. At the beginning of every season, I would be fervently catching every episode, enjoying the mass auditions, their funny antics and loving each moment Simon Cowell disses a terrible singer. And when the show finally reaches its semi finals, my interest would wane and simply die off. Then a couple of months later, I would stumble upon the American Idol website or the local newspaper (which I just did just 3 minutes ago) and find out who the winner is.

Yes. David Cook doesn't cook. Maybe he does when he is at home. But he sings. And he's crowned American Idol this season.

But more than just mere American Idol news I'm reporting here, I want to prepare you guys to know that I'm adopting a new hairstyle as seen by Danny Noriega. I would foresee some violent protest over my BIG decision. Especially from the girlfriend. Ehhhh..

But respect me alright! Hah. The hair's to keep the warmth in winter Perth this July. Acts as an insulation.

TIME TOGETHER

2008-05-21T10:55:00.005+08:00

Another game of soccer between SAJC AND ACJC. And Ping was dissing ACJC for being the winner for some reason not known to the world. Besides, SAJC is mostly recognized for their Rugby team anyway. Oh, but touch rugby will be the bomb soon cus the babe's inside. The ferocious one in disguise! RAWR!

Any place without noisy ang moi kids running about is a good place.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2008-05-19T23:32:00.007+08:00

Firstly, I wish to extend a happy and blessed birthday to Ping and Crist!

This goes out specially to Ping for being a great buddy and partner in crime. Very bad crimes we committed. So bad, we're after by the interpol. And my girlfriend nags at me sometimes.

So here're some photos taken on Sunday when we celebrated their birthdays at Dan's place. And Dan has a really nice living room by the way. Hah.

In the first photo, Ping and Cirst were holding their birthday cheese cake and made to take a photo together. I honestly think the picture looks hilarious. Heh. And kudos to the guys who took the effort to design and put up the decorations. Check out the balloons and posters in the backdrop.

And that was Ariel fixing a blister on her feet. She'll probably chop me if she finds me putting this up. Hah.

And a totally unglamorous shot of Kelvin caught on Louise's camera. I think I could still pass off as a 19 year old. Hah.

Another random shot caught on Louise's camera.

And here's my way of stopping a car. Ping's car to be specific.

And lugging the very sleepy girlfriend home. Very very sleepy.

A SUNNY THURSDAY

2008-05-15T22:07:00.003+08:00

My afternoon was well spent watching a soccer game between SAJC and MJC.

Guess who won? Go find out yourself! Hah.

Some exciting photos the girlfriend took.

And how can we forget our very own PING!

AWAY FROM HOME

2008-05-12T01:52:00.002+08:00

I hate to do this.

But guess what? School commences on the 4th August and orientation starts on the 28th. I'll probably be leaving on the 25th.

Guess what again?

I've 74 days left in Singapore. And I'll probably celebrate my own birthday in some remote vegetation thousand of miles away from home.

Sigh. I'll miss home.

Most importantly, I'll miss my babe.

MEET THE ONGS

2008-05-11T00:38:00.009+08:00

I had a MEET THE PARENT(S) session today. But thankfully, it's singular cus the Papa bear wasn't around. So it helped shed some sweat off my forehead. Nevertheless, it was good. I behaved and acted like a fine young gentlemen. Imagine a handsome prince bestowed with the sword of destiny, mandated to save some random princess from a fiery castle.

OKAY, I'm dreaming. So what? Ha!

So I was at the dinning table with my babe and her mum exchanging a decent conversation. I have to admit that it was a little intimidating at first. But I'm glad that there was no awkward query like, "Are you still a virgin?". So between my sentences, I would consciously punctuate my words with a couple of quick quirks and then try hiding off my grin. For that helped break the ice and make talking less intense. But at least in my demeanor, I think I've overall depicted a certain sense of maturity. So way to go KEV! Hohoho!

(I'm mature anyway. At least I think I am.)

High contrast makes my teeth look really white! Sweeet!

And tell me what's your flavour! Cus I'll just eat everything up!

And my MacBook finally sold today for a pitiful amount!

TIGER BABE

2008-05-09T02:11:00.000+08:00

Babe or tigress, you decide!

