tonggump

if you allow, I would like to talk about the Kahitsukan

2018-07-26T23:21:00.002+08:00

This was a draft I wrote as a submission. But of course it didn't get through to the Art magazine successfully, so I decided to post it here because I think this place in Kyoto needs a mention. To the practically non existent pool of readers of this blog, I hope you read this...(: Pardon the overtly pompous English, vanity on my part, my bad. I think I'm better off writing in my own voice.

..............

The Kahitsukan, Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art exerts a dignified and elegant presence, along the languorous stretch of Gionʼs bustling shopping street. An easily overlooked art enclave in the face of constant traffic flowing past every minute, it is almost rarity to find tourists or shoppers walk in randomly to the museum. An unplanned detour took me to this gem unexpectedly. In the spirit of seeking out Japanese restrospective, I decided to let ignorance and surprise come to play.
Elliot Erwittʼs exhibition was on showcase. On the rice coloured walls were framed displays of black and white photographs set in 1950s-60s Europe and U.S. Bearing witness to the era of post war and Gatsby style glitz and glamour, viewers were often compelled to go through the photographs a second time. At first glance, the monochrome photographs may appear flat and lacking vigour, with the art captions stating plainly the year and event during which the photographs were taken. The depth of the still images slowly permeates as the viewer recollects on the historical background of the event, taking in its significance, yet irony and absurdity of the candid captured moments amidst the unfolding of the events.

The slick contemporary backdrop of the art museum provided a hotbed for introspection with occasional artistic disruption of unrelated yet tastefully placed sculptures and paintings. I found myself liking the Fidel Castro picture, the Cuban revolutionary taking a smoke and looking terrifically serious in contemplation. His charismatic demeanour stood out especially during the time of Cold War tensions between Cuba and U.S. I liked the fact that Elliott Erwitt photographs are all shot with superlative freedom, without any subject briefs. It is sheer luck and providence, that the subjects seem to be sculpting themselves in front of the camera, creating stories which were natural. I guess this is what gives Elliot Erwittʼs pictures their uniqueness and rarity.

appealing to all sensates for a bowl of chicken soup

2018-07-26T23:00:00.001+08:00

Wells I'm back. Other than the fact that I'm fiddle whoring on my new Surface Pro, I'm good. Not humble bragging (I'm sure, yay). Sought out new opportunities and am starting with my new work in August. So what do people usually call this fortunate turn of events & pockets of free time? -> Temporal joblessness yet feeling damn good about it (: I have nothing but pure appreciation and genuine thankfulness for it.

Binged watched on Sense 8 Season 1 on Netflix and the show has been nothing short of mind blowing. The overtly graphic images (nudity of course is nothing new), complexity and struggles of each sensate, cultural backgrounds, majestic geographical backdrops, dramatic twist of stories, surprises from pockets of violence and bonds developed between inadvertently street strangers to family.... are simply mind f*********** blowing. Call me noob as I've got nothing close to gay affection material on mainstream media. (Except for those Instagram posts for Pink Dot hashtags). I have seen nothing/anything close to this sort of openness and connection. Kudos kudos kudos to Netflix, I'm ashamed to have been ignorant of Pride for so long now.
This sudden shock of openness is quite liberating I must say. It forces itself and breaks free of all barriers of societal perceptions I previously had of the gay community. I'm not sure about the local gay community, but the one I seen on Sense 8, they are connected on such a deep sense of knowing/understanding that I felt like I could understand their feelings for each other. Because as cliché as it may sound, love is love and love supposedly transcends gender (that which I didn't realise can happen). I felt like I can fully understand the romance, the deep bond they share, because it is the same as for any relationship (:
I am a romantic. I like romance and I like seeing love happen. Just like how things happened between Kala & Wolfgang. I am definitely rooting for them. Now, I'm just waiting for WL to start on the second season together(:

tonggump's guide to south africa - free & easy in the offbeat way! (Part I)

2017-01-02T17:55:00.000+08:00

tonggump is finally back from the longest hiatus! Happy 2017! Missed writing so much, can't wait to share with you the South Africa trip WL and I took in Mid Nov. I love walking ALOT and exploring/experiencing the City in an offbeat way. Travel packages are no-no for me, except for the occasional one day tour for activities like shark diving/ safari tours. But given the choice and extra familiarity, I would definitely have gone for the self drive.

I was asked a few times over by friends why South Africa and why Cape Town as a travel destination. Of course there are many places I would want to visit (long list), but Cape town is somewhere I have read from magazines and seen from movies and music videos, so here we go...

Part I: Kruger National Park & Johannesburg

To get there:

6 hours flight from Singapore to Dubai (With 3 hours transit)

9 hours flight from Dubai to Johannesburg

4 hours car ride from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park

Emirates A380 was a very comfortable ride.

hmm yup. WL wants some fashion shot he says

Pretty fascinated with these LEDs

After 236873621748364 hours of flying and travelling on the road, we finally reached Kruger National Park. Stayed in Sabi Bush River Lodge, which was at the perimeter of Kruger National Park, overlooking a river in the park. You can spot the occasional hippo/leopard bathing or drinking water in the river. Service was impeccable and food is so much quality. It made us really sad to have left the lodge after just two nights.

The Safari tour was 3 days 2 nights, you can have as luxurious accommodation as you want, so long as you are willing to pay. Sabi Bush River Lodge was good enough for us though, and its about 400 SGD per person for 3 days and 2 nights inclusive of a game drive.

Enroute to Kruger National Park from Johannesburg Airport. Save me, I think I'm quite done for long distance travelling for awhile.

