Reminiscing via blog entries

Thanks to mka that i went back to read the past entries. Copy and paste some of extracts to the frens here n there and made them luff haha. The beauty of blog n surprising it was written quite vividly. I thought there were too many details, so had changed the style to jus key events or after thots instead of the detailed events that happened. Well that means i've fulfilled the purpose of blogging 5 yrs ago, able to retrieve and visualise the traces of memories without gaps. Believe that the entries really do nt make much sense to others. Perhaps only myself can understand the abbrev. Including the names/nicks. And have a mix of singlish, n a little japanese. Singlish alr comprises english, mandarin, malay n hokkien. How multi lingual, uniqueness of true blu sgporeans.

Extracts from 2006, teahouse in york shambles, scrnshot in the pic.

A biz trip to london in 2009
Had a 35P english afternoon tea. I didnt even blog abt it. Rate was 2 times sgd so it was a hefty 70 bucks per pax on scones n tea. I suspect it's the ware that we are using. V delicately designed teapot set.

TWG in sg mbs in 2011 costs 35 sgd. So comparatively, the york one was ok actually. Nonetheless had a good experience with scrimping becos i was spending daddy's money. Achievement to spend below 10k for the 5.5 mths.

Surprised that there wasnt any records on barca n madrid in 06. That was where we were chased by the security guards for not paying the train fares. And we jus throw the backpacks over, jumped over the railings n disappeared from sight behind the walls, with the loud whistles behind us. how daring n defiant. Once in a lifetime to be the bad kids in a foreign land. Jus dun visit it any time soon after that. And there was the incomplete century-old church n the nude beach. Strange. Did i miss reading it or missed blogging abt it.

Of cos when i abandoned the blog, missed a few trips blogging in betw as well. Shrugs. Let nature takes its course.

15 yrs later....

15 yrs ago we met at 安徽榜头梧桐内. Wat a strange name. Anyway it is a countryside near xiamen.

And today met the china relatives here in sg. Cousins from the countryside. We've talked abt it among ourselves many times. How we sneaked out to climb the mountains, how we play with the fire crackers and how we cross the rivers to get the sugar canes. How i was slapped by the buffalo's tail, how we watched a grasshopper being drowned in the shit pond and how we chased the ducks. And now we have the language barriers. Their hokkien is v different from ours. I cant quite understand. Their mandarin isnt quite comprehensible too. So i can only try my best. With blabbering.

Started since morning 9am. A buddhist ritual. Whole day with a few breaks in betw. No wonder the 方丈 says this is an uncommon practice now cos it 不仅耗财力 业耗体力. well already warned us at the start. Had done shorter ones few yrs back. 20 plus of the living ones with the 5 monks chanted for the 6 who had passed on. Thick book. Hope to do them some good. They r really fast, i m alr speed reading, n can still lose them at times. Chinese language is really amazingly written tho i only understand 30% of it.

The 2nd book cant catch at all. Is it even chinese? Some are. Other pages contain weird characters like cavemen drawings. Cant read. My bro says it's sunscript. Hmm. But there are some hand gestures. The hand signs which buddha used i think. Anyhow the monk put on the headdress, looks exactly like 唐僧 in 西游记。from flipping thru, it is the 地藏王 . all the chanting ended at abt 830pm then were really quite amused by the throwing of buns cos they roll everywhere. Were trying hard to control until my cousin started it all. Hope we arent too disrespectful.

Then piggy back my little cousin to a field where we watched the house being burnt. I sincerely hope this all reach those we'd prayed for. 930pm. the chantings are still ringing in my ear.

At the crossroad of the mid and late twenties

"Black skin bday, sis!" only my other bro and myself can understand this. Read the first 2 in mandarin. It's best to have it over the weekends. Extended celebrations.

I must really thank all for the wishes, presents and treats! i am really blessed to have such wonderful pple ard me and to receive such warm treatment from everyone. I know i've mentioned many times that there is no need to celebrate, but still i'm showered with love.

Aint i lucky to still get presents at this age? Told the givers that i do not need presents, i already have their company and the bonds forged. i know there's no need for me to reciprocate, but i will have the feeling of indebtedness. Ok that is my own problem. So buying presents are always a chore to me really. Sometimes even when it is not for reciprocity, it's the genuine desire to give, but whenever i try to go pressie hunting, i end up empty handed. I have no idea what to buy. Perhaps too practical, i do not know what is useful for the receiver or maybe he/she shld've already own it so end up finding everything useless. N i will be receiving more than giving everytime. Sobz. Work harder.

My cute little 6 yr old cousin took the pic, the best present is as reflected. the enjoyment and happiness shared with the company and all the sincere wishes i received. Thanks all for the time taken to spend with me, those who foot the bill, and those who made the trip specially to the gatherings.

As always being tested every yr, i will forget abt what happened the previous year but that is becos all of u've been treating me well all the yr round, both the living and the departed, the people are the ones who remain dearly in my heart forever, not the events. Not an excuse. True words.

Special post scripts for the extreme sour sensation @ TWG; for the loud bday song @ pizza hut n makin me awkward with only me out of the other Jul babies with the super nice card and the reason of guys dont need cards!; for the loving family dinner; for the gifts specially prepared n hand delivered to my doorstep by my bali travelmates.

The last of the railway station

Have always stolen a glimpse of the building when i used to take bus 30 to and fro nus previously. Nice architecture with the 4 marble columns.

So since its establishment till its closing, i've never taken the train before over to malaysia. We visited it as the tanjong pagar railway station on its last day. There were media coverage, waiting for the last train. we werent so siao on, not ready to wait for it with empty stomachs.

Wonder what will be in its place in the years to come. One less olden architecture here on the island. But there were many modern ones filling the skyline in replacement already. Shld have studied archi. Hmm.

Everyday is a holiday

My aspiration to live life that way. Doing things u like on holidays, no mundane work, no deadlines, u have all the time u want. There r day n night activities.

A gd chance to stay away from the digital media world and isolate myself from all other happenings with the company of curly n loo loo. Cute and playful pple who always say me cute. They like to tease and bluff me, explaining that its cos of my response. But honestly i do not know how else to react. Both of them have the best telepathy i've ever seen to paint similar stories without any discussion. It's amazing to know them better n we become closer, fortunate cos it was just only when curly is abt to leave the coy. Anyhow am glad that we maintained the frenship effortlessly, as n when curly returns home.

Played in the kota waves. Superb. We tried to stand firm against it, not to move an inch when the waves came crashing down on us. Then changed strategy to fall forward with the waves pushing from behind. Whooshh. Love the splashing sound, i screamed and laughed and with it, we've to talk above the decibels to remain audible. The undercurrents were amazingly strong, at an angle sweeping out back into the sea. Gave my legs hydrotherapy and after which were totally drained of energy. We sat on the beach n chatted with the setting sun.

Had sumptious meals, over order both at the hard rock cafe and the alfresco dining jimbaran beach. Live bands in all the restaurants and pubs. Tried fly fish at the water sport place. Not bad but too short. The safety officer is really strong to be able to swing left n right with the waves as the speedboat moves without being flung into the sea. As always speed boats are shiok. Jobs of balinese seem to be just entertainers n performers n servicing the tourists in terms of waitressing, hosting in shops n the activities huts and massage etc.

Jus great to laze ard, with the sea breeze brushing against the cheeks, with blue sky, white clouds, sparkling sea in the sun, green palm trees and yellow sand being fed into the eyes. It's jus eating gd food, love the place and sleep.