PLEASE BUY MY MACBOOK

2008-05-08T13:07:00.012+08:00

I'm contemplating on buying a new notebook for school. And therefore, I've decided that if anyone should want to buy my existing Macbook for $1000, I'll gladly sell it off!

The specs of my white Macbook as follows:

13" Screen
1.83GHz Core Duo
60GB hard drive
2GB RAM
Super Combo Drive

And it comes with the following

Installation recovery CD
Office Mac 2008
iLife 08

I would rate the condition of my macbook an 8 out of 10 after some 18 months of use. I've never spent a single cent for repair/servicing since I use it mainly for music production so it stays at home most of the time. And having an Intel 6850 Core 2 Duo 3.0 Ghz PC at home which serves me pretty well and FAST too, I hardly bother my Mac.

So if you're keen on getting an entry level Macbook, feel free to look me up!

The toy that I've been eyeing on is the 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook!

This will cost me slightly lesser than 2 thousand bucks. That means I'll have to top up a thousand bucks for it! If my job pays me $6 an hour, that means I'll have to invest 166 hours of my life to amass $1000! *faint*

Alternatively, I'm also consider the Dell XPS which is another kickass machine! Since, I'm working for DELL, I could get it at staff price or something. Hah. But that will cost me also 166 hours of my precious life, which could be better invested into playing warcraft or spending time with my babe. HEH.

The XPS is the premium series across all the DELL models. It is incredibly light-weight at 1.7kg and comes with a fingerprint detector and a wifi-catcher. Most importantly, its aesthetic features are as SEXY as my girlfriend's. (Gee, I hope she doesn't read this.)

To end this entry, if you have a thousand dollars idling in your bank account and would love to own a macbook, call me!

BRAZIL CONCERT

2008-05-06T22:40:00.003+08:00

Someone wants me to stage a concert in Brazil! What can I say? Heh.

click to enlarge :D

LOVE LOVE

2008-05-05T22:53:00.003+08:00

I found this while clearing my messy and cluttered desk.

Awww..

And those are lipstick marks or something. :)

WORD OF WISDOM

2008-05-02T00:58:00.004+08:00

Okay, a word of advice for the guys.

If your girlfriend ever tells you to buy her a house - for no particular reason.

Reply her something fatuous like, marry me first.

That should fix her random-ness.

Tried and tested. Worked 100% for me.

HAPPY LABOUR DAY

2008-05-02T00:14:00.002+08:00

While the world was enjoying labour day with their loved ones, I was actually LABOURING! Hah. But I'm not complaining really. Come to think about it, labouring can ironically addictive with the necessary conditions well placed. And in fact - correct me if I'm wrong - God wants us to labour!

Oh well. Whatever. Hah.

SO HUMID

2008-04-29T21:44:00.008+08:00

Today is likely the most humid day I've ever experienced. The local weather humidity index is scaling at a whopping 89%! Alas! Our poor lungs are so inflicted. And not to mention our skin so soaked in sticky perspiration. No, it's water vapor! And more vapor!

Here's a lefty load of information about humidity on Wikipedia.

And a nice green setting amidst where we live in to remind everyone to save the earth!

And while applying for my student visa, I was very much taken aback by the following question:

Have you committed or be involved in the commission of war crimes or crimes against humanity or human rights?

I wished I had written something silly like,

Yea BALLS. Worked part-time for Hitler for a while.

But of course, that would just jeopardize my application.

Hah. The boyfriend's smarter than that.

TO DO LIST

2008-04-29T00:23:00.002+08:00

Here's a list of what my babe wants to do with me.

And if we do have the chance, I would actually also like to do these sometime ..

Getting wasted in a Halloween mask
Painting your toe nails green
Tickling your feets
Poking your underarms (subjected to approval)
Give you electric shocks by your rib cages
Biting your ears
Skinny dipping (subjected to approval)
Play ping-pong
Trekking Bukit Timah Hill
Sunbathing
Catching a nap together (subjected to approval)
Wall painting
Reading in the library
Playing air-hockey
Eating ice cream

and many more! Just haven't think of it!

WHO'S THAT CHICK?

2008-04-27T02:05:00.001+08:00

The chick with the biceps! No kidding!