Negotiated for the juiciest, succulent slab of beef with Calvin. He is super thoughtful and very sweet. Watching Calvin worked his magic is the ultimate grill amateurs' dream.

I'm pretty impressed how good they grill their meat. They just know how.

Eating with the bonfire. Beer/wine on free flow. Enjoy like a bottomless pit.

In the cold of the night, the lodge stayers gather round the bonfire with more wine and talked under the stars. Our guide told us about his Botswana camping experience.

Lucky for us, the game drive on the second day was very productive. We managed to catch a glimpse of 4 out of the Big 5. Amazing experience, and that was probably the whole point of going to Africa for WL and I (:

Kruger National Park is about the size of whole of Wales (Obviously I got this off the web, please google if you want to know exactly how big that is.) The point is, the park is so big, we have to circle an area (Say for example in Singapore; Tampines to Clementi) for the animal sightings because the animals are nomadic by nature. But with some knowledge of the animal behaviour and habitual patterns, we were lucky enough to spot some(:

A picture with the super funny driver and guide, Lucky. He is our guide for the game drive. His parents worked in Kruger and he practically grew up here. Love listening to his animal stories: Amarula tree, hunting strategy for giraffes and how stupid Wildebeest can be.

Met some Brazilian friends who were warm and friendly. Love their laughters and jokes. They just know where the best beef is at in Johannesburg.

The Great African Adventure

Our open top 4WD

Plenty of Impalas here, I also tried impala meat for the first time here. Quite delicious I must say..hahaha

We had that ZEBRA CROSSING MOMENT when we stopped to let this pair cross the road. All I had was an iPhone, can only manage to shoot this much.

Crocodiles infested water, no joke.

I think everyone should go to Africa and its Safari at least once in their lifetime. The experience is real worth the 287389473294 travelling hours, and you feel like you have seen the real deal of wild animals like you see in NatGeo. It is not like zoo where the sad animals are kept in enclosure waiting for tourists/ visitors to come say hi to them. Their eyes often lack lustre and spirit, waiting for life to pass.

The ferocity and tenacity wild Safari animals have is something you'll never get to find in a zoo.

Kota Kinabalu 2015

2015-05-11T18:16:00.001+08:00

And, I bet you can always find more comprehensive and long packing lists off the Net, but the simplistic list below is something that is tailored to just me and probably you can use as a reference. Nothing fancy, with no heavy duty bazookas to carry.

-1 pack of dry tissue
I'm not talking about the mini packets sold in hawker centres, its the power pack 300pcs, 3-ply Kleenex kind of tissue that will save you somewhere somehow. Wiping blood etc..just kidding. Just don't bring the bulky box along.

-1 pack of wet tissue
Because you won't get to bathe for..let me see..3 days? The first night we reached the hostel, it was already 11pm and there was limited time for us to settle and pack for the climb, let alone bathing time. What more temperature dips at night, you wont want to put yourself through the daunting experience of bathing in freezing water. Just use wet tissue and you are clean enough I guarantee. If you are a clean freak, knock yourself out and bring more wet tissue.

-Keep your spare clothes in a zip lock bag or carry a waterproof bag.
I bought my climbing bag (a cool black killer looking exterior with drawstrings which are too long and the guide kept helping me to tuck it in) from the army market in Lavender. 30 bucks and its scratch resistant I must say, just. not. waterproof. I made the mother of all mistakes which was to assume that the material was thick enough and no water can seep in. But I am so wrong. Wrong with the big X on my face. Zip lock could have been a life savior. If you wish to use a waterproof cover for your bag, I suggest you check the coverage. Because, you know, climbing action and all that, waterproof cover slips off your bag, water seeps in and you are back to the square one.

-Bring snacks & bread.
On Day 1 of climbing, we reached the Laban Rata resthouse at about 1.30pm. Not to brag, the guide told us it was pretty awesome timing for us mountain climbing amateurs. We had a lot of time to rest until the next morning (2am) for supper. But. our resting place was 150m above the main cookhouse, and we had to get down at around 7pm for dinner (nightfall).

Honestly, after 6 hours of climbing and wobbly legs and cold shivering body, trekking 150m down to cookhouse in pitch darkness (we had headlights), and wet clothes was just simply not an option. So we skipped dinner and WL had a slight gastric. That was when my yucky gardenia bread came to the rescue. But it doesn't have to be gardenia of course. I just couldn't find any twiggies left.

-Bring a brolly
I, like most people, think that wearing a Goretex jacket wards off all weather elements. From thermal insulation to waterproof to windbreaking properties. No doubt, it is waterproof as hell, but when you have to climb muddy slides in relatively heavy rain and wind. A brolly is the one that saves you. Think, wet hair wet face wet pants with dry torso or dry hair dry face dry pants AND dry torso. You got the point.

-Dua ratus ringgit Timberland may not be as good as a lapan ringgit kampong kasut
I spent about 200 bucks on a pair of Timbs which I have proudly sweared by and carefully broken into so it moulded my feet shape before the trip. But when the crucial time came for me to kick off the wall and pull myself up the 60 degrees steep slope, the shoes kept slipping and I just couldn't manage a kick. Partly because my arms were weak (this I admit), the shoes werent helping at all. Later when I was asking the guide on his shoes, he told me Timbs are meant for trekking and walking on terrains rather than climbing. His pair of kasut is rather soft and flimsy on the underside, so I guess it helped with more grip, allowing his feet to mould onto the rock. So...I'm guessing those Teva vibram soles will help better with more grip and moulding.