WORKING AND RESTING

2008-04-23T00:09:00.005+08:00

It's 15 minutes past 12 and I've decided to heed my baby's advice to sleep early. So I should be done with this post in the next 30 minutes. Other days, I could still be battling monsters right till 3AM, which somewhat causes my panda eyes to form. According to a hearsay, the human skin is said to replenish at its optimum over 3 hours between 11PM to 2AM every night.

So if you would like some perfect and beautiful skin, you've then got to allow your body to enjoy that sufficient rest during those periods.

But on the average, a typical working adult sleeps at 12 midnight and wakes up by 8 in the morning. The typical parent, or rather my own parents leave for work by 9AM and only reach back by 10PM. So sometimes we dine at 10.30 or 11PM. Pretty much supper time for most people by then. But I'll probably get a cultural shock in Australia when they pull their shuttles at 5PM.

So I guess I'll just spend my time in the dense vegetation of Perth mugging and strumming my guitar.

OVERBURNT

2008-04-20T22:46:00.004+08:00

I'm a little overburnt from work. At least that's what my mind is telling me. But I'm still hanging on, so don't worry.

Still, I thank God everytime, for His sovereignty remains the same.

I had a glimpse that life would be challenging. But not to the point of exhaustion when reality smacks me on my face. I'm reduced to a workaholic with a vicious 50 hours per week schedule.

At the same time, the world is screaming at me to avail more time. But sorry mates, I don't have time to fellowship because I don't want to. And if you need to know why, I'm tired. How's that? Bleak and blatant.

But I'm looking forward to July when my contract matures. I'll have more time to be myself by then.

GREATEST GIFT

2008-04-12T01:22:00.004+08:00

I drafted a new song and titled it Greatest Gift.

To listen, download it here.

Words

I think of you dearly so every night
I miss the way you'd gently hold me tight
And all the times you rest your head on mine
Makes me feel that everything's alright

You hold my heart so closely to yours too
It tells me that you love me yes you do
And you deserve so much more than this
I promise I'll love you endlessly

I see you in my dreams
And there you'll here with me
That you love me in my life
You're the greatest gift I can find

HOME

2008-04-11T01:00:00.009+08:00

I was listening to Home by Westlife, a song originally written for popular jazz artiste Michael Bublé and was immediately smittened. The song was actually composed by someone of the name Alan Chang. How oriental!

I'm immersed with work recently. I work 50 hours a week. And that breaks down to 10 a day. What a holistic number! But it's taking its toll on me. But I figured that this is the kind of life to expect upon working full time after graduation. So here's just a prelude to my next 4 decades of torment. Brimstone and burning sulphur. Ouch!

But as much as I want to be financially adept and never having to worry about money, I also want quality time with people I love. It's a shame that people nowadays are working so hard for money and not investing enough into meaningful relationships, which in my opinion is a critical part of being simply human. We're made to be relational, not robotic.

Now that I'm bounded by legal paper, I have so little to do what I've always loved. Like spending time with my baby, going to church on Sundays and having dinner at 8PM.

PS: Each time you think of me, know that I miss you more :D

MUSHY STUFF. Romance flows in my blood man.

And some photos taking during the making of SunShine Girl!

SUNSHINE GIRL MTV

2008-04-07T23:39:00.006+08:00

My first ever directed MTV - SUNSHINE GIRL!

Dedicated to Miranda, our beloved CGL! (:

I'M BACK!

2008-04-07T12:20:00.006+08:00

I have not blogged for more than 2 weeks and that's only because I have been so busy at work!

Anyway this is mutt-rocker-myself in black. And with some mascara and black painted nails, people could really mistaken me for a grotesque black metal rock star wannabe. Also known as the Mutt-yo-yo. Hah.

But that was all because of a bizarre combination of my brother's skinny jeans , my dad's leather shoes and Ping's The Beatles t-shirt. Oh, the underpants mine anyway.

And it's Miranda's 26 birthday today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIRANDA!

May you Zhao Shen Gui Zi!

A WALK TO REMEMBER

2008-03-26T01:43:00.019+08:00

For some strange reasons, I was at Singapore Polytechnic yesterday afternoon. I wanted a conducive place to do some reading and was deciding between the national central library and the library at Jurong East. Halfway, I figured that I could possibly make do by the business library at my former school to also reminisce some good old memories.

I was rather worried by a nasty revolving metal gate which did not exist in my time when I reached the compound. It made me feel truly old. Like a thousand events had passed me by from the time I left for National Service. But did I have to scan a card by the gate to get in? So I took smaller steps to observe how the other students had to do it. While reaching the atrium, I was greeted with spasms of thunderous clapping, singing and cheering. I never knew that SP has transformed into a honky-tonk right after I graduated. Wasted, totally. And I had to agree better. But the group of about a hundred students whom were clapping and singing to some catchy tune suggested a fresh men orientation which I never really had one in my life, being the unusually deprived stud that I am.

Stud - Slang. a man, esp. one who is notably virile and sexually active -dictionary.com

couldn't agree more.

As I excitedly surveyed the place for new changes, I recognized a couple of faces who walked by with the exact same old bearing - hard gelled hair, neatly pressed shirts, brown leather shoes and the expressions of a i-know-it-all veteran. They were my lecturers whom had perhaps forgotten me. These men had taught literally thousands of students in their lives. To top it all, I was a frequent absentee. And unlike secondary school teachers who bother to remind the parents to bang their kids hard, my lecturers did not like the idea of paying much attention to deliquents who did not like school. They could still look at you in a funny way like you were some transfered student even in the 9th week of lecture.

Who are you? New student? He asked. His thick glasses slowly unveiling those pair of curious frowning eyes.

Your student actually. Kev answered sheepishly. I slept throughout your past 8 lessons. I'm actually lifting my head to take a breather. Do we have a problem here, mister?

So I took a little walk around the school, from the business blocks to the middle sections where the engineering students were to look for a nice spot to settle down. It must have been a term break period because the once clamorously crowded tables were now empty. I could almost hear a pin fall to the ground and a bacteria languishing in pain. It was literally soulless.

And being inspired to be a better boyfriend and homemaker, I was fervently studying Maximized Manhood.

And my girl told me that I needed alot of what I was reading. Hmmm .. I just couldn't decipher what she meant with my limited understanding of the female species. Heh. I never understooded her. Hah

And these were my final year project group mates who made up of all the slackest guys in our class. But we still made it through in the end.

One of the guys in the picture (not telling who) had this crazy fetish of burning his own leg hair with fire. So typically, he would borrow a lighter from one of our smoker friends, pluck out a strand of hair from his black forest and ignite a flame. And then the entire air-conditioned tutorial room would stink like some rodent had died. And once, he deposited some precious urine of his into a cup and placed it in the computer lab thinking that someone would fancy a cup of free warm chrysanthemum tea. He walked off after that. I bet he was right. There was also one time he got pissed with the toilet cleaner and decided to punish him by recklessly peeing onto the central ground area of the toilet. It felt like he was watering some invisible plants on the ground. It was definitely a hell-of-a experience those days! Finally, these S-O-Bs ganged up and gave me a wedgie which tore my favourite Hush Puppies underwear on my birthday. My first wedgie, how can I ever forget?

Some photos taken during poly days!

And though it tires me sometimes, I really miss walking home with my baby and receiving that much-deserved hug.

SLEEP

2008-03-22T00:59:00.003+08:00

This is my little miss chatterbox who is probably asleep right now.

And I better get settled down quickly because she has been nagging that I sleep too late. And that my double eye bags are also appearing. I also realised I have high cheek bone.

BAD ENGLISH

2008-03-18T01:53:00.008+08:00

My English is bad. Not horrific I hope. At least that's what my Mum thinks.

You sure you can cope in mass comm? Those students their english very good one leh. You so fickle huh?!

No my Mum didn't actually say that. She has a respectable degree of poise. And of course you could find a fair share in my demeanor. Heh. But she probably meant along those lines.

And I was a little dampened and apprehensive at first. Actually I still feel like shit now.

I believe I can write decently. Let me illustrate to you what I've acquired all my years as a student.

Understand, understood and understooded at its superlative.

No! "understooded" doesn't exist if you didn't realise. It's singlish. More than that, it's just bad English. Yes, like mine.

Consider the following ..

Auntie speaks: I just understooded why my hubby don't wanna make me sweet sweet lovee to me night after night.