-Gloves (MUST)
If you are going to bring those pair of gloves worn by durian uncles, you might as well not bring at all. Gloves are so important in the entire climbing trip I cant emphasise enough. Fancy all your palms tissues and skin getting torn and abraised by the thick white nylon rope when you abseil? If yes, go ahead with bare hands. If not, bring a good one but does that mean you should burn a huge hole in your pocket? NO. Man, just go into their hostel convenience store and get one pair at 10 bucks. Waterproof, thermally insulated and helluva fashion statement with different colours to choose from. Works better than any of those your friends bring I can bet.

-3 litres of H2O is seriously minimum. Its for the 2 days in mountain (no watercooler pls)
Didnt your mama tell you to drink more water? Please don't scrimp on water unless you are rich kid enough to just carry 200ml and buy the rest at the resthouse. Intensive climbing action warrants sufficient and frequent hydration. Drink less but often. Vertical distance is really different from lateral distance.

-Swear by Uniqlo's heattech
When we started our summit trail at 2.30am on the third day morning, I thought I was already geared for the cold cold unforgiving temperature. I had a base parka sweater to trap heat, thick white cotton sweater also to trap body heat, and lastly the Goretex jacket for windbreaking and waterproofing, all zipped up to the topppp. But when I was halfway through (about 1 hour into summit trail), I was feeling incredibly breathless, with giddy spells and felt like puking. Told my guide, Johnny he asked me to loosen those clothing around my neck, leaving Goretex zip open around chest area. Was asked to take in deep and slow breaths it definitely helped.

I wore Uniqlo's heattech bottoms below the trackpants. Just these two layers and my legs were kept pretty snuggly warm, I think I did better with the bottoms tho.

Anyways I think I'm pretty much done with my list of exhaustibles. Of course it depends on individual needs, you bring however much you want as long as you can carry them up. The reason why I love trekking/ climbing mountains albeit abit amateurish, is its simplicity. Contradicting right? Most people fuss over whatever technologies/gears they can test out in the mountains, but I for one love the simplicity climbing mountains bring. You are stripped to the very feelings and emotions you are vulnerable to when you are at home with nature. There is simply no branding/labels/clutter/noise . You are stripped bare to your core, and you focus on the ultimate goal and you walk the talk. You just keep walking.

How to procure a good sofa

2013-10-09T16:02:00.000+08:00

“There are people who drive luxury cars, but have only second- or third-rate sofas in their homes. I put little trust in such people. An expensive automobile may be well worth its price, but its only an expensive automobile. If you have the money, you can buy it, anyone can buy it. Procuring a good sofa, on the other hand, requires style and experience and philosophy. It takes money, yes, but you also need a vision of the superior sofa. That sofa among sofas.”

― Haruki Murakami Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

1. Walk into a furniture shop and try all its sofas.

This seems like common sense but the trial is absolutely necessary to gauge the softness/cushioning desired on various body contact points (depending on the individual). The head, arm and back are vital points for support and maximizing comfort. You'll be surprised there are actually sofas which have no head or back support. Heaven in all realms forbid such useless procurement by any comfort seekers.

2. You don't really need a full leather sofa unless you have much cash to spare.

A half leather sofa is more than good enough. Half leather means the parts of sofa that are in contact with your body will be made of cow's leather. If its of a pig's then its simply pigskin.(: The other parts not in contact with your body will be made with synthetic leather..a fake leather which hardens as time goes by..though I'm quite sure nobody sits at the back of a sofa. If so, hmm just what are you doing there?

3. More popular designs of sofas nowadays have reclining seats..

...for at least 2 seats out of a 3 seater. If you are intending to buy a full set (3 seater and another 2 seater) and placing them in a L-shape, just be sure that the 2 seater has no reclining seats.

So that your reclining seats can fully extend without obstruction. If you really do happen to purchase a full set and your 2 seater has both reclining seats, I'll try my best to manage a feeble attempt of a mockery(:

4. Don't buy white. For. Sofas. Never.

Why? Because white turns yellow or greyish overtime, the part in contact with your money buttock turns black and hardens with friction. Give it abit more time and the hardened part will crack, exposing the wool/cotton/sponge/padding/whatever they use to stuff your glorious white sofa.

5. Request for a new piece.

Once you have decided on the ideal sofa, request for a new piece:)

My dad wanted to get the showroom piece just because he couldn't wait to sit on a new decent sofa. Our existing one is canvas and has too many holes in it.

kensy wedding

2013-10-01T00:38:00.000+08:00

It's like a graduation. Graduation not from education but from the school of life, life of a daughter and singlehood. Real happy for my friend sinyi who finally tied the knot and am on the way to more blissful living and happiness. Shan't go on to talk about how awesome and elaborately planned the wedding was, how pretty the wedding dresses were and how heartwarming to see some of the once very familiar faces of seniors during my uni years.

The most touching part of the wedding and the only time when you could hear many muffles and hushed sobs was when sinyi and kenny delivered their thank you speeches to their parents. Its always a bittersweet moment to see young ladies marry to become part of the guy's extended familia, and to some sort leave their own maiden family. Tearing up during the wedding dinner is only natural and testament to the many years of fostered closeness and familiarity to their own siblings and parents.