So gradually, as "understooded" propagates among ugly housewives' conversations, it gradually becomes verbally acceptable. And then as more kids start learning from their mothers and begin putting "understooded" in their essays, the teachers get fooled and the whole system screws up.

So now, has anyone understooded me?

MOZZIES ARE EVIL

2008-03-16T23:03:00.014+08:00

I had a bad night and only 4 hours of sleep. Technically, I figured that my body could deal with a minimum of 4.5 hours of sleep a day without suffering from an erectile dysfunction. No, I'm just kidding. But any lesser, I'll catch a bug or fever the day after. It's like a inherent triggering alarm system that forces a shutdown.

So, I had a couple of drinks that night at a friend's party. 2 vodka shots and 3 glasses of cocktail. And I was soon gone with the wind. I have to admit that I was drinking like a cow only because the beverages were on the house! So I danced to the singapore beat and did the Singaporean thing. HDB AUNTIE KIASU MODE ACTIVATED!

CHIONG AHHHH!!!

I found myself hanging in an euphoric state somewhere between being a dead chicken and a boneless chicken when the alcohol fused with my blood like a fat recruit running into a low wall. In fact, it was quite painful being a boneless chicken. But I managed to puke suavely before I reached my house in a gentlemanly fashion. It was truly a sight to behold. Mediacorp should have been there to film down my award winning act. Could have just gotten best supporting actor. For I roared like a true blue Merlion.

RAWR! RAWR! RAWR! RAWR! RAWR! RAWR! RAWR! RAWR!

Under the dim lights, I could still see that my puke was a nice mixture of vodka, cranberry juice, some slices of shredded vegetables and macaroni soup I had earlier for dinner. Definitely a delight! I figured that if I were to add some beaten eggs into it and put it into a frying pan, I could whip up some real good omelette!

Also, I tugged myself into bed shortly and was awakened by some friendly mosquitoes that came to pay me a visit. So I got out of bed, killed two of them and realised that I couldn't get back to sleep after a grisly murder. Disillusioned, I powered on my computer and launched Warcraft, which my girlfriend still hates big time.

Here's Clarence flashing his wounded bandaged finger and Ping trying out the ET stunt.

OUR HERO MAS SELAMAT

2008-03-14T11:33:00.004+08:00

The name of Mas Selamat has been ringing in every corner of Singapore. I see his face plastered on glossy posters everywhere in buses, shopping malls and condominiums. Since Singapore has developed such an affection for this dude, we could just crave a statue of him and put him in our synagogues. Even my friends are putting his photos as wallpapers and screen savers on their mobile phones. And on the Internet, DOTA players are nicknaming themselves after his name. So we can have more than one Mas Selamat playing different heros in one game. Seriously, I've never seen a Muslim man other than Osama Bin Laden but of course, receiving that much of publicity from the public. So failed rockstars should just inspire to bomb airports. That way, they're certain to have their fair share of glossy prints.

I was talking to a friend via MSN yesterday. And boy - he was eager to test out his new webcam. So I did a couple of screen shots and oh well, let's see ..

Never mind me. I was just bring obnoxious and naughty.

TAG HEUER

2008-03-11T22:21:00.003+08:00

I love my new watch cus it makes me look spunky!

Will get a real one when I start working and make lotsa money! ;>

OH NO

2008-03-10T23:27:00.000+08:00

I suspected someone tampered with my 11B today!

OMG! It must be the ORD clerk! ;>

GOD PROVIDES

2008-03-10T10:06:00.008+08:00

It feels so easy to dismiss God and attribute it to coincidence or pure luck each time a prayer is answered or a need met.

Maybe it's just humane, or me?

Some three weeks ago, I conveniently walked away leaving my sweet old Fujifilm F11 on some random bench after seeing my baby home. And it felt like I had lost a part of me when I realised that my camera was missing - like waking up to 9 fingers in the morning or something. Now, discounting the fact that I'm a cam-he-whore (I know that sounds crude), the camera still had a certain sentimental value which meant a great deal to me. It's like thrashing your first ever worn crocodile underpants. Okay, I take that back. I would actually have it all burnt with crimson and salt it if it's all stained with unexplainable yellow patches, covered with worm holes and all the loosened and wrinkled old-granny-styled rubber band that bit onto the waist.

Right, that's big time grotesque.

Anyway, it so happened that I was accompanying my parents to buy an MP3 player yesterday at the IT fair when my Dad decided to get me a new camera. Before he made the purchase, he wore a secret frown on his face only I could see. My mum was standing at the side obviously lukewarm to his decision. But I knew so clearly that it was a love gesture even though they were annoyed by the fact that I could so conveniently lose my stuff. Sometimes they make me feel like a little boy who needs some more time to grow up. Akin to Hugh Grant who needed more time to grow up in the movie - About A Boy.

SHALL BE ADDED UNTO ME

2008-03-10T01:42:00.004+08:00

Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you. Luke 12:31

My dad just blessed me with a Canon IXUS 75.

I'm overjoyed because now I can take photos!

LOVE KEEPS YOU TALKING

2008-03-04T00:08:00.014+08:00

I've always enjoyed strolling with Charlene because she amazes me with her idiosyncrasies, which many times inspire me a great deal. But one particular day, I wrestled with some excess energy and placed her on top of a green box which they called a bin.

So here's my baby flashing her mega-watt smile on a dustbin. And she probably wouldn't believe me even if I would to tell her that she had looked astounding stunning that day. Heh.

Being that male chauvinist pig years ago, I used to advise my male friends that being the guy in the relationship, we should not give in too much to the girlfriends and only meet them like once a blue moon lest we reveal our lack of masculinity and desperation for attention.

You know how guys have to act tough to appear strong, fearless and totally competent?

It's in our blood and there's nothing the girls could ever do to figure that out. Much less understand that trait.

But Charlene makes me want to see her everyday. And there's little to what I can do to figure that out. Funny it seems. Must be a love potion she gave me. Or some kind of drug.

That girl again. She's such a wonder (:

THE LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY

2008-03-03T23:40:00.006+08:00

This is stark oxymoron.

But I love family of God because it is so imperfectly perfect.

It is imperfect because it consists of members whom are so imperfect in their way. Yet it has sufficient room by grace for people to stumble and fall without being condemned, marginalized and put away.

And that is why we're set apart from the rest of the world.

AND I UNDERSTOOD

2008-02-25T23:01:00.008+08:00

The sobering fact still sunk in: I had lost my camera for good.

And I admit I was feeling a little depressed today and it did feel silly. But as my mind kept rehearsing the scenes where I carelessly left my baby behind and the thought of some jackasses actually picking up something that didn't belong to them, I thought I actually learnt something. Just like Jonah, I knew God was shaking my boat because I was trying to take something that didn't belong to me. I wanted it so bad I compromised on my character. And God is possibly showing me how He felt when I esteemed my pride and own self gratification beyond the green light.

Even though I've reasoned with God over Malachi 3:11, I have a strange feeling that my camera isn't going to appear. But just as a father who loves his child, I know that God is going to provide, probably in a way that exceeds my expectations. I'm not certain to how or when, but my heart tells me that in due season, He's going to perform a little magic to amaze me.

Still, I thank God that He has blessed my earthly father with a camera. And just like a son who inherits his father's possession, I've managed to borrow my dad's Sony Cybershot for my trip this wednesday to Thailand. At least God has gotten my camwhore-ism covered.

And here is Darren, myself, Ping & Shuteck hanging by the bay.

Gee, my adam apple is protruding. It wants to be set free. Hoho.

And here's a collection of Ping's various hairstyle throughout these two years. And he insisted that I put mine too. So here's it. Hah.

Now VOTE! HAH

TELL ME YOU'RE GONNA LOVE ME

2008-02-22T17:50:00.003+08:00

Tell Me You're Gonna Love Me MTV

Directed by Ngu
Produced by Fok Records Studio

83 WORDS PER MINUTE

2008-02-21T00:34:00.003+08:00

83 words
I just did a typing test and this is as fast as my fingers could go! My keyboard's on fire now man! Hah

TOTALLY UNTITLED

2008-02-20T17:45:00.025+08:00

I just spent the entire afternoon fixing a silly software error on my computer. And thankfully, I managed to rectify my sound driver without reformatting my computer with the help of some genius who assisted on the forum. I swear I was that close! Well done Kelvin!

A single cigarette can cause addiction, says New Zealand study.