I too teared during Sinyi's speech. Of course its not just Sinyi having to leave her maiden family, but also the sincere gratitude for the boundless love received from her parents' daily yet consistent gestures. And like Kenny's closure for their speeches; a toast to all parents.

the black dress im wearing, but too bad the embroidery is not all that obvious. yup im wearing freaking flats to a wedding har har har. i wore a pair of wedges to danny's wedding previously and nearly fell on my face. so lesson learnt

my skin is quite dry

I do'nt wear accessories often but am a sucker for dainty ones.

the solemner (is that correct?) makes the solemnization v fun and heartwarming

kenny and sinyi(:

love the train and the bride(:

danny

tongliang, dannay & wifey joyce(:

I am actually happy just that you can't tell from this picture

py and i. so long since I last seen her!

mary jane and peter parker

attempt 1 of an artistic expression

attempt 2 of an artistic expression

the sparkly glittery highlight of a dress

I love her train! Her dress is literally drop dead gorgeous...

mer ce des. not our car.

say hi to pancake face(: shit I can't do upfront shots.

sleeping on a picture

Not a bad thing

2013-09-25T19:19:00.001+08:00

Its my first time doing a staycation thing and lucky for me I had it at resorts world. Chose Equarius Hotel initially thinking that we might get a free upgrade to some underwater view villa haha so. not. happening. Its cool to take Equarius Hotel if you are thinking to do the sentosa cove waterpark as well cos hotel guests can access the waterpark with the backdoor so you dont have to squeeze with the crowd at the main gate.

The waterpark was fun just not great fun. Honestly, you dont have to spend the whole entire day there (say for the full operating hours of the park). You probably need 3-4 hours and thats really enough. Everything was good until we queued for snorkelling. I was already having second thoughts about snorkelling, contemplating if I should just stand aside to wait. Went ahead with what proved to be the worse decision made in the water park LOL it scared the hell out of me. Yep I do swim occasionally at the 1.4m wading pool but am just not cool enough or feeling ready to do 3m.

After the instructor's briefing, everyone in the batch proceeded feeling all excited about swimming with colourful uneatable and poisonous looking fish.I just could not budge and get down the platform to float even with a lifejacket. I finally kinda like floated freely with no control of my directions and pathetically crying in my fogging snorkel it was just. sad. One of the lifeguards pulled me out of water back to platform and everyone was looking at my monkey buttock crying face. It was such a bitter funny situation to make out of and we just laughed it off(: Quite a story.

little monster crossing the road. I hate insects and have a sadistic nature actually.

a toilet to kill for. the boxy thingy at the bathtub makes it seem like some trapdoor.

long winding corridor of Equarius. seriously imbal distance we had to walk to the room.

foresty view, not something rynette would like LOL

crazy big mirror warrants a piggyback selfie

the toilet behind. can see people naked in their full glory unless you put the white screen down pressing some button.

spacious!

pretty white sheets

this is my favourite ride of the entire waterpark. electric generated wavessss. super in love with them wish I can float the whole day off here.

ride operators who occasionally stop me for my camera. as you can see, not in this case. Just tell them you need a boost they will oblige and do something to make your boat go faster or something.

army of people carrying their floats and queuing for rides

I think its some twister ride..too bad speed of boat slows down here, what a waste.

the uber friendly snorkelling instructor before all hell unleash underwater.

pretty much summed up my snorkelling experience. taking a picture. outside. the tank.

queued for an hour plus for this awesome ride. they should fill the entire waterpark with such rides

backswim..with a lifejacket

adrift in lazy river

your friend says hi. have a nice day (:

titties at Crockfords tower

hard rock for dinner

hickory hand pulled pork sandwich. totally regretted not eating beeffff.

the customary rounds of alcoholic indulgence.

flying fish

Happy birthday WL. I wonder how does 27 feel like for you and what will my life from 24 to 27 entail. 27 is a count enough for one to assess and look back on life drawing conclusions, deciding on a new direction or to just continue rolling. Nevertheless I wish you all the best in everything you do and render support in all the good or bad decisions you may make. After all. life is too short to live it thinking it will last forever.

Dream Swim Team

2013-09-20T16:05:00.002+08:00

I am no swimmer. As those who know me would know, I nearly caused the drowning of my friends at sea because of some underwater panic/anxiety. And the regular so called swimming sessions I had are at merely 1.4m community pool. Sometimes I wish it was deeper like 1.5m up to my neck but thats it, nothing deeper. My sole swimming technique is to swimfloat, a practically all sufficient technique to get through all pools. But that doesnt stop me from wanting to form a Dream Swim Team or to spend a lazy afternoon frolicking in the pool trying many random stunts. The way I look at it, its not going to stop for a damn long time(:

8 Steps for taking underwater shots (I can only think of 8):

1. Get a good underwater camera/phone case for usage underwater of course. (not waterproof, though you may think they are all the same. Well, they are not. Waterproof cases fog and take blurry pictures underwater, while underwater cases fog too but just not as foggy.) I use Iphone 5 for all my pictures but thats because I don't own a dslr. If you have GoPro, even better for you.

2. Practice opening your eyes underwater by dunking in and out of water alot of times until your eyes finally get used to the chlorine(: Slowly increase the duration you open your eyes underwater say from 5s to 10s...

3. Thirsty? Don't worry you'll quench your thirst in this hot weather with some alternative intake of chlorine water through the nose. Dont wish to drink? Get a nose clip for goodness sake.