An article on Channelnewsasia.com, which I find terribly dubious. The fact of the matter is that no one can ever smoke a cigarette rightly/properly/correctly on his first attempt, much less getting addicted. Smoking is like learning to write. It typically starts with a series of bad coughs and wrong breathing patterns before a smoker finally masters the technique and inhales the smoke right into his lung.

Oops! I sound so much like a guru! I wonder why! :P

So here are some negative effects that the grotesque looking cigarette box do not tell you. And I shall (based on ermm.. some friends' past experience) educate you right now!

Smoking tires you and impairs your concentration
Smoking is a defective anti-depressant (doesn't work YO?)
Smoking costs you at least 50 dollars a month (a pack a week?)
Smoking makes your health conscious girlfriend don't wanna kiss you!

And guys, the last point is bad enough (worst than having your dusty lungs taken out of you) and that should really serve as a motivation to quit smoking. Of course and unless kissing means nothing to you.
You could kiss the wall anyway right, YO? :D

But I do have friends who tell me that after a great and ferocious battle with tobacco, they have finally quited quitting. And they're convinced that the day they'll quit smoking is the day that they'll quit eating. I honestly don't quite see the link. But I kind of understood the principle anyway. Ha.

And if you're into some serious classical music married with a nutty sense of humour, check out the next video, featuring Igudesman and Joo cus you're going to love them! And one day, I'm going to fly to Italy or Finnland to watch them strut their stuff!

Classical musicians? You bet!

And the photos taken during Chinese New Year with Chad's DSLR D40!

TEDDYS ON STORE

2008-02-18T00:28:00.012+08:00

After much anticipation, the Assuring Teddy CDs were launched yesterday and finally making a mark on stores!

And I just want to say a BIG thank you to Ping for his relentless support, logistics, video making, product designing, marketing, advertising and everything else that had made this possible! Kudos brother!

Also, thank God for Attributes Bookstore for its offer to market the CDs.

We have also came up with Teddy greeting cards that are on sale now!

Product Details

Standard greeting cards
Retro-Indie themed
Pack of 4 designs
Price - SGD 10.00
Ngu Designs & Co.

Get your favourite pack at Attributes Bookstore today!

A LOVERS DAY

2008-02-14T22:39:00.007+08:00

Today is Valentines Day.

Oh happy Valentines Day! Were you actually expecting that?

Char gave me a really cute skinny tie. But I wish those patches of kissing smudges could be transferred to my lips instead. Hah.

Above all, it was her little card - sardined-packed with over 250 words on a tiny weeny piece of paper - which eventually melted my heart.

*audience says awwww*

I was touched because it brought back a certain reminiscence.

THE PRESTIGE

2008-02-12T00:38:00.000+08:00

I just made my Mum watch The Prestige with me, together with Dad who fell asleep on the couch somewhere in the middle. In fact, he got up a few times just to lower the volume and to tune it up again (upon my request heh) during the high and dry parts of the show.

In spite of watching this on the big screen some 2 years back, I'm not ashamed to confess that this masterpiece still continues to intrigue me with its crafty twists and conspiracies. I love it so much I'm absolutely ready to watch it again with anyone who is interested! hints hints.

So, if you have yet to catch The Prestige, be utterly sorrowful and repent of your oblivion! Okay, I know I'm such a sucker for magic.

The Prestige Resources

http://video.movies.go.com/theprestige/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prestige_(film)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/

And pardon my lack of exquisiteness, but I'm seriously enjoying the Blackout album by Britney Spears. Yes, the girl that ~~went~~ is still going bonkers.

I never see myself liking anything like that but her tracks are mixed by very good arrangers. So I'm listening more to the layering than Spear's voice, which by itself is totally dispensable. Having said that, I'm sure my grandma (even without her denture) could do a close to exact replica.

Right, I'm kidding. My grandma can't really sing. But my spirit leads me to believe that she must have had some hidden singing genes somewhere. Otherwise I wouldn't be singing with my colleague dancing in exasperation and having our faces appearing on the front.

And that's myself some million years back before the big bang.

And some Chinese New Year snaps.

COHESION

2008-02-01T22:10:00.000+08:00

The cohesion pictures!

And the lil demanding one - HAH!