4. Go swimming at a time when nobody swims or simply get a secluded swimming corner.

5. Spam alot of continuous shots so you can QC the pictures and get great quality shots after that(:

6. No wearing of goggles, fugly on pictures.

7. No point practising smiling, your face will still be all crunched and constipaty.

8. Do really big and sloww swimming actions or at least fake it even if you don't know swimming. This will help buy time while your camera is getting accustomed and more shots for you to decide which shot is nicest.

undercurrents never fail to center part your fringe so efficiently

pardon my face but my eyes finally finally opened

high strung night

2013-09-20T15:02:00.003+08:00

I have wardrobe malfunction tendencies all the time. Turning up with the appropriate dress code is something I find difficult because I simply love dressing down. I love casual and understated pieces, trying to carry off some effortless put together look which often ends up being sloppy. But honestly between casual sloppy and prude I would rather choose the former. So the night when my girlfriends and I were out for a Cosmopolitan event, I was worried that I'll get denied entry at the door for improper attire (like who wears white sneaks to a magazine event omg) but I made it anyways(: Happy am I. Marissa was so sweet helping me whatsapp my picture to the rest checking if I can even get in...sadistic love much appreciated lol. Seriously must I wear freakum heels to events like this? I hate heels and I walk like a horse in them.

We are supposed to vote for the best and hottest mixologist in the house but honestly none of them look the same as on magazine's pictures. Even if they look the same, I'm not so impressed I would say :/ Anyways after each mixologist's performing stint on stage, their pre-mixed shots would be distributed all round the floor by hot looking caucasian waiters/waitresses. 4 mixologists for the night means you get to try 4 shots, on top of a complimentary alcoholic drink of any sort your choice. I can't drink for nuts now I'm quite sure to say..not that I aspire to be some super social alcohol tanker but I thought I could at least hold it or something. Nah...not. But it was awesome fun we had among us girls while the mixologists do their boring performing stints and a lousy host babbling the night away. Event management is really not a easy feat.

marissa's ootd like a toga goddess or something

rynette's MJ-like dress with pretty funk embellishments too bad you can't see it

can't wait for our gym membership to end seriously

you have no idea how much I love her necklace. WANT

yep yep yep

freak why am I so short

my ootd which made it(:

sweeet

love this shot

vanity 1

vanity 2

passion fruit drink(: lookk at her necklace right

love all of them

rozz > melody chen

high strung already

thanks to ry's friend we got in, shes so sweet

marissa aka xiao long nu HAHAH shes so gonna kill me for this

sweetest jz

It was such a great get together considering that we haven't met for so long. I know we'll always have great fun together and it never fails. Just like secondary school waterbomb and blockcatching times...lol freakkk why did I mention that..

chronicles of a mundane jobless

2013-09-06T16:23:00.003+08:00

Have been struggling to come up with whatever bombatastic subjects to blog about the past weeks and the ultimate result is to still slip right back to the old cycle of inconsistency. Food post? Nah, on diet. Travel post? Nah, no money duh. Party post? hello, self amusing reclusive geek here. If you guys cannot already tell, I'm jobless. Jobless like a 'sit on the bus on weekdays and all you see are old people' kind of jobless, or better yet, 'at shopping mall reading my novel and sipping coffee to past time' kind of jobless. Whichever kind of jobless, you get the idea. Of course the consolation of my case is to get tons of sleep/rest time and to you know, perpetually being able to 'figure out my own bearings and objectives'. Theres just so much positive and negative energy going around all that talk from family and friends but you know what, I'm going to let it all settle and just. stay. quiet. I've decided to take charge and just have a good time (while my fund lasts), and soak into this passing phase. Of course I'm actively looking out and its got to pass isn't it, and perhaps one fine day when I've land up with a good job I can so gladly share my relief on this space. Meanwhile, if you guys have any adhoc shit jobs, holla at me I can take any shit if being jobless is not the worse shit already(: ok maybe african kids. I wonder if I'll look back at this post months later and laugh at my foolish positivity while crying same time for being a mundane jobless still. Ok its unthinkable...quiet.

Anyways, I'm not busy. so not busy. But I just can't understand how time always manage to slip through my fingers each time I try to grasp it and be productive. Its like a societal norm for people to be busy all. the. time. I want to try capturing the traces of passing time on this space just like how the windchime translates wind into chimes (haha duh). Chronicles of a mundane jobless, read at the risk of more infectious boredom.

me serving previous job's notice period. theme of the day is being bored.

Get right back to the asari shell home!

2013-09-04T18:16:00.000+08:00

my picture

my picture haha annoying I know

My latest addiction is eating asari pasta. My obsession is huge its getting uncontrollable. I wonder if people get infected with sea related virus from eating too much clams/oysters/lala. I get obsessed over a single thing quite easily and will keep repeating the action until I finally get bored or sick of it and abhor the activity for overly extended periods of time or simply not to return to it altogether. Ok thats a freaking long sentence but thats me (Y)

model walk baby talk in a farking expensive japanese grocery store. #@%$^&* Thats why I'm an avid Daiso supporter.

I can't think of a single reason why I love asari clams so much. It could be the sweetness fresh clams bring to the miso soup when you let it simmer and cook for some time. Or perhaps its the squishy and chewable texture of the clams when you put them into your mouth. Or simply the satisfaction from just digging clam meat out of their home shells(: Either ways, I wish I can have asari clams in all the soup I have; potato soup, watercress soup, melon soup, miso soup, chicken soup (ok it'll be weird), you name it. I don't really know how to cook and thats one sad fact I want to change about myself.

I do know how to make miso soup and put asari clams in it, the devastating thing is. It just doesn't taste the same. I did exactly what google taught me (I'm a self taught learner), but the taste is way off. I admit I've added seaweed into the soup, and it ended up tasting a tad too seaweedy. The asari clams sweetness is just not there? Masa told me they put white wine or something..but I don't really want to buy a bottle of white food wine just for the asari. Unless white sipping wine counts as a white food wine..I'm not sure is it the same? Its just too bad, I think only restaurants can attain the level of consistency in their asari soup or maybe its just me and my 101 lousy cooking skills.

On the topic of food, I thought I might as well share my first time experience of eating truffle fries. Yea you got that right, I only managed to eat truffle fries recently and I love it only if its fat stuffed and soggy. Step aside for Platypus's truffle fries man...have not tried PS cafe's fries, will do it sometime(: Love the smelly smell of truffle fries, gives me the impression that I'm really eating mushroom mashed fries or something. It must be the oil that gives it the lovely pungent smell. Its. all. about. the. smell. I trust

Its $6.90 for small little heap..sprinkled parmesan cheese and a few slices of truffle (looks like it, or rather cooked truffle looking)..pretty decent for the taste I would say. Would be back for more like what food connoisseur always say. haha self proclaimed food connoisseur.

It's all about the newfound

2013-08-21T00:26:00.003+08:00

An unassuming cocktail concoction lab. All lethal mixing based on mood and preferences. Coupled with on point house music and impeccable and cosy interior, you know you have come home to a hidden gem downtown.

passionfruit vodka (not that sweet and refreshing though, just real generous serving of vodka) They be burning the rosemary which looks absolutely cool don't get me wrong it also gives out some weird pungent rosemary smell.

Ok enough of all that pretentious writing crap(: This blog has been parlaying under the sun like a dried prune till the cows come/came home (few rounds already) and I've yet to write a single decent post in six months. Don't you know I've taken a big step forward? (Que Outkast's SpottieOttieDopaliscious Opening please). Just be forewarned of my bloggish diarrhea ahead, steered by a huge mothership also known as 'boredom'. Have a piece of that dried prune then. We've come a long way friends and we definitely deserve to look ahead at the newfound, aside from the occasional stolen yet surreal glances at the faded memories. If it's not surreal already, go get yoself a life. Not that I have lots of life, but I believe in simply taking comfort in own's ignorance and to proceed forth with confidence(: (Y)

Anyways enough of diverting from course, I think I visited this bar a month back. This new but not so new bar is just atop the yam cake cafe at mohd sultan road/haji lane/somewhere in close proximity. Pardon my good for nothing directions, the cafe's name is Maison Ikkoku. I only had the chance to visit the yam cake cafe for the yam cake of course and the ever intoxicating and caffeine loaded iced mocha. Had wanted to look for some place to chill and here we are! (erm..not really because we had wanted to try another less expensive but sleazy looking place. but not sleazy, just that I had no mood for sleazy looking place.)

So when we popped our heads into the bar, we were greeted by friendly and caring staffs, caring about what flavours you prefer in a cocktail with really generous servings of vodka. I keep emphasising on 'generous' because it is what induced me to the best sleep in days, and risked myself looking like a total monkey butt red looney in a cool social setting. WL had a watermelon vodka with a super cute watermelon flesh made island, such a pity my phone died, drink had no affinity with pictures.

The atmosphere was super chill, with non-shitty house music (those that you can actually groove to) and we sat at the bar watching mixologist and bartenders doing their thang. Of course they are professional but I'm ever amazed how they manage to get the concoctions formulas into their head. Not to mention, they have huge biceps too. It was only recently that I realised the mixologist WL and I had been admiring and watching the whole time in the bar was Ethan Leslie Leong. (Ok I know you don't know him cos I don't know him too, unless you are in the nightclub business or something then good for you). Apparently he's some world renowned mixologist with many many many many years of mixing experience to bag, oh wait a minute...suddenly I'm honoured to be served some clear looking shot with sorbet by him(: You know how you can just tell someones a pro just by looking at how they work their trade? This is absolutely the case considering that I know nuts about mixing.

But I would come again to this place because of its exclusivity, cosy environment & friendly staffs. Surprisingly the music was loud but not loud enough to drown our voices so we can still hold our conversations, provided you are not intoxicated already. It all makes for a good night out, feeling refreshed from doing something you've not done for a damn long time. (:

Show it, prove it, do it, say it

2013-08-13T16:31:00.001+08:00

Bring me to this reality, a land of limitless possibilities. Futura, not just a typeface, but a world finally that belongs to our speed with everlasting happiness and wellness to offer, what have you.

Once again, I'm all packed up and waiting at the driver's kerb side ending with what seems to be the most surreal situation (by far) after a year of saga. It has all made up for an overall good ride, ignoring the point that I've circled back up to the original starting point. Its definitely not the same starting point, I've gained much, got involved, stopped and pressed on. Met, talked to and made friends for whose support I feel thankful for. Grappling with the possibility that it may not be the best decision I've made, I don't feel the necessity to hold or grab any floating wood drift to pass of as what might be a feeble justification to make sense of matters. Either ways, the way I look at it, you'll know it when you know it. It's like..it's like..we don't need no words for it. I don't need more, just all packed up waiting at the driver's kerb side patiently waiting for the big change up and I'm ready set to go. (Y)

mutsuo

2012-12-06T23:12:00.002+08:00

really like this tattoo guy

Oldie

2012-10-06T12:47:00.001+08:00

This is why I like words more than pictures. Learn this song and I'll sing together with you.

An open letter

2012-08-23T23:05:00.004+08:00

Thought Catalog has been my best friend for the past few weeks. Its the only website I read besides boring straits times and new york times. (Facebook and Twitter are banned in my company pc. Like the Great Firewall of China). Anyways, I got hooked and kept reading articles after articles, feeling relieved that there are people who feel exactly the same way as I do. I'm not emo please do not be mistaken. These articles are so comforting, they answered some questions which I thought would never get to be answered. I'm not entirely alone after all and I find myself smiling after reading those articles.(Not a sick lunatic either)

You're Not Quite The One is one of the articles I find very endearing. I've found a long lost friend(: Here goes:

You’re not quite the one because nothing’s ever happened. You’re in the back of my mind somewhere but our lives have never lined up. We’ve never worked out, not because there isn’t interest — there’s interest, I think — but because the timing’s never been right or the location’s all wrong. You’re not quite the one because we’ve never had the chance to see if you are. Maybe we never will.

You’re not quite the one because you got away. I let you take off in your car or get on that airplane and I chose not to go after you. I put down my sword and beat it into a plowshare. I was not prepared to fight for you. You said, “This is it. I’m gone” and I said, “Good. Good riddance” whether I meant it or not. You’re not quite the one because you left or I left or we both took off like two cowboys walking with our backs to each other, spurs clanking with no intention of turning around to fire our guns. We both just kept walking off into opposite sunsets.

You’re not quite the one because you don’t feel permanent. You’re lovely. You’re here. You’re soft and comfortable and I can curl up beside you and hey, at least neither of us are alone. You don’t feel like the start of something, you feel like the continuation of nothing. You’re not quite the one because we’re not even thinking about crazy concepts like the “one.” No one is meeting anyone’s parents. No one is going to be a plus-one at anyone’s friend’s weddings. No one is holding hands on the subway train. You’re not quite the one because you’re not meant to be the one. You’re a bookmark, a beautiful pause, a blinking light on hold at an office desk.

You’re not quite the one because well, maybe there isn’t a one. Maybe the concept of a “one” is dated and imagined, created out of a need to sell romantic comedies and Valentine’s Day cards. Maybe there’s a series of “ones,” all right for their times and places, but that’s all. If I married the guy I’m sleeping with now, would he become the one? How then is it that if I moved to India tomorrow, my one would change? It’s a narrative. Two of my very good friends in college dated for a long time and when they broke up, the girl started dating another male friend of ours. Now they are getting married. When she tells their love story, she erases the first guy’s place in her heart — maintaining that all along, she knew the second guy was her soul mate.

We tell ourselves the love stories that make sense. There’s no fault in that.
We want that perfect story sans coincidence or choice. We’ve been fed the normalcy — nay, necessity — of love to be fated or destined. We feel better thinking it’s all been out of our hands. There was no choice involved. They were our “one.”
You’re not quite the one because who cares about “the one?” We change all the time. We grow. We learn. We move. We start. We quit. How about: I am the one. I am the one and when I run into the other one? I will know. I’ll stop forcing novels out of passing glances. I’ll stop trying to conjure a timeline where our love falls into place. I’ll stop dramatically declaring that things need to be perfect to meet some sort of arbitrary narrative we can summarize on our wedding website one day.
How about: “Things were messy and then they weren’t and two people decided to be together or they didn’t and there is no story here and there is no ending you can feel good about because love is so much more than this paragraph surrounded by flowers we paid some graphic design student to upload.”

It’s okay, It’s a choice. It feels great. There’s a series of “not the ones,” until maybe there’s one. It’s nothing to freak out about. There’s no rush.
You’re not quite the one. But then again, who will be?

Read more at http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/youre-not-quite-the-one/#Fy1CMwGKHVKx0xjs.99

If I'm stuck on this island I would play survivor

2012-08-23T22:22:00.006+08:00

I've always relished the idea of YOLO. yep you got that right judge right away I'm actually using that stigmatized word from Drake ha ha. Drake's lyrics are ingenious beeteedubs (quoting my friend, a ginormous beached whale). Ok back to YOLO, I've always carried that crazy mentality with me whatever I do. Obviously that doesn't include jumping off bridges, but just plain YOLO as in not having regrets and thinking about whatifs.

I'm the kind of person who can't leave matters unsolved. I simply can't compartmentalize like how some people are doing very well. Bad thing you might say but thats just me. There are times when this mentality works and I feel immensely rewarded with pleasant surprises. Other times I just get into deeper apeshit and wished I had not done any of that. I'm still figuring the reason why but the only explanation I could ever make myself swallow is I'm a rash person.

I am willing to leave and I am willing to live. Something tells me a headfirst dive that never ends is not far in the future. and a return ticket may never get booked but I wouldn't mind. Thats my YOLO. Always take the jump.

I just can't help it shoot me. Either way, it all makes for a good life experience. Nobody remembers everything anyway. Everyone's forgetful, so just forget it.I've been listening to too much keane and summer hits for my own good. They only serve to amplify the whole YOLO thing and left me romanticizing of doing things to upset the crazy ultra stale life I've been leading. Oh wells, at least work has got me started and I want to turn into a workaholic its super enriching.(:

Anyways, for the benefit of those who are curious to what summer hit I'm talking about. Just kidding, nobody cares but I want to post it anyway heh. here goes

Drag your heart up to the starting line

2012-08-18T23:02:00.002+08:00

Drag your heart up to the starting line, forget the ghosts that make you old before your time. Its too easy to get left behind. I know you've been kicked around, but tie up your thoughts and lay them down on me.

Good Stuff(: Keane Live pinkpop 2012

2012-08-18T22:48:00.001+08:00

2012-06-25T00:07:00.002+08:00

"According to Greek Mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, four legs, and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two parts, condemning them to spend the rest of their lives in search of their other halves." - Plato's Symposium

Everyone needs to be a Kusama at some point in life.

2012-06-16T20:28:00.004+08:00

I had the chance to visit my friend in London this summer. Best of all, I got to be there for three major exhibitions which I've always wanted to visit but they never came to my country. Yayoi Kusama's exhibition is my favourite out of the three and so I chose to share my afterthoughts on this absolutely enchanting exhibition.

Yayoi Kusama is one of the most celebrated contemporary artists in Japan. Her extensive body of art often reflects an eccentric mix of exoticism and hallucinatory intensity. The famous and brilliant use of polka dots in Kusama’s paintings, drawings and collages embodies obliteration and freedom. The Infinity Net paintings, covered by countless brushstrokes on a large scale monocoloured canvas, are evidence to Kusama’s minimalistic and obsessive nature to produce art of such quality. This technicality can only be achieved by a remarkable stamina and determination, which essentially makes a meditative process for both the viewer and the artist. Lastly, the Infinity Mirrors, which is one of my personal favorites, invites the viewer to be suspended by his /her own infinite reflected images. Coupled with ever-changing twinkles of light in the room, it is indeed a magical and endearing experience in the art trip.

Throughout Kusama’s exhibition, it is not difficult to pick up on the constant struggle the protagonist had gone through to depict her obsession onto the physical realm in the self-created world centered on her. Perhaps neuroticism is the way to go, where insanity is the new sanity in this crazy world that we live in.

After the Gold Rush

2012-06-09T20:14:00.003+08:00

Rich or poor carries no real monetary sense to me. Being poor means that you've missed out on chances, opportunities, things you like or people you love. You've simply missed out either by choice or because of circumstances. You are poor because you choose to let slip the chance to do something or buy something precious and you can never quite go back again.

Rich is when you have tons of experience, memories and support from people you love. You are rich because you are well fed, well read and will not let slip any chances or opportunities to be loved nor disappoint others who have put trust in you. You've done whatever you feel like doing or want to do and there are no regrets.

If you want to stop yourself from doing something you actually feel like doing, you are obstructing the flow of life. Then all you can ever get when you look back is regret. Like a train with technical faults, or constipation, or a spoilt cassette tape. BLOCKED

Yes you may take the time to judge others from what they do, but why don't you take the chance to judge yourself too? You gauge others by your own mediocre inner ruler, thinking that everyone is doing it wrong. You are just blindeth to your own mistakes, laughing at others when you should really just be laughing at yourself. So don't judge others unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.

a n t i m a t t e r

2012-04-20T02:39:00.000+08:00

Just wondering if I could still stretch my overworked brain to come up with a blogpost. its the exam period once again, with the usual meditative studying and extensive periods of keeping to myself, back to the reclusive geek. Figured that I'm much inclined to establishing an online presence than to actually be out to interact.

This is probably the last time I'll be studying and to be honest I'm more than thankful for this time to finally arrive. Couldnt wait a sec longer before I can flash my big wide smile on the day of last paper. the job search can wait, interviews can wait, the clearing of meetup and catchup debts can wait. Nothing compares to the sole magical moment that belongs to me and perhaps other thinkalikes. I dont wish to miss studying, though I know theres a high chance I will someday sometime. Its like a cyclic thing, one moment you wish it was over, the next moment you wish it wasn't. Its a constant battle between convincing yourself or just simply to soak in the emotions and feel regret from not being truly appreciative. Dilemmas make life interesting.

The four years passed in what seems like light years from moon to the sun. everything was happening too fast, good or bad they just pass. there are a few minor regrets here and there like why didnt I join outdoor activities club or something like that but nothing is big enough to tip the scale. I had a well balanced college education, we had fun we studied and that was all I could ever wish for and I got it:) School and friends are definitely what I would miss. In fact I miss them now already.

All the romantic feelings about school and exams...but right now I'mmmm suffffering like nucking futs. its anti climax to end like this but still reality is the bursting of a bubble and sinking of titantic. ANTI CLIMAX

a list of depressing songs for those seeking to be sad or something

2012-04-08T11:57:00.008+08:00

Sinead O Conor Nothing Compares 2U

Its so refreshing to sing along to this song. Good to listen when your jaded. Jaded of life and depressing songs can be healing. Kinda therapeutic at the same time. Its like a confession to the lost loved one, mourning and stuffs before things get better. Don't be mistaken, I'm not depressed I'm an optimistic person. I got the "light is at the end of the dark tunnel" kinda feeling whenever I listen to this song. The emotion is so raw, it just gets to me everytime I watch it. I think she was singing about her abusive mum who passed at that time so crying at the end was definitely not accidental.

Radiohead No Surprises

How come these music videos of depressing songs have large face profiles in them? I enjoy watching this video. Its like morbid or something, with thom yorke holding his breath for the longest time halfway of the song. I'm impressed by how long he could hold his breath! Definitely going to try that when I go swimming sometime. But thats besides the point, the lullaby melody is both simplistic and enchanting at the same time. Perfect to sleep in to the tune, sadness flowing into the river of time..STONE

REM Everybody Hurts

Therapy. Enough Said

Nirvana Something In The Way

What can be more depressing than the suicide of kurt cobain itself? I think this song is somehow related to his long battle with depression. Hence the chorus 'Something In the Way'. On Point.

Vocal

2012-04-04T15:20:00.001+08